Of all the new wedding traditions that have popped up over the past few years, taking photos of a couples “first look” is absolutely my favorite. If you’re not familiar with the term, a first look is when a couple takes some time on their wedding day, before their ceremony, to see each other for the first time in their wedding attire. First looks are usually tender, emotional moments between the bride and groom.

Though the first look tradition has gained a lot of popularity, not everyone is on board with it. And that’s okay! But if you’re someone who is on the fence about whether or not to take a first look, hopefully this blog post will help convince you that it’s absolutely worth it. 90% of my couples do a first look and are grateful they didn’t wait till the ceremony!

Captures a priceless moment

The first and most important benefit of photographing your first look is that you have the unique opportunity to capture a priceless moment. The bride and groom seeing one another for the first time on their wedding day signifies a beautiful beginning to the rest of your life. What more could you ask for than to have that moment memorialized in a photo? Us photographers are professionals at making you feel like it’s just the two of you, so what’s even better is that you won’t even know we’re there.

Gets you a moment alone

Taking first look photos also allows you to get a moment of privacy with your fiancé before the ceremony starts. Getting married is something that you choose to do together, so it makes sense that you should have a moment alone before the big day begins. Additionally, If you’re expecting to be emotional when you first see your soon-to-be spouse, a first look is the perfect time to express those emotions without being in front of a whole crowd of people. Some couples even choose to read wedding vows or personal letters to one another during their first look so it sinks in before the ceremony.

Eases your nerves a little

Having a few butterflies in your stomach before your wedding ceremony is completely normal. A great way to ease those nerves is to see your groom in private before the day begins. The idea of the first time you see your fiancé being during the actual ceremony can be nerve-wracking! The extra pressure of a large ceremony crowd can often discourage the groom from showing his real emotions or stress him out. If you want a more genuine reaction, don’t make him wait till he’s in front of everyone he knows to show you how he feels. Let the moment be private and intimate. Taking first look photos allows you to diffuse any anxious feelings because you are spending some time with your love.

Provides more photo opportunities

There are so many good reasons to take first look photos, but perhaps one of the best (from the photographer’s perspective at least) is that it allows more time for photos to be taken. If your first look is during the ceremony, you’ll have a limited amount of time after the ceremony to take photos. This is totally doable, however if you take first look photos before the ceremony, you can get shots of you and your fiancé that you won’t have to worry about afterwards. If you’re on the fence at all, consider discussing it with your photographer! They will be able to help you work through any timing issues related to photos.

I hope these tips were helpful and cleared up any questions about photographing your first look. Is there anything else we should add to this list? Let me know in the comments!