One of the biggest debates among my couples is usually whether or not to do a first look.  The first look is not for everyone.  This post is going to talk about the ups and downs of the first looks.  From a photography standpoint, the first look is all ups because often I don’t get the best vantage point during the ceremony when you both first see each other and I’m restricted by the areas at the church.

So here are the pro’s:

• I get the best points as a photographer to actually see what’s going on and capture it without being intrusive.
• We get more time to get pictures done so you get to enjoy cocktail hour (this is especially important if you’re having everything at one place, it gives us time to get pictures done without rushing around)
• If you’re emotional, you get to do that by yourself instead of in front of a crowd
• You’re more relaxed during the ceremony because there’s no worry about timing before the reception.
• It makes sure that family actually gets there on time (we all have that one family member who’s notoriously late!)
• Also gives time for all bridal party members to be present!  I can’t tell you how often one person is running late and then we can’t take pictures and have to push them back or can’t even get to them until after the ceremony cutting into the other time set aside, with a first look, it gives everyone to get together and so that they know all pictures are beforehand.
• You get some time alone on the day of which is pretty rare!
• We can go to several different locations instead of just one in between.

Some con’s:

• You don’t get that traditional feeling of walking down the aisle and first seeing each other.
• If you already have a large gap in between the ceremony and reception, you don’t have to worry about a first look.
• With good planning, you can still get the pictures you want and get to cocktail hour too!

And to really clarify this isn’t a post about how everyone should do a first look!  It’s not for everyone and everyone can decide that for themselves, it’s your decision to make not mine!

In an attempt to not make this post a million pictures because you really have to see an array of pictures from a first look, here’s a favorite from each one of the series I’m going to show you!

First up, Jessie and Mike and they didn’t really have a planned first look by any means but I’m so happy to have caught the first moments they saw each other!

Then there is Shannon and Matt who did a very quick first look!  But still fun nonetheless!  Some couples take more time, some take less, it always depends!  It could have also been that it was around 90 degrees out that day!

Jen and Scott wanted to do a first look because they wanted a few different locations and knew there just wasn’t time in between, we ended up going to Wrigley, Harry Caray’s for a drink and then North Ave Beach before their ceremony!

Because their ceremony and reception were both located at White Pines, Katie and Mark wanted all the photos out of the way since they knew they’d do a receiving line and didn’t want to be rushed!  They were so much fun during their first look and talked about their day before seeing each other.  It was so cute!

Lauren and Brian also had their wedding at the same location at Winnetka Community House as well as a late ceremony, so they knew in order to get any light for photos, they would have to meet beforehand.  This first look was featured on a series by the Weddingistas too!  This photo makes my heart melt.

And finally, Kim and Mike’s first look that was moved to their hotel suite because of the rain!  No worries though, they still had an amazing day and their first look was so much fun!

And because I said that you have to see several series in first look’s to really get an idea if this is what you want to do!  Here’s a slideshow of each of the first looks so you see!

So there’s my take on first looks! I wrote this not to make all my clients do first looks or anything, that’s not the intention! I had a few ask me to talk about it more and there’s nothing better than showing you pictures right?

If you want more information on whether a first look will work in your wedding, just send me an email!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

p.s. I’ve been VERY busy on some VERY exciting things that are happening!

Ok, so I actually put this off because the task was so incredibly daunting! I mean who wants to look through thousands upon thousands of images and then narrow it down? I had a bunch that I chose then weeded out some more and apparently I can’t narrow it down from 19, so here we are! Now each and every wedding had some amazing portraits but these were the ones that stuck out to me! I’ll have a full recap of 2009 in slideshow form sometime soonish!

So now the lucky 19. And guess what? The WINNER of the best of poll gets a 16×20 gallery wrapped canvas of the image and the 2nd and 3rd place also get a prize too!  So vote away, encourage your friends and family to vote for you and whoever you want as well! Contest ends at midnight CST Friday February 5th, 2010. So let’s get it started!

#1 – Katie and Mark
Katie and Mark got married at White Pines Country Club in Bensenville, they decided to do a first look and then we did some portraits afterward before the ceremony. This was a moment when I took them near this grassy field and this is what Mark did. They were fun and truly in love and couldn’t wait for this day to come!

#2 – Lauren and Brian
Lauren and Brian got married at Winnetka Community House and their venue and the locations there were spectacular! Lauren and Brian also had decided on a first look, it was when Lauren laid her head on Brian’s shoulder that I knew this was going to be a great picture!

#3 – Nadine and Rick
This wedding was located at Hotel Baker in St. Charles and Nadine and Rick were not my typical couple, they both had families they were combining but it was positive that they surrounded themselves with people who they loved and who loved them. This image is one of my favorites, look at the way the wind swept Nadine’s hair and just how they look so relieved!

#4 - Shannon and Matt
Shannon and Matt were one of the first couples to book me for their wedding last year and I was really excited to show them their risk was going to pay off big! They also had a first look followed by some pictures at a nearby park in Oswego, it was one of those hot days but Shannon and Matt were determined to have great images and this one just really stood out to me from the hundreds! They had their reception at Riverview Banquets in Geneva.

#5 – Jessie and Mike

Jessie and Mike were the most untraditional couple that I photographed in 2009 and I welcomed it!  They wanted everyone to party and the food was pretty amazing seeing as Jessie makes gelato for a living!  They were married and had their reception at Architectural Artifacts in Chicago.  When I saw this image, I literally gasped!  What a sweet moment between Jessie and Mike that they just wanted to be together!

#6 – Jen and Scott

Oh Jen and Scott, how I love the quirkiness that Scott showed me on their wedding day, much like the first image, but knowing that they probably wouldn’t want a large canvas of Scott jokingly jumping into Lake Michigan…I decided to try number 2 instead!  They also had a first look so we can go all over Chicago to get their gorgeous images, definitely one of my favorite weddings with a reception at Maggiano’s!

#7 – Kirsten and Will

Oh Kirsten and Will!  It decided to be freezing and raining on their wedding day and their hopes of an outdoor ceremony not under a tent were dashed.  We managed to get some awesome images even with disappearing sunlight though!

#8 – Beth and Tom

Beth and Tom also had their reception at Maggianos in Oakbrook!  Their wedding was on one of those hot hot hot summer days at Wilder Park in Elmhurst.  Everyone was dripping with sweat but Beth and Tom decided to treat their guests to some ice cream and hired a cute ice cream truck!

#9 – Val and Josh

One of my favorite weddings of 2009 as well!  Val and Josh just were themselves through silliness and their love for one another.  They were brave enough to get some images outside before heading to The Seville in Streamwood for their dancing marathon reception.  And honestly, what can you not love about this picture??

#10 – Christine and John

Christine and John also got married during one of those hot summer streaks we had!  And I just love this image, love love love love love.  I love the sun peaking out through the trees and the smiles they both have!

#11 – Amanda and Steve

This was tough wedding to choose ONE image from.  I mean just one?  These were some of my all time favorites and I just loved them all.  I settled on this black and white of Amanda and Steve.  I mean what’s not to love.  We squeezed the last bit out of fall and I could’ve chosen an image with great oranges and yellows, but I love the simplicity of this black and white image.  I even could’ve chosen some of the stuff we got at Entourage where their reception was held!  But I liked this one the best!

#12 – Karen and Greg

Oh Karen and Greg!  I just love everything there is about this image!  We changed up their picture site due to disappearing sunlight and a thick cloud cover that had set in and everything just worked itself out!  I mean, how can you not LOVE this image?  Then there was some great times at Belvedere Banquets at their reception!

#13 – Traycie and Jason

Traycie and Jason were my very last wedding in 2009!  They were married on New Years Eve and wanted to brave the 10 degree or so weather for pictures!  I love the expressions between Jason and Traycie and the lights in the background!  We did get to warm up and go to Old Orchard Country Club for their reception and to ring in the new year!

#14 – Kim and Mike

Kim and Mike are just fun.  There’s no ifs ands or buts about it!  Their wedding plans were foiled by the weather but they definitely took it in stride!  After they moved their ceremony indoors and having to do pictures inside the hotel instead of outside, the sun came out after their ceremony during cocktail hour so we hit the golf course at the Arboretum Club to get this photo!  And I love how they are laughing and smiling in it!

#15 – Eleni and Mike

Eleni and Mike also got married during the heat streak in Chicago!  We even braved Millennium Park during the first weekend of the Taste of Chicago for pictures!  And really, it wasn’t that horrible and while I loved so many of the photos including Eleni dancing with some break dancers, this one we got at the Grand Piazza has been a favorite since!

#16 – Dani and Hoang

Dani and Hoang were calm on their wedding day despite some hiccups like their limo showing up about an hour late.  We still got into take pictures at Wrigley Field  but that meant our time at Millennium Park was short.  I’m pretty sure I did Millennium Park photos in 15 minutes, maybe 20 but we had to get over to cocktail hour at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile! I love this picture because it was as we were walking back to the limo and completely on their own.

#17 – Brooke and Brett

Another of my favorites!  Brooke and Brett got married before their reception at the Byron Colby Barn and Brooke told me that it rained profusely on their wedding day and the pictures they had hoped to come from it were lackluster, so that put a lot of pressure on me to get something they loved!  And I think I succeeded!  The first photo, I couldn’t not include as I feel like it’s just special and something that happened between them!  The 2nd one is the one in the contest.  I love this image.  You can just see them looking at each other and smiling as they walked into a random field we went to!

#18 – Sharon and Edgar

Sharon and Edgar (and their wedding party) were a lot of fun!  We had a relaxed day and took portraits at Cantigny in between their ceremony and reception and you know how much I love Cantigny!  This is one of my many favorites for the day because you can just see how in love they are, I mean look at Edgars face and Sharon’s eyes…Just everything about this one makes me swoon!

#19 – Sarika and Manish

And finally Sarika and Manish!  During their engagement sessions I knew I couldn’t wait for their wedding day!  They were willing to do things silly and basically would do things themselves and would be themselves so my job was pretty easy going!  I just had to capture them in that manner!  Their extravagant and magnificent day was held at the Lincolnshire Marriot and every detail was taken care of!  I love this picture.  I just do and you can see why!

Whew!  That was tough!  And really really difficult to narrow it down!

So you can only do one vote per person per day!  So vote away!!

I first apologize for the length of this slideshow. I kept going through their images and Kim and Mike had SO many good ones, I couldn’t choose.

Needless to say I think that they should order some large! Kim was so relaxed the day of, I walked into her suite and she just laughed, told me it’s been raining all day, she had no other plans but to take the wedding pictures outdoors before the ceremony and her dress was lost by the bellman! We joked for about an hour while they retrieved the dress from the wrong room that we’d just whip up a new wedding dress using some of the sheets! She truly was relaxed and just happy to get married.

We started out at the Westin in Wheeling to get some done, and it was a dream to photograph there! I can’t wait for a wedding or reception to be held there as their windows and suites are so big! It was a lovely place!

Westin
2855 North Milwaukee Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 480-7500

After all of the silliness of the bridal party pictures were done at the Westin we headed off to the Arboretum in Buffalo Grove for the ceremony and reception. I wish that it wasn’t rainy out because the rolling hills and lovely landscape of the Arboretum made for a wonderful backdrop for wedding pictures. Luckily, Kim & Mike still got to go out on the course during cocktail hour. This is a great thing to do for the couple right after the ceremony because it gives them some moments alone during the day!

Arboretum Club
401 W Half Day Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-6548
(847) 913-9112

So without further ado, here’s your slideshow:

Thanks for having me along Kim and Mike! I had a blast doing your wedding photography!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com
www.karaschultz.com

I bet Kim is stalking my blog right now waiting for me to post their wedding picture sneak preview. Is it funny that I know which brides do this? (Hi Kim!) Despite the rainy whether that would normally put a damper on their day, Kim and Mike took it in stride and truly enjoyed their wedding day! They were one of my favorite couples to photograph, funny, relaxed and just fun in general! I knew that from their engagement session and it all came back on their wedding day! They ended up getting married indoors instead of out at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove IL, this is truly an awesome venue for weddings and the staff was so accommodating for us photographing it!

Everyone started getting ready at the Hilton in Wheeling where there were so many places for pictures!

2855 North Milwaukee Avenue
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 480-7500

seconds after first seeing each other

new favorite bride portrait:

Kim and her sisters LOVE top model (a group after my own heart) so I made them pose, who’s stealing the show!?

and a walk off:

The ceremony took place at the Arboretum Club in Long Grove:

The Arboretum Club

401 W Half Day Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-6548
(847) 913-9112

Thanks for stopping by and checking me out!  Can’t wait to show them all!!
Kar