Choosing to do a first look at a wedding has become more and more popular over the past decade. Couples choosing to see each other before the ceremony is a big win for clients, photography timelines, and professional wedding albums. In this blog, we’ll share 3 reasons wedding first looks are great for photographers.
Traditionally it was considered bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony. This custom originated with arranged marriages. These celebrations were definitely more transactional than romantic. On top of that, the superstition of, “It’s Bad Luck” was thrown into the mix making the couple steer clear of any prenuptial sightings.
Now, newlyweds-to-be feel a first look is a more emotional and intimate way to begin their celebration. It’s a way to settle nerves and share a private moment before the festivities begin. Some couples read letters to each other or exchange gifts during the first look as well. Now that IS romantic!
Today, with more personalized events and flexible spaces, wedding first looks are helpful. They can be an asset for both couples and professional wedding photographers.
3 Reasons Wedding First Looks are Great!
1. Controlling the Moment
When planning a first look, the setting, lighting, and vantage points can all be planned in advance to capture the moments flawlessly. Of the 3 ways that wedding first looks are great, this might be our favorite! This way helps create quality imagery for a professional wedding album. Wedding first looks, as candid as they may seem, are very coordinated. A big benefit to these scheduled meetings is the opportunity to set the scene and create the perfect environment, lighting, and positioning.
Often the first look images from a wedding can be much more aesthetically pleasing than the actual ceremony space when added to a wedding album design.
Unlike when photographers are actually covering the wedding, a first look can be orchestrated for optimal image capture. Trying to photograph the bride coming down the aisle, dodging cell phones across the aisles, while trying to capture the groom’s reaction can be pretty chaotic. When wedding photographers are able to control the scene, it can lead to some beautiful romantic images for the clients custom wedding album.
2. More Creative Storytelling
Creating the environment for the first look sets up the opportunity to capture a variety of different angles and emotions. Being unrestricted by an audience, an officiant, or a religious space, you can move freely around the couple. This guarantees a wide variety of composed images.
Without ceremony restrictions, wedding first looks are great because photographers can walk around a couple, step back and shoot from a distance, or shoot through some foreground foliage. Instructing the couple to sit and chat, or stroll through a space holding hands can create great editorial images that look nice alongside posed portraits in a wedding album design.
Additionally you’ll have a bit of time for individuals and detailed images in a space that’s prettier than a standard hotel room.
3. Bonus Time With the Couple
The last item on our list of 3 reasons wedding first looks are great, is that photographers can efficiently document many of the group photos that would have traditionally been done after the ceremony. This can be a big help if the ceremony and reception are in the same space. Taking care of bridal party and family group portraits after a wedding first look will allow happy guests to move from ceremony directly into cocktail hour without having to wait around for photos.
Once the ceremony is over, pro tip, don’t let that couple go just yet! As the ceremony crowd makes their way to the party, steal the couple away to a private space. Now you have additional time for portraits and candids of the couple as newlyweds to add to the collection of wedding album images.
If you plan on taking the couple out for a sendoff shot later in the evening, that’s 3 different opportunities to work with the couple and a terrific way to build a beautiful portfolio of images for your clients’ professional wedding album.
Having more control, allowing for an increase in creative options, and extra images with the couple are just 3 reasons wedding first looks are great for photographers. Although first looks break with tradition, professional wedding photographers can certainly maximize their effort with this practice that is becoming more of a norm.
If you’re looking for ways to create a beautiful layout for your couple’s professional wedding album, be sure to check out the wedding album design service that Zookbinders, a McKenna company, offers! Need to chat with an expert? You can set up an appointment with an album specialist HERE.
