The First Sight Photo
TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE... how to approach images before the ceremony
(featured photos at the bottom of this article)
It’s been a long-time tradition to not see each other before the ceremony. Some would consider it bad luck. But, wedding traditions are changing, especially this particular tradition. There’s a new tradition in wedding photography, and it’s doing all of your photos before the ceremony.
Ok, ok – stop cringing and thinking that doing all of your photos beforehand will ruin the excitement, romance and bring bad luck because you’re breaking tradition (wondering where this tradition actually comes from? Check out the end of this article…). In fact, there’s a way that’s even more romantic and creates an incredible memory.
SO, WHAT’S THIS FIRST SIGHT PHOTO THING?...
The “First Sight” Photo, one of my favorite photos, is done before the ceremony. It’s actually a sequence of photos to really tell a story of the moment. I approach this photo in a few steps. The first is to get a photo of the couple on opposite sides of a door or corner, without seeing each other (just to build up the fun anticipation of the moment). Then I lead the bride out to a beautiful spot on the grounds and have her turn her back with the bridesmaids standing around her so there’s no chance of seeing the bride. Then we bring the groom out either blindfolded or with his hands over his eyes, and the groomsmen walk in front of him for that extra added security. (And at this moment I sneak in a classic “Reservoir Dogs” shot of the guys walking.) I then put the couple back to back, remove the groom’s blindfold, and then… at the count of three… (or whatever number they like) they turn to see each other at the same time. Of course, immediately followed by the unavoidable embrace and kiss!
WHAT ARE THE PROS TO DOING THIS?...
It’s an incredibly beautiful and moving moment for all involved, and the perfect way to actually capture the exact moment you both see each other for the first time as bride and groom. It gives you a chance to really soak each other in in all your wedding glory, for the groom to really take in the beauty of his bride, and enjoy a quiet moment with each other. It’s also a fun moment for your family, wedding party and friends to witness. This is one of my favorite wedding images, and I believe in it so much that my husband and I did the First Sight Photo on our wedding day.
Even better, there’s some great “logistical” benefits to enjoying this new tradition.
It also allows you to get all of your posed photos out of the way before the ceremony. This way, once you’re done with the ceremony you can start your reception and not have to worry about any more posed photos. You’re free to celebrate your wedding day, and your guests are free to enjoy your presence without having to be stolen away by the photographer for 30 - 60 minutes for photos. Posed images with your family take about 15 minutes, 15-30 minutes with wedding party, and at least 30 minutes with just the two of you. One of guests’ top complaints is having to wait for the guests of honor to arrive at their own reception until 30 – 60 minutes into it. Remember, your guests came a long way to share this day with you (including getting dressed up and bringing you gifts), try to spend as much time around them as you can.
Also, and possibly more importantly, I’ve noticed in all the situations I’ve done this image for couples, and when I’ve seen it at weddings when I’ve been a guest, is that the level of stress and nervousness drops dramatically. You’re instantly reminded of what the day is about, and all the other little details people usually think and stress about before the ceremony seem to melt away. It allows you to relax with your fiancé and enjoy the day a bit more. You’ll hear just about anyone who’s gotten married say that they don’t remember much of their wedding day. It moves fast, and there’s a lot going on. This is one the moments people tend to remember and soak in, because you get to relax and slow down for a moment with each other before you return to “the chaos of wedding land”.
THE STORY BEHIND THE TRADITION...
Now, after all that, for those of you who don’t know the history behind the tradition of not seeing the bride, it may not be as romantic as you think. Centuries ago, love was not really a factor in marriage, it was considered a business arrangement made between families, counties and even countries. A marriage was a way to combine power, wealth and land; and even “revitalize” the wealth for a struggling socialite family. This is where the tradition begins. Many times the bride and groom wouldn’t even meet each other until the conclusion of the ceremony when the groom lifted the veil! The bride would be kept hidden, including under a veil during the ceremony, to avoid the groom (and his family) backing out of the “deal” before the ceremony. If he happened to catch a glimpse of her beforehand, and then backed out, the merge of families and all that goes with it falls through. A family with a lot to gain by the marriage, and a lot to lose if the deal fell through, would keep the family and groom at bay “because it’s bad luck”… well, bad luck if the deal fell apart!
Granted (and fortunately!), the tradition of not seeing the bride and the veil have taken on a more romantic flare over the centuries, but there is no bad luck with seeing your fiancé before hand. Remember, you’ve been seeing this person constantly since you first met.
WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO…
In the end, it is all up to you and your fiancé. What makes you happy on your wedding day, makes me happy, too.
An example of this series of images is below. If you have any questions about how it works, or would like to see more examples, please feel free to let me know. I’ll be regularly posting some of these photos on this blog, especially since they're always such a wonderful moment!
...without peeking...
...awaiting her groom...
...the groom being escorted... 
and at the count of three...
Tags: First Sight Photo Wedding Photography Wedding Planning