Scott and Katie's "First Look"

What is the "First Look"? It's that first moment when the groom sees his lovely bride in her wedding dress. It's that moment that his heart skips a beat as he realizes it's really happening. It's that moment of confirmation that she sees in his eyes his deep felt love for her. It's that magical moment she has always dreamed of and wished for.

Why do a First Look session?

• Because it allows us to capture that rare moment in its entirety.
• Because without the rush of the ceremony and the crowds that follow we can spend more time photographing you and your fiancée.
• Because getting pictures of you before the ceremony will allow us more time to get the necessary family pictures after the ceremony.

For Scott and Katie, we had already discussed the possibility of doing a Formals Session (bride and groom together - sometimes called Bridals and Groomals) with them at Thanksgiving Point Gardens where they planned to hold their wedding reception.  But I suggested to her that we could do something more - that we could make the whole process more special to both of them by doing a First Look session.

For this session, I had Pete Hansen come and assist me.  I feel it's necessary to use at least two photographers for a First Look so that you can capture both the bride and the groom's reactions simultaneously and without interruption.  This is to be a "special moment" and the bride and groom should not be thinking about the cameras.  They should only be thinking about each other.

While Katie was still getting ready, I sent Pete on down to the Secret Garden area of the Thanksgiving Point Gardens.  I asked him to stop along the way and get a few shots of the gallant Mr. Henderson.  And wow, did he ever.  Scott is very handsome and Pete captured his personality well.

Meanwhile I stayed back and waited for Katie to finish getting ready.  And once she was done I then proceeded to do the same thing, capturing images of Katie as we progressed towards the Secret Garden.  It was there, at the Secret Garden, where we choreographed the encounter.  We set up how Scott would be waiting and how Katie would come in to find her man.  We set up how we would capture both angles at once and then just set things in motion and let it unfold.

Below are some of the images we captured, on the way to the Secret Garden.  During the First Look, and also afterwards as we completed their Formals Session.









Here is where we bring Katie into the Secret Garden area where Scott has been patiently waiting:



I love this contemplative image of Scott as he waits while his bride approaches:



And the smile on Katie's face as she first spots her man:



The pure joy on Scott's face as Katie calls his name and he turns to see her:



Checking her out and giving his obvious approval:



Stepping back - this is what we saw - the "big picture" so to speak:







We let Scott and Katie enjoy each other's company for several minutes without interruption so that they could just soak each other in. And then we moved on to the Formals (getting pictures of the two of them together). Please enjoy the rest of the images, thanks for visiting! :)



























Doesn't Katie just look like she belongs on the cover of a Bridal Magazine?



Don't they BOTH look like they belong there?