Candid Wedding Photos
What are they and how do you make sure to get them on your wedding day?
Something I hear a lot from inquiring couples is that they want candid wedding photos 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 a genuine moment of joy on a wedding day.
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 if they are not skilled at what they do, those images will be lost. Choose a photographer that specializes in candid photography. It takes years of practice to perfect the art of anticipating a moment before it happens. Ask to see galleries for real weddings from photographers you’re interested in so you can see 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 and trying to do 10 things at once all day there will be no opportunity for those special moments to unfold. Put your phone away, take a deep breath and choose to be present. Then trust that your vendor team can handle any issues that arise. That is what they are there for!
3. Plan intentional breaks and buffer time so the whole day doesn’t feel like a race to the finish. 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 that are spontaneous and unplanned. 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 calm. But if you do your best to follow these tips and set the intention to be present, you open your day to the opportunity for these moments to unfold naturally and to have a genuine connection with the people you have chosen to spend this special day with.
