First Look Before the Ceremony vs. Down the Aisle: Which Is Right for You?

WEDDING, INSPIRATION
October 1, 2024

6. Have Fun!

This is your day! The details, timelines, and to-dos are important, but don’t let them overshadow the joy and excitement. Be yourself, let loose, and dance like no one’s watching! At the end of the day, the fun and love you shared will be what you remember most.

I love photographing couples who embrace the joy of the day, and those candid moments of laughter and spontaneity truly shine in your photos.


Your wedding day is one of the most exciting and emotional days of your life. It’s a day you’ve been dreaming about, planning, and envisioning for months or even years. But with all the excitement, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the day and forget to prioritize what truly matters. From my experience as a Houston wedding photographer, here’s a list of things I’ve seen make the biggest difference on your big day. Let’s dive in!

1. Your Connection with Each Other

It sounds simple, but the most important part of your wedding day is the two of you! With all the hustle, it's easy to focus on schedules, details, and last-minute things, but remember, this day is about celebrating your love story. Take a few moments throughout the day to check in with each other, soak it all in, and be present.

One of my favorite parts of photographing weddings is when couples take a quiet moment alone—whether it’s a first look or a quick breather after the ceremony. These small pockets of time together make all the difference and are incredibly special to capture!

2. Enjoying the Moment

Weddings can fly by! Between saying "I do," mingling with guests, and dancing the night away, the day can feel like a blur. A great way to stay grounded is by simply pausing to enjoy each moment. Smile, laugh, and take mental snapshots. From the scent of your bouquet to the sound of your guests cheering, these details are what you’ll remember.

As your photographer, I love catching candid shots of pure joy—those are the moments that showcase the real emotions of the day.

3. A Solid Timeline

Even though you want to stay in the moment, having a good timeline helps the day flow smoothly. Talk to your planner or coordinator (if you have one) and make sure everything is spaced out so you don’t feel rushed. Leave some buffer time for travel between locations or if something takes longer than expected.

This also applies to photos. Trust me, building in extra time for portraits ensures that we can capture all those romantic shots without you feeling like you’re racing the clock.

4. Trusting Your Vendors

You’ve likely spent a lot of time selecting the right vendors for your wedding day. From your photographer (hi!) to your florist, your vendors are here to help make the day seamless. Trust them to do their thing. The more you can let go and enjoy the day, the more fun and stress-free it will be!

I always work closely with my couples to understand their vision for the day, so they can relax, knowing their memories are in good hands.

5. Focusing on Your Marriage, Not Just the Appearance

Weddings are full of beautiful details—stunning dresses, elegant décor, and perfectly styled hair and makeup. But it’s important to remember that your wedding is just the beginning of something much more significant: your marriage. While it’s tempting to stress over every small detail to make sure everything looks perfect, try to keep your focus on what the day truly represents—your commitment to each other.

At the end of the day, the love and partnership you’re building matter far more than whether every flower was in place or the cake was flawless. The imperfections make the day unique, and what truly lasts are the memories of how you felt in those moments.

As your photographer, I’m here to capture the heart of your wedding day—those meaningful glances, heartfelt vows, and pure joy—because those are the moments that reflect your love and the foundation of your marriage.


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Best. photographer. ever.
Justin is so amazing to work with and takes the most beautiful photos. From our engagement photos to our wedding photos, he did so so good!
If you’re looking for a wedding photographer you have come to the right place! Justin and his team are absolutely amazing. He captured every single detail and made it so fun! The photos are unbelievably beautiful. I would recommend him to absolutely anyone. Thank you Justin for everything!!

"He captured every single detail
and made it so fun."

RACHAEL & CHASE

Our favorite vendor!!!! Justin and his team exceeded our exceptions and truly went above and beyond in every regard! I really mean that. From the very beginning, he made us feel very comfortable and excited about our photos! I was pretty particular about some poses I wanted to do, so I gave Justin a mood board of photos I wanted and he captured them perfectly!!! Justin and his team were SO MUCH FUN!!!! I had multiple people in my family, wedding party, and even guests come up to me and say how much fun they were! He captured every moment the exact way I had envisioned and I am just in love with our wedding photos!! Out of all of my vendors, he was always the quickest to respond! I couldn’t recommend Boulevard enough, seriously!!! If you’re on the fence about booking with Boulevard… this is your sign!

"I had multiple people in my family, wedding party, and even guests come up to me
and say how much fun they were!."

Lauren & Jacob

Justin and his team were AWESOME to work with! Justin is such a talented photographer and I absolutely love his style, so classic and timeless. He is also incredibly kind and so fun to work with! My husband and I don't like being in front of a camera, but he made us feel so comfortable and captured our relationship beautifully. He also worked seamlessly with our videographer. We will forever be grateful to Justin for our engagement and wedding photos!

"he made us feel so comfortable and
captured our relationship beautifully.."

HANNAH & TYLER

Justin did an amazing job with our wedding. I would instantly recommend him to anyone looking for a photographer for any event. I was actually blown away by the quality of photos we received.
From the very start he did great. On time, professional, and extremely easy to work with. At first we were a bit awkward/stiff but Justin's great personality and light hearted attitude quickly made that all go away. He was great at directing us on how to pose while still allowing freedom where we wanted it.
Despite it being a VERY hot day Justin did not complain or shy away from anything and was all around a joy to work with. Doing photos with him was really one of the highlights of our big day and I cannot recommend him enough.

"Doing photos with him was really one of the highlights of our big day and I cannot recommend him enough."

AMY & JOHN