Is a first look right for you?
Traditionally, you and your spouse-to-be get your magical first glimpse of one another on your wedding day at the same time as everyone else: as you walk down the aisle. It’s usually a moment of profound reverence and emotion!
But people have some strong opinions on whether or not this is the best way to do it — and there are no wrong answers! These days, the First Look photoshoot is a popular option, and we can see why.
A FIRST LOOK is the very special moment you and your partner see each other for the first time, before the ceremony, in a gorgeous location and by yourselves. (Well, not completely by yourselves: we’ll be hiding nearby to capture the magic!)
The First Look is one of our favourite moments to photograph: it’s candid, intimate, and emotionally charged. We love capturing the display of pure love, admiration, and awe that lights up your faces.
Not only that, but it can also help the logistics of your wedding day move efficiently. (We’ll explain more below!)
But, since you’re here, we have a feeling you’re a wild bride who will agree with us: tradition and efficiency don’t matter nearly as much as the gorgeous, meaningful, and candid moments that create stories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. Fussing about logistics isn’t as important as creating and capturing the day of your wildest dreams.
SO, DO YOU WANT TO DO A FIRST LOOK?
A wonderful thing about choosing to do a First Look is that you’ll get to spend as much time as possible with your wedding guests. You get to be there during the cocktail reception, and dinner won’t be held up by the missing couple in a lengthy photoshoot.
Instead, your First Look photos will be easy, breezy, and natural. They typically only take about 45 minutes — and sometimes less, if the lighting is ideal.
Later, when the golden afternoon light is perfect, we might steal you two away again — but this time, only for ten or so minutes!
(This is the same way we approach photos with your family and your bridal party, too: keeping them quick, easy, and fun! We avoid them being too formal and stuffy, and instead just have everyone laugh and interact. These sessions usually take only 20 minutes, and then everyone’s back at the party enjoying themselves!)
This is the beauty of the private First Look: all that magnificent extra time you get to be with your guests, soaking up their congratulations and positivity.
However, if you have dreams of you and your spouse catching your first glimpse of each other as you walk down the aisle…then we can certainly make that work, too! We’ll simply steal you away for photos after the ceremony — but not before you’ve had a chance to be hugged and congratulated, and even after you’ve enjoyed a glass of wine or champagne. Then, as your guests finish their cocktails, we’ll head off in search of some gorgeous light and beautiful backdrops for your photos.
Whatever your preference is — a private First Look, or as you walk down the aisle — we’ll make it happen. When you have the right team of vendors at your wedding, everything can run seamlessly and your wildest wedding dreams can come to life.
The only time we might suggest a private First Look is when we have several locations lined up for your wedding party photos, because this can require some extra logistics and travel time.
With your First Look done and dusted earlier, we can focus on making this little “party within the party” as efficient and fun as possible!
If you’re still not sure exactly what you want your day to look like, we’d love to talk it through with you. After all, we aren’t just snapping a few photos: we love to help you figure out the plan that will make your day smooth, easy, and absolutely blissful — and then we capture the special moments that arise from there.
Seeing your soon-to-be-spouse for the first time on your wedding day is one of the most anticipated and cherished moments of all — and we want to help it unfold in exactly the way your heart desires. To talk to one of our talented photographers, please reach out to us here.
