Sixth Bloom

  • Photography Tips
    • Start Here
    • Photography Courses
    • Edit Pictures Like a Pro
    • Grow Your Business
    • Learn Your Camera
    • Childrens Photography Tips
    • Family Photography Tips
    • Newborn Photography Tips
    • Senior Photography Tips
    • Wedding Photography Tips
    • Photography Projects
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Food
    • Instant Pot
    • Meals
    • Snacks
  • Kids Activities & Crafts
  • Family
    • Gardening Tips
    • Travel
    • Money Saving & Budgeting
    • Home & Lifestyle
      • Our Family Life
      • Decor & DIY
  • About Me
    • Featured On
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Me
    • Guest Post Application

November 24, 2015 By Sixth-Bloom Leave a Comment

The Great Debate: A First Look or No First Look

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy policies here

Sharing is caring!

171 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
tips for photographing a first look at a weddingWedding Photography — Start to Finish
Today is part 4 of 10
Navigating the journey of wedding photography from engagement session through thank-yous
Enjoy our multi-part blog series on wedding photography:
  1. An engagement session to set the scene- 6 Tips for a Successful Engagement Session
  2.  A successful day starts with a timeline – Creating a Wedding Timeline to Avoid a Disaster 
  3. Communication and creativity with other vendors-  Brilliant Ideas for Working with Wedding Vendors
  4. To First Look or Not to First Look- The Great Debate: A First Look or No First Look
  5. Must-Have Pictures of the Bride – 6 Must Have Pictures to get of the Bride
  6. Capturing Moments with the Groom- 5 Pictures to Capture of the Groom
  7. Quick and Easy Family Portraits – 6 Tips for Quick and Easy Family Portraits at a Wedding 
  8. Keeping Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh – 6 Tips to Keep Bridal Party Photos Smooth and Fresh
  9. All About the Little Things — Details of the Day 68 Details To Photograph at a Wedding
  10. Wrapping it up with kindness and care 6 Tips Photographers Need to put the Final Touch on a Wedding

 

The Great Debate: To First Look or Not to First Look.  No matter what your bride and groom decide for their wedding day, the bottom line is it’s your job as the photographer to capture the memories.

There are three options:

  • First Look- where the couple sets a time before the ceremony to meet and see each other.
  • Walking down the aisle- they want a surprise as the church doors open
  • No Look- They want to meet before the ceremony to pray or exchange gifts/notes but choose to not see each other, whether behind doors or other.

One of the earliest questions I ask a couple is, “Are you interested in a First Look?”
Whether or not they want to see each other before the ceremony and break tradition tells me a lot about their style, preferences and even their relationship.
Sometimes, they say no — they want that sacred moment of surprise and awe when the church doors open and a bride walks down the aisle with her father. (It’s one of my favorite moments the whole day, too!).

advice for a first look at a weddingSometimes, they say a very solid YES! They want to see each other in a private moment, surely filled with emotions and even offer each other a bit of calmness and strength in a day of chaos and crazy.

And every now and then, we all agree on a “No Look” — an opportunity for the two of them to meet somewhere — opposite sides of a door or at the corner of a wall, maybe — so that they can hold hands, talk, even pray together, but not see each other and take away the surprise.

There’s pros and cons for all three options (for both you and your couple), but in the end, it’s their decision and their day (Remember how we talked about this in our vendor discussion? Brilliant Ideas for Working with Wedding Vendors). I never force my opinion on my couples and make whichever avenue they choose look phenomenal on their day.

It takes a little bit of planning to work some magic with a First Look.
You have to first allow enough time (we talked about this a little bit in our Timeline discussion- Creating a Timeline to Avoid Disaster) — you’ll have two people coming from different directions and you want them to have enough time to enjoy the moment in a private manner.
I usually ask at least one member of the bridal party to “help” with the First Look — they’re sort of on standby to fix a dress at the last-minute, give a direction to the other person if I don’t have a second shooter, etc.

first look for wedding

Doing a First Look lets you get a headstart on bridal party and couple portraits, especially nice for the couple who wants to enjoy most of their cocktail hour or has a shorter day or coverage. If they decide not to do a First Look, just make sure there is plenty of time later for portraits of just the two of them and with the bridal party.

And the thing I most like to do with First Looks? The thing that is really difficult to do as a photographer?

After I capture the initial reaction and first kisses, I… wait for it… put down my camera. And walk away. I let them have just a couple of minutes without me barking orders on where to stand and how to turn and let them just be them. Two people about to be married and promise a lifetime of love together.

wedding first look tips

Alright and I won’t lie… sometimes I put a wide-angle lens on and take shot from a distance.

If your couple decides to go with a first look here are 12 Tips to Photograph a First Look at a Wedding 

Don’t miss: Over 80 Tips to Read Before You Shoot Your First Wedding

 

wendy-6Guest Blogger: Wendy Zook
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST
Wendy is a Jersey Girl at heart creating adventures with her hubby and two kids (Zack-5 and Addie-3) in Rochester, NY.  When she’s not capturing love stories with her Nikon, she’s reading, sipping coffee and chasing new adventures!

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Wedding Photography Tips

Popular Posts

family christmas pictures

Family Christmas Photoshoot

family outdoor summer activities

17 Family Outdoor Summer Activities

preschool number counting books

BEST Preschool Counting Books

instant pot chicken dumplings

4 Ingredient Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

« Brilliant Ideas for Working with Wedding Vendors
6 Must Have Pictures to get of the Bride »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


I'm Erin owner and chief editor of Sixth Bloom! A wife and mom living the small town life in Mississippi just outside of New Orleans Louisiana. A retired piano teacher of 19 years, currently a professional photographer and blogger. I love Jesus, my family, coffee, french fries and traveling!

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022