The First Look – should you?

The First Look. I get asked about this title so often! I will start out with a disclaimer because I am biased haha! Of course I love first looks because they give me a lot more time to take more fabulous photographs of my fabulous clients – and not just boring formals, but more time for the FUN photos and sometimes even in different locations outside of the church! When first looks are successful, they are great! I say successful because a few times, umhum, the bride runs an hour or more behind getting ready and it ate up all of the time for photos we gained from the first look. The best way to have great photos for the first look and your bride and groom photos is to start very early at the salon, then talk with your photographer as to when the best time of day would be for this if it’s outdoors. Light is everything, and with harsh sunlight and no shade, well, it’s not so pretty. So if you want great photos with fabulous light, planning a first look is great!

So what is the first look? Should you do it on your wedding day? The first look is when the bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony. Religious taboo? I think not – I was shocked when I was given my paperwork from the Catholic churches in downtown Indianapolis that actually suggested the bride and groom see each other before the wedding day! And all wedding photographers know how strict Catholic churches are with rules – no flash (of course) and you have to stay in the back and don’t move around, etc. So I was thrilled that they have jumped on the first look bandwagon! After all, confession and mass is always at 4, right?

Bad luck? I’m pretty sure it’s not as I have seen nor heard any complaints and nobody was struck by lightening. Not romantic? Quite the opposite I would say! When the bride walks down the isle and the groom sees her for the first time, everyone is watching. He can’t say anything – all he can do is look at her and smile. He can’t even touch her until her dad gives her away. Eh, kinda romantic I guess.

Now, imagine that the bride and groom have a beautiful location in mind to meet. We have had first looks outside in the garden, in private rooms and even at the alter itself, dad walking her and all – all of them beautiful. So the groom turns to see his beloved bride for the first time. Not only can he talk to her, and maybe even cry (because everyone’s not watching him) and twirl her around, give her a kiss and a huge hug – but he can embrace that moment. A private moment. This doubles for the bride as well. We have had couples cry and laugh, giggle and play – you name it! Not one has ever regretted their first look. We even leave and give them about 10 minutes to themselves, no cameras.