Deconstructing the "First Look"

A vineyard scape first look approached from multiple angles by two photographers. The bride coordinates with a preliminary phone call to her groom.

To date, 35% of my wedding couples are doing an off-altar, pre-ceremony "first look". The rest are sticking to tradition and seeing each other for the first time at their ceremony. However, it does appear that the occurrence of "first-looking" is increasing, as well as a rising preference for what you get with such an event. This article highlights some things to consider regarding the benefits of a first look and different methods of choreographing one with your photographer.

A carefully positioned first look (with the burst of sunset behind). His smile upon seeing her was classic!

Benefits of "First Looking"

Really the only non-benefit of doing a first look is relinquishing the tradition of seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle. If that's significant to you, don't feel pressured to do a first look. If you're otherwise open to doing something a little different, consider the following:

• If your reception follows your ceremony immediately and there isn't much time (or daylight) for bridal party and couple portraits, staging an earlier first look allows as much time as needed for photos.
• Seeing each other for the first time in a private setting rather than stared down by your ceremony congregation allows for much more authentic, natural emotions to be captured.
• The locale, timing and space granted by most first look scenes allows many more shots and angles to be captured of both your expressions than most at-ceremony first looks.

One of my favorite first look encounters, they both just had so much emotion and excitement about each other. I love how bashful and giggly she looks in the bottom middle image as he exclaims about her gown, and how he "models" his suit for her in the next shot.

Types of First Looks

Keep in mind that the peak emotion of a first look is often a very brief moment. First looks are most photographically successful with careful planning on when and where they happen. Space, perspective and time of day are all specific factors. If you recruit two photographers for your event you'll obviously get more angles of your first look; however, the following scenarios were figured taking just one photog into consideration. I've invented the titles of these first look types to simplify them.

The "Creeping Bride" first look is the most common and easiest to coordinate with one photographer. Photographer faces groom, bride approaches from behind groom, bride often taps groom on shoulder (or other personalized interaction), photographer moves around them, not interfering, capturing as much as possible from as many angles as possible. Choreography could be reversed for a "Creeping Groom", but most brides wish to see their groom before he sees his bride.

A "Creeping Bride" first look. I love when a groom can't get enough of his bride's fashion.

The "Each Perspective" first look requires more interference from the photographer (if only one photog is used). Choreography can follow the same course of action as the "Creeping Bride", but the photog approaches each the bride and groom separately, stopping them at some points to move between them and capture perspectives from each respectively.

An "Each Perspective" first look: Hers from behind and his from front not knowing when she'll reach him. This was shot by two photographers in a vineyard (a first look locale where I recommend two photogs).

Another "Each Perspective" first look capturing her thoughtful emotions as she approaches.

The "Blind Encounter" is an outside-of-the-box first look in which the bride and groom encounter each other and may even stand side by side, but remain eyes-closed, blindfolded or face-blocked by a bouquet, hands or other props. They can choose thereafter to look upon each other OR to resist and still not actually see each other until the ceremony. The latter may be a good option for those mod/traditional mixers who want the best of both worlds. I have yet to stage the following, but full bridal party as well as couple photos could even be done without the bride and groom even seeing each other. Intimate shots would just have to be done with their eyes closed! I think it'd be cute. Different! Intimate.

A "Blind Encounter" first look. They actually still did not see each other until the ceremony. (Their portrait and kissing shots above were done post-ceremony.)

The "Item Dividing" first look is one in which an item such as a door (both holding on to the knobs), raised bouquet, veil or other item of interest divides the couple and is lifted or peeked around for the reveal.

Tips

• Make sure bouquets and rings are present at the first look scene. Formal shots require these items.
• Bad weather happens, but if forced to be indoors for a first look, choose as non-public a space as is available. It's tacky for tourists and passersby to watch you and show up in the background of your intimate moment (passersby happen most often in hotels or popular sections of historic locales).
• Plan ahead and specify your ideal first look choreography with your photographer to allow for the best capture of the event. This may include scouting the locale together.
• Choose a first look locale that has significance to you or has a backdrop that suits your wedding day style. Consult with your photographer for ideas.
• Plan on your first look moment, couple portraits and bridal party portraits all taking at least an hour (in one location, not considering any travel time if applicable).

I hope this gives a good perspective on what to expect with first looks. Thanks again to Brittni (one of my autumn brides) for inquiring about first look visuals and giving me the topic for this blog. I hope these first look composites are helpful!