Prominent examples of classic transition metal-based photoredox catalysts include octahedral Ruthenium and Iridium complexes with low-spin 4d and 5d 6 electronic configurations, respectively. Notably, catalysts featuring polypyridyl ligands ([Ru(bpy)3] 2+ ) and phenylpyridine ligands (Ir(ppy)3) have enjoyed continual success owing to characteristics of these complexes, such as intense light absorption in the visible region, long-lived electronic excited states, reversible electrochemical behavior, facile tunability, etc. and various reviews have covered their growth and accomplishments. However, due to Ir and Ru being one of the least abundantly available metals, the widespread application of these complexes in large-scale usage is hindered. Therefore, the search for innovative photoredox catalysts and newer excitation platforms by substituting the precious metal with organic dyes or more abundant transition metals stands as a paramount challenge among scientists. First-row transition metals are characterized by their cost-effectiveness and abundance, making them the primary preference for substitution in lieu of precious metals. The diverse range of commercially available ligand scaffolds, along with literature precedents regarding their influence on the electronic structures of compounds, presents a promising avenue for precisely tuning the redox properties of complexes derived from first-row transition metals. This capability holds particular significance in the design of efficient photocatalysts. Leveraging such ligand-metal interactions to tailor the electronic structure of firstrow metal complexes not only represents a powerful strategy for the development of economical and efficient photocatalysts but also unlocks access to new chemical space through unique cross-coupling and generation of openshell species opportunities. This facilitated the exploration of Fe, Co, Ni, Ce, and Cu as promising photocatalysts, complemented by excellent reviews encompassing their application in this domain. This review offers (i) an overview of the structural, photophysical, and electrochemical attributes of copper(I) complexes influencing their functional behavior; (ii) highlights notable advancements in employing copper(I)-BINAP complexes as photocatalysts for catalyzing challenging or previously inaccessible carbon-carbon, and carbon-heteroatom bond formations under mild conditions, and (iii) provides an analysis of the trajectory of this catalytic system, elucidating the challenges it encounters and identifying underexplored opportunities for advancement.