Your First Look is an amazing part of your wedding day! If you aren’t sure about this tradition, this post will explain why it would be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration that not only adds to the experience but also reduces stress. Please know that I would never want any of my couples to feel pressured to go with this option. However, I do want to make sure that I share all of the benefits of a First Look because there is a reason 90% of my couples do this and love it!

1. 40% MORE PORTRAITS & INSURANCE

You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a First Look, you’ll receive 40% more portraits of the two of you and those are the images you will decorate your home with! With a First Look, you make the most out of this large investment and get the most for your money. Also, a First Look serves as a type of insurance in the case of rain or storms! Imagine if you didn’t do a First Look and a storm set in during the ceremony. Your window of opportunity for beautiful portraits has passed. However, if you shared a First Look, you have already gotten a large majority of your portraits done!

2. ENJOY THE SURPRISE FREELY

You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your significant other. Most couples don’t realize that when you come down the aisle and totally shock them with your beauty, they can’t even tell you how amazing you look. They can’t touch you, embrace you, or even speak to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over for them to react and tell you how amazing you look. After 30 minutes of the ceremony, the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first glance.

3. EXTEND YOUR DAY BY 3 HOURS

First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time. With a First Look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your wedding party portraits, you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your best friends on your wedding day. The whole first half of my client’s wedding albums are filled with images just from this time together before the ceremony.

4. YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME

First Looks allow you to be together and alone on your wedding day. You might cry and laugh and cry together, which puts you two in the perfect mood for your romantic portraits. Normally portraits are a little rushed after Family Formals, and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode, especially with family lingering about! When you have just shared your First Look, you’re ready to love on each other and I always capture super sweet images during those moments!

5. DIMINISHES NERVES

Some of my past couples were not fans of First Looks at first. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve-racking it can be. This option offers such a tender moment on an otherwise hectic day for you both. While you may be on board and your partner may have their own reservations, it always seems that they show their authentic selves through the rest of the day – shaking out what last nerves they might’ve otherwise had.

WISCONSIN-BASED DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Please contact Haley if you wish to learn more about wedding photography or destination wedding photography.  Haley specializes in fine-art film-inspired photography. With this in mind, she aims to produce bright and airy, timeless images in a relaxed setting. Presently, Haley resides in Viroqua, Wisconsin, and documents love stories nationwide.