How A First Look Actually Works
Whether you know that you want to share a first look or you’re on the fence - you might be wondering how exactly they work!
A first look is where the couple chooses to see each other privately before their ceremony to share some special time alone, release some nerves and help maximize their time together on their wedding day.
Savannah Smith Photography prioritizes working with couples who choose to share a first look for a variety of reasons and I could literally write about first looks all day long. But, how do they work? What happens?
A first look is actually really simple and quiet. It’s a moment that is different for every single couple that I work with. Let’s talk through the step-by-step!
Long before their wedding, while we’re planning their wedding day timeline, the couple and I (sometimes with their planner or coordinator) will decide on the time that their first look will take place.
On the day of their wedding, I will choose my clients’ first look location. You can read about why right here! Sometimes I arrive early to the location to do some scouting, sometimes I take input from the couple and sometimes I pop out just before the first look to choose a space.
It’s very, very important that the couple is alone (minus us) during this time. We are there to document the reaction not interfere in that moment. I typically do not allow any members of the wedding party or family to watch a first look.
We place one significant other in the space first (this is often the groom but in same-sex weddings, we will ask the couple what works best for them). My second shooter will give that person the rundown on how this is about to all happen! We’ll instruct them on which direction to turn and let them know that they are free to react as much or as little as they want. We never push a groom to cry.
Either myself or my second shooter will then bring the other significant other to the first look location while their other half has their back turned! No peeking! We allow the second partner to choose whether they’d like to tap their spouse’s shoulder or call their name and walk towards them. Depending on what they choose, we’ll instruct the second partner (often the bride) on where to stand, when to walk and where to take a pause. We also remind that partner that they can feel free to react as little or as much as possible.
We tell both partners that they can turn to us when they’re ready and let us know that they’re ready for portraits. We won’t interrupt them after they’ve seen each other. We wait for them to tell us that they’re ready.
My second shooter and I back up to give the couple as much privacy as we can (often shooting with long lenses when possible). We’ll give a thumbs up when we’re ready and just let them do their thing as previously instructed!
We capture and then we wait until they tell us that they’re ready to move on to doing some portraits.
The goal is to interfere in the first look the least amount possible. Aside from setting up the couple in the best light and location and then providing instructions, it’s really important that photographers and videographers just allow the couple to experience that moment.
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