20 Beautiful Father-Daughter First Looks

The first look shot between the happy couple has been cropping up more and more in wedding albums in recent years, but there's one even sweeter moment that we love to see and that's the father-daughter first look. Full of smiles, happy tears, laughter, and love, these moments hold so much meaning and beauty.

It's easy to get caught up in the fast pace of the big day, but taking a first-look photo with your dad can help you relax and feel a little less anxious before the wedding begins. Just make sure that he's already in his suit and ready to go!

Finding The Time

Typically the father-daughter first look photo is taken right after the bridal getting-ready portraits; most photographers allow 10 to 15 minutes to capture the shot. Because it's such a candid moment it's not something you can recreate, and if we're being honest it's not something most people want to stage so getting it perfect the first time is mandatory. The beauty of the shot is the raw emotion and your dad's natural response to seeing his child dressed up for their wedding day, you're hoping for some tears, laughter and lots of hugging so catching the moment unfiltered and unfettered is the key to a memorable photo. If you have to, don't tell your dad about the shot until after it's been taken so he doesn't feel like he has to perform to the camera.

Picking The Setting

Just like picking the location for your first look with your soon-to-be spouse, finding the right location to capture the daddy-daughter shot requires a little more thought than just snapping in the hotel hallway. You ideally want somewhere private so you and your dad don't feel too awkward to properly express how you're feeling, somewhere that looks nice for a photo and somewhere not too far away from the rest of the wedding so you don't have to panic drive back to the hotel. If you’re having the first look in the room where you got dressed, keep the room as neat as possible. Wherever you decide, try to pick a spot with plenty of good light, which always helps for a great picture.