One of the first questions couples ask me when planning their timeline is whether or not to do a first look. And I get it—it’s a big decision, and it shapes how your day flows, how you feel, and even what your photos look like. The biggest hang-up comes from whether or not the couple wants to be more ‘traditional or not. Well, let’s take a closer look at it all.

Anastasia and Tyler were married on a warm crisp day in late October at the iconic Stan Mansion in Chicago, Illinois—a venue built in 1923 that still echoes the elegance and drama of the Gilded Age - a perfect location for this couple who brought the energy of the theater with them.