Can You Still Get Good Pictures Without A First Look?

Posted in: For Clients

Can you still get good pictures without a first look?
Can You Still Get Good Pictures Without A First Look, How to get good pictures without seeing each other before the ceremony

Can you still get good pictures without a first look? You all already know how much I love first looks. Believe it or not, even though I love them, I really don’t try to influence my couples to do first looks. I make it my goal to educate on the pro’s and con’s of both, then let them decide. If you have your heart set on waiting to see each other until the ceremony, it is your wedding day, and I want it to be everything you dreamed it would be and more.

There are a few scenario’s where I break my rule, and strongly recommend a first look. One of which is when my couple is planning their wedding between the months of November – March.

Why should couples getting married in the months of November, December, January, February and March consider a first look? It’s simple: the time change.

Getting married in the off season means the sun sets so much quicker than those long summer days. Night portraits can be gorgeous, but if that isn’t the look you want, then we need to talk about the options we have.

If you and your fiancé have decided not to see each other before the ceremony, and are having your wedding between the months of November and March, here are some rules to make sure you can still get the natural light pictures you love.

1. Have your ceremony early

In the winter months, the sun sets around 6:00 pm. We want as much time as we can afford, so plan your ceremony for 2:00 pm or so. This will give us time in the sun before it gets too dark!

2. Plan for a big gap in between the ceremony and reception

The more time you give us, the more time we’ll have to get quality images, and a large quantity of them. Planning enough time also means less stress on the two of you, and the freedom to go to the locations you have your heart set on.

3. Pick your venue’s wisely

This is so important! Your venue can be a “back up plan” of sorts for pictures. If you love the natural look, don’t pick a dark, moody venue with little to no window’s. If the weather is bad, we won’t have time to wait until it clears the way we might if there was a first look, so we may have to shoot at the venue, be it the ceremony or the reception! Venues with clean looks and lots of open windows are best for winter weddings! (If you need recommendations, let me know! 🙂 )

Can you still get good pictures without a first look? With these three steps, you’ll be able to have the best of both worlds – Many quality pictures, less stress, and being able to wait until after the ceremony to see each other! If you would like more thought’s on a first look, and why they are a great idea, click here! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Cincinnati Wedding Photographer | Lexington Wedding Photographer | Louisville Wedding Photographer | Find the best Cincinnati Wedding Photographer | © 2019 Megan Noll

instagram

@megannollphotography

about

the Experience 

for photographers

for brides

blog

contact

portfolio

Megan Noll Photography strives to create safe & inclusive environments that celebrate diversity. We enthusiastically welcome all races, abilities, ethnicities, backgrounds, orientations & identities.