If you want to really blow your clients away, look no further than a first look photo shoot to kick things off in a super romantic way. First look photos are when photographers capture the first time our couples see each other on their wedding days. The results are seriously beautiful and create the perfect memento of a moment that is all too fleeting. It also gives your couples the chance to take a deep breath and prepare themselves for what's to come, away from any prying eyes and external pressure.
All of this is why, today, we want to help you create the best first look images you possibly can. In this article, we’ll be breaking down everything you need to do to get your first look images spot on and wow your couples as a result. Ready?
Then let’s get started — here’s our ultimate guide to creating first look images to last a lifetime!
Finding the perfect spot
When it comes to choosing the location for a first look, the goal isn’t just to find the “most Instagrammable” backdrop. It’s to find a place where the couple can actually feel something.
So yes, you might have mountains or oceans or crumbling castles in the background — but that doesn’t matter if the couple feels stiff or distracted.
Here’s what really matters:
-
Privacy. The fewer eyes on them, the more likely they are to let their guard down. If they know people are watching, even from a distance they’ll hold back without realizing it. It’s your job, then, to scout out the most secluded spots possible for your clients… without missing out on beautiful surroundings. To do that, we recommend reaching out to the wedding venue, and asking if it would be possible to shut off a specific area for a short period of time. This is especially important if you’re shooting in a public space but is also worth doing to restrict any over-eager guests accidentally getting in on the action.
-
Sound. It’s not just about what the place looks like. Is it quiet enough to hear the intake of breath? The soft laugh? The whispered “you look amazing”? That’s part of the magic, too.
-
Light. Look for soft, natural light that doesn’t overwhelm the moment. Dappled shade under a tree, the golden filter of late afternoon sun, even the gentle glow of an overcast sky. Harsh sun or artificial light can make an intimate moment feel clinical.
-
Movement + texture. Think about how the place feels. Wind rustling through leaves. Gravel crunching under shoes. The softness of a field. A curtain swaying just slightly. These small, almost invisible details help ground the emotion in something tactile and real.
-
Accessibility. If getting to the spot requires a hike, ten minutes uphill, or navigating through wedding guests, you risk the couple arriving sweaty, stressed, or late. You want the lead-up to the moment to feel calm and simple.
Sometimes the best location is the least expected one — the quiet side of a building, a little corridor no one noticed, a driveway lined with trees. Trust your instincts. If you walk through a space and it makes you feel something, chances are it’ll work.
Choose a Time That Feels Intentional
Light is important, but so is energy.
Pick a time that gives your couple breathing room — mentally and emotionally. Maybe it’s just after they’ve finished getting ready. Maybe it’s an hour before the ceremony, when the buzz is real but the world hasn’t quite started spinning yet.
Whatever time you choose, make sure it’s not rushed. The moment deserves space to unfold naturally.
Create a moment that feels honest
Framing a wedding shoot is usually quite a spontaneous and authentic process, but when you’re trying to hide your couples from one another… things can get a little tricky. That’s why it’s so important to set everything in stone before the big day. To do that, you and your couples have got to get really specific about how to stage their first look shoot in terms of the poses and positions they want to create.
Typically, first look images see one partner standing behind the other, ready to turn round when the photographer gives their signal or when one partner taps the other on the shoulder. There’s a lot more to this than first meets the eye, though. How much distance should there be between your couples? Should they be touching each other? Should they turn round after being tapped on the back? Or should it be more spontaneous? Sure, none of this is rocket science (thankfully!) — but knowing what to do in advance will save your first look images from looking messy and potentially missing the mark. There’s also no reason why you couldn’t try a different approach to the popular stand-and-turn pose, altogether. Other ideas include:
- Couples looking at each other with their eyes closed, and then opening them.
- Couples hugging each other from behind, and then turning round.
- Capturing your couples taking off blindfolds
- Putting one partner’s hands over the other’s eyes and removing them
The bottom-line here is that, whatever you do, make sure it’s pre-planned and on track before the shoot itself. Your couples will be grateful for it, and so will you!
Photographer: Kassia J Photography
Don’t Miss the In-Betweens
Yes, the actual reveal is powerful. But so is the lead-up.
The way one of them walks down the path. The fidgeting. The deep breath. The trembling hands. The way their eyes search. The almost-steps forward. The hesitation.
These are the moments that make the memory feel alive. Be ready for them — they’re fleeting, but they’re gold.
Direct with Intention, Then Step Back
Now, back to the importance of privacy. As well as finding a secluded spot, it’s also important that, as their wedding photographer, you give your couples the space and time they need to treasure this special moment.
Of course, you’re going to have to be nearby to capture everything as closely as you can — but getting a variety of shots, including those from a distance after the immediate moment, will mean that you can step aside whenever you can. You should also, once you’ve got the shots you need, give your couple some time alone to really let them take in and enjoy the moment. This is another reason why pre-preparation is so important, as it’ll keep your involvement to a minimum. You won’t have to interject and experiment with different positions if everything is planned beforehand.
None of this is to say that you shouldn’t be part of this moment (you should) — but it’s about finding a balance between doing your job, and not overstepping the mark and making the moment more about a pretty picture than a special memory. Alongside your own discreteness, it’s also worth checking the area quickly before the couple arrive, and possibly telling the immediate guests that you’re going to be shooting a private moment in a particular spot and would appreciate it if they kept to one side for a few minutes. This probably shouldn’t be a problem if you pick a private spot in the first place… but you never know who might stumble across it, not realizing what’s going on.
So, be vocal about what’s happening, and practice what you preach. Privacy is everything when it comes to moments like these, and it’s your job to make that possible — even when needing to capture the perfect shots.
Consider a Second Shooter
And finally… to capture every moment of your couple’s first moment together, it’s seriously worth bringing in a second shooter to cover what you can’t. How, for example, are you going to capture — in full — the immediate reaction of both partners, at once? And what if your couple wants to stage something a little more elaborate and creative?
Let’s say your couple wants to have their first look on a grand stairwell. One of them wants to walk down the stairs to surprise the other. In this scenario, a second shooter will be able to follow the partner on their journey down the stairwell, which will leave you free to capture the action on the ground.
There will be a whole host of scenarios like these — where an additional camera will be essential to capture every detail of your couples’ first look. And what’s more, a first look shoot is a really great opportunity to train your second shooter, as they’re very intimate and stripped back affairs. To really blow your couples away, then, tell them you’ll be bringing a spare set of hands along to capture their special moment. They’ll be super impressed — and prepared to pay the price for it, too!
Final Thoughts
First looks aren’t about ticking off a list of must-have shots. They’re about helping your couple carve out a quiet, meaningful pause and being there to capture what happens in that pause.
Now, it’s over to you…
So, there we have it — our top tips for creating perfect first look images that’ll last a lifetime. Follow them, and you’ll be onto something seriously special! Good luck and remember to head over to our blog for more expert advice on how to ace it as a wedding photographer!
