How to make time for those in between moments

What is candid wedding photography?

Something I hear a lot from inquiring couples is that they want candid wedding photography and are looking for a photographer that can naturally capture all the special moments throughout the day. This request always make my photographer heart so happy because nothing brings me more joy than capturing an organic moment on a wedding day.

So what exactly does candid wedding photography mean? Well, it means that there is no direction from me and the moment has unfolded completely unprompted. There is a reason that people love these types of photos, and that is because you can feel the emotion in the photo in a way that you just can’t replicate. They are special because they really can’t be planned. The unexpected tears, during the first look, the pride on your Dad’s face as he walks you down the aisle, the laughter during a particularly well written speech…those can’t be staged. If you try to force them they don’t look right and when you look back at the photos you will only remember the staging that went into them. If these kinds of photos are important to you, you need to be intentional about giving these moments the opportunity to happen naturally, and choose to be in the moment so you can experience them with your whole heart.

So how do you get those candid moments if they can’t be planned?

One thing most couples don’t realize is that they themselves play a large part in whether their wedding photos truly capture the candid moments of their day. You have to be fully present in order for these moments to happen, and to be fully present you have to do a little planning ahead of time. Luckily, it is not as daunting as it may seem and I have some easy tips to ensure that you can enjoy your wedding and allow all those moments to flow naturally throughout your day.

1. Trust your photographer. This is number one for a reason. Your photographer is the one that will be capturing these moments for you and they need to be ready at a moments notice to capture them as they happen. We are constantly processing everything around us on a wedding day, anticipating when someone might be on the verge of tears or about to wrap the bride and groom in a giant hug, so you need to have confidence that the photographer you have chose can do that. Your photographer should specializes in candid photography and it should be evident in the galleries they share that they are. Don’t feel shy asking to see multiple full galleries so you can see for yourself if they consistently capture the types of photos that are most important to you.

2. Be intentional about being fully present. You can hire the most talented photographer on the planet, but if you’re distracted, trying to do 10 things at once all day, or fill every possible second on your timeline, there will be no opportunity for those special moments to unfold. Put your phone away, take a deep breath and choose to be present. Choose to trust that your vendor team can handle any issues that arise and don’t spend your day looking around to make sure everything is in order. This goes back to the trust I was talking about (are you sensing a theme?) and it applies to every vendor you hire. Trust them to do what they do best and bring your vision to life, that is what they are there for!

3. Leave time in your day for your wedding to breathe so you can interact with your loved ones and give the opportunity for the moment to happen. If you want a sweet photo interacting with your grandma, you need to go hang out with your grandma. I know it can be tempting to do all the things on your wedding day but the fact of the matter is there are still a limited number of hours in the day. Be sure to realistically account for things like travel time, bathroom breaks, and set up/prep between activities. You are not going to go directly from taking couples photos to walking down the aisle and you would not want to do that even if it was possible. Everything would start to blend together until the day was one big blur. Take a break, regroup, and take in the moment you’re in instead of racing to the next one.

4. Consider a first look. This suggestion has nothing to do with your photos or making my job easier, I swear. Time and time again I see brides and groom that are a ball of nerves when I arrive. They are in their heads, going over every little detail and nothing anyone says or does seems to calm their racing minds. Then the first look happens, and I can see the tension leave their bodies. The shoulders relax, the crease between their eyebrows goes away and they get lost in their favorite person for a bit. I have never, in all my years as a wedding photographer, had a couple regret doing a first look, but I have had plenty of couples wish they had done one simply because they were so nervous for so much of the day.

Lastly, don’t feel the need to pre plan every “moment” of your day. The true lasting memories will come from the moments will happen when you are fully in the moment without worry what is happening next. I know choosing to be present sounds easier said than done, and I get that the nerves that go along with a wedding day can be hard to shake. But if you do your best to follow these tips and set the intention to be present, you leave the day open for these moments to unfold naturally and to make lifelong memories with the people you have chosen to spend this special day with.