Should I do a first look? Short answer? YES!
Long answer... YES!
Another photographer that I HIGHLY admire is Stephanie Fay. She is beautiful and her work is stunning! I came across this post on her blog just the other day and wanted to share it with you here. It's brilliant!
From the blog of Stephanie Fay:
"Here are my reasons why I suggest a first look :
*Your day begins earlier with each other. Instead of your wedding day beginning at the ceremony, it begins a few hours earlier with each other! Why not make the best day of your lives last longer?!
*You have MORE time for photographs. As a photographer, my job is to tell you what will produce the best images. Having a first look plays a huge role in how your wedding schedule will play out. We find that having a first look allows for more photographs of the bride and groom, added time for family photos, and more time for creative bridal party photos.
*You get a private moment with each other with no-one else around and you will have it on film forever. This doesn't happen after the ceremony is over.
*Last but not least... you get MORE photographs. As the photographer, I have to be honest about what it takes to get the best images. Having a first look, allows us to get the absolute best photographs because we simply have more time with you. The more time with you, the more photos you'll have. We also have more time to take more creative images around your wedding venue.
* You will enjoy a more relaxed schedule which will help you better enjoy your wedding day and worry less about rushing to take photos.
Often we find that once the ceremony is over, we have about an hour to document the bride and groom, bridal party and all family. It's extremely difficult to take all those photos within an hour and use the property like we would have in a first look. Why feel rushed?"
The rest of her post is an interview of a couple who chose to do a first look and why. Straight from the mouths of a bride and groom...who could say it better? Go read the rest of her post here. It's amazing and will definitely help you make the decision on whether doing a first look is right for you.
