Behind the Photo - At First Sight

The first sight is one of the biggest moments of the wedding day. Whether it be during the ceremony or before hand like this photo below. While some brides and grooms are still choosing to see each other for the first time during the ceremony, 90% of our brides and grooms do a first sight like this one below where we setup the groom in a location and the bride walks up behind him and taps him on the shoulder to turn around and see her for the first time on their wedding day.


Shooting the first sight is tough. You want to get several reactions and angles and it all happens very fast. If family and friends are present it complicates it even further. Here is a quick list of the reactions/shots I want:


1. The groom waiting.

2a. The bride approaching.

2b. The bride approaching in the background with the groom in the foreground.

3. The grooms reaction to seeing his beautiful bride.

4. The brides reaction to seeing her studly groom.

5. The kiss that inevitably happens.

6. The reaction of any family or friends who may be onlookers at the time.

7. The bride and groom's behavior when we don't tell them what to do next.


It is tough to cover all of that with just one person. Luckily Ashley and I work on a different level than most and know exactly what the other is doing. That allows us to capture these moments from many angles and perspectives very quickly without taking the exact same photo. There is no other team like Ashley and I and that comes from the fact that we are married and know each better than anyone else. It allows us to be completely open and honest with each other regarding our photography and how we work together.


This first sight is from a recent wedding with Amber and Brian. We shot these first sight photos in the Sculpture Garden in Downtown Des Moines. There were a lot of people in the garden that day, but you wouldn't be able to tell from these photos. (Another important aspect of how Ashley and I shoot.) These two photos show the different angles Ashley and were working from for this first sight. We will always recommend an outside first sight, but we also do them at church alters if so desired. Congratulations again to Amber and Brian!