What are the benefits of a first-look photo shoot?

A first look can be a really special time for a couple. It can be a really beautiful, intimate private, mini-photo session before meeting at the ceremony.  Although it's not for everyone, I always suggest it as an alternative option when discussing the timeline with my couples. 

The advantages of a first-look:

- It can serve as a private and intimate moment for the two of you, on what can sometimes be a hectic, busy and stressful day. You may not get another chance alone together for the rest of the day and it can be a beautiful moment for you to connect, get excited together and soak it all in.

- If one of you (or both of you) are really nervous about standing in front of your guests and seeing your best friend walking down the aisle for the first time, it can be a really nice way to have a moment before the ceremony begins, to settle any nerves.

- If you are stretched for time later on when you are having portraits taken, this can be a great way to shoot the two of you alone and you can dedicate the portrait session for photos with your wedding party. 

- If you didn't have a pre-wedding shoot, this can be a nice way to practise how you converse in front of the camera, with some guidance and tips from your photographer, for the most flattering and beautiful photos.

A first-look is one of my favourite ways to shoot a couple. My husband and I did it for our wedding and we don't regret it. And trust me, we both still cried as I walked down the aisle and all through the ceremony.

xxx

For some, this could certainly be a great option. But remember - nothing can fully create the ambience and atmosphere of a wedding ceremony in action. Surrounded by friends & family, built upon by anticipation of the marriage that is to become official - this only comes together once.

There are many other "first looks" on the wedding day too: the first look after vows are said, the first kiss, the first smiles after being officially married. These are all part of the beauty and wonder of a wedding.

All the best for your big day!

Luke
www.thelightindustry.com

0402746041

What we can do is setup a floral pathway in order to make the garden look more amazing, with you as a bride wearing your wedding dress which will beld easily with the color of flowers we select, also the shoot would be on an angle, not straight, so that your husband will see you coming as if it's the first time he sees you

Dear Bride,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Many people feel that the couple's first view of each other should be at the altar. This is either a tradition or a superstition... depending on YOUR point of view! While we certainly respect tradition, we can't support it in the face of a modern wedding with a strict timeline or, as in your case, a setting that 'gives away' your presence well before you step clearly into his sight.

A quick cheeky 'first look' session can provide the 'WOW' factor you may desire, and allows you to have that emotional moment in a private relaxed setting. Unlike a garden altar, it can be staged without the threat of camera phones in the photographer's way, and you and your love can share a quick kiss before you 'go on stage' for your party. We feel it also provides a quick moment of calming comfort and togetherness before the main event.

Speaking practically, it gives photographers a way to stage the first look in the best possible area of your venue, taking into consideration your wishes, the background and the light. It also may help cut down the photographic time between the ceremony and the reception because you've already taken photos together with just you and your partner.

Whichever way you two decide, your partner WILL be wow'ed by you... as you will be by them, before the ceremony or at the altar.

As photographers we love to capture emotions of the groom seeing the bride for the first time. Unless you are going to have two photographers, it is difficult to capture grooms emotions very well and bride walking down the aisle at the same time with best angles. A first-look photo session definitely allows us to capture all the emotions of the groom when groom sees the bride for the first time. 

However, No matter how well couples plan the schedule for the day, we have experienced that some of the weddings struggle to follow the run sheet. Specially the ceremony preparations. In order to have a first-look session, it is a good idea to have some buffer time between completion of getting ready to ceremony start time as ceremony preparations can sometimes take more time than you expect. 

If your photography booking comes with two photographer, we can capture all these emotions when you walking down the aisle. Since you are having a garden wedding, we understand this might not be an option. If you go with a first-look session It's good idea to have some buffer time allocated before the ceremony starts. 

Quite a few benefits.

1)  Doing the first look generally means you will do your photoshoot straight after. This means you won't have to leave your guests after the ceremony.

2) No matter when your partner sees you, there will still be the wow factor

3) From what most people have told me that have done first looks is that it greatly eases tension leading up to the ceremony. Where you can both enjoy the moment of the ceremony rather than being in a surreal state and have the ceremony fly by.

4) Your partner gets to see you before pretty much everyone else. Which makes it even more special. It really depends how you percieve things.

5) You make the first look one of THE special moments in your day. Not trivialise but but rather embrace it as a major part of your day.  You go through the ritual of the first look much like the ritual of the ceremony and by having this ritual it makes the firs tlook an integral part of you day.

All the best with your day