The Art of the First Look: Why More Couples Are Choosing This Intimate Moment

There is a particular kind of stillness that precedes a wedding ceremony- a held breath, a gathering of nerves and joy in equal measure. It is in this precise window of time that the first look has found its home.

Increasingly, couples are choosing to see each other before they walk down the aisle, in a private moment orchestrated by their photographer, away from the crowd. The result, more often than not, is something extraordinary: an unguarded, unscripted reaction that neither ceremony nor reception can quite replicate.

Why Couples Choose It

The tradition, if you can call something so modern a tradition, emerged in part from practical considerations. Photographers advocated for it because it allowed for formal portraits to be completed before the ceremony, freeing couples to enjoy cocktail hour with their guests. But something unexpected happened: couples fell in love with the moment itself.

When I photograph a first look, I'm always struck by how different it feels from the ceremony walk. There's no audience. There's no music cueing the tears.

For couples considering whether to incorporate a first look into their day, the decision often comes down to temperament. Some find comfort in having already seen their partner before the ceremony — the adrenaline of the aisle walk transforms from overwhelming anxiety into something more like joy.