should you do a first look? an honest pros and cons list
A first look is a private moment before the ceremony where you see each other for the first time. Some couples love it, some would rather wait for the aisle, and both are completely fine. Here's how I'd think it through.
reasons to do one
- You get most portraits done early and can go straight to cocktail hour with your guests.
- Nerves tend to settle once you've seen each other, and the rest of the day can feel a lot calmer.
- It's genuinely private. No audience, no one filming on a phone, just the two of you.
It also buys us unhurried time in the best spots at your venue, before guests arrive. Quiet corners and staircases like these are much easier to photograph when the building is still empty.
reasons to skip it
- The walk down the aisle is the moment you've been picturing, and you want it to be the first time.
- Your sunset is late enough that portraits fit after the ceremony anyway.
- You'd rather spend the morning with your people than on a schedule.
a middle path
Many couples choose a first touch: you stand on either side of a door or a corner, hold hands and talk, but don't see each other yet. You still get the calm and the private moment, and you keep the aisle.
There's no wrong answer here. Tell me which way you're leaning, and I'll plan the portraits around it.
