Your Guide to Candid Wedding Photography 

When was the last time you looked at a candid photo of yourself or your loved ones as they truly are? How did it make you feel? For me it’s such a meaningful feeling to see yourself or your loved ones in your images fully enjoying being in the moment. To feel grateful to know that someone who cares about you captured the moment for you. If that sounds like something you want then candid wedding photograhy might be the perfect photography style for you.

As a documentary wedding photographer capturing those candid moments is what I do best. I want nothing more than for you to see yourself reflected back as you truly are when you look at your images and to love what you see. My ‘rule’ is to not just give you an objectively beautiful photo, but one that pulls you right into those feelings and feels the most true to who you are.

I’ve had the chance to shoot many amazing weddings and at a recent one, I noticed something a little different. This wedding day was unique because the couple didn’t have a bunch of requests for their day. Rather, they gave me permission to have full freedom to be creative. This meant that they received a wedding gallery full of beautiful candid, creative wedding photos. 

Let’s dive into more about how you can have candid wedding photography be a part of your celebration.

How to Have Candid Wedding Photography 

Incorporating candid wedding photography into your wedding day is going to create many beautiful moments for you throughout the day. I know you’ll love reflecting back on these images for years to come. Let’s talk about how you can make that happen:

Find the right photographer

If you want to have candid wedding photography as part of your day one of the first things I want you to do is to find a wedding photographer who specializes in this specific style of photography. You’ll want to to look for someone who is a documentary-style wedding photographer. 

A documentary-style wedding photographer is someone whose gallery of work will highlight unexpected, beautiful moments. It is also someone who knows when and where to capture the best candid moments throughout your wedding day. This person has the skill and knowledge to spend the day looking at everyone’s interactions, relationships, and personalities and caputre them. They also watch as everything unfolds to document all the best moments of your day.

Remember, you will want to find a photographer who matches your wedding vision. 

I encourage you to take some time to research different documentary wedding photographers’ styles and photos and see if they match what you are looking for. Also, be sure to ask potential wedding photographers you’re considering for their full wedding galleries. On top of that make sure you set up a time to talk to them on the phone or via video call. This will give you the opportunity to really see if you all vibe together.

Create a relaxed environment

Another way you’re going to get the best candid wedding photos is that you’re going to want to have a relaxed environment on your wedding day. 

All this means is that you’re allowing yourself to be open and spontaneous and that you’re just being your genuine, magical self. 

Creating a relaxed environment means inviting people into your space that will bring the vibe you want on your wedding day. It also includes taking care of yourself and your mental health leading up to your wedding day.

Plan a wedding day that is true to who you are as a couple. Remember that this is the day you’ve planned so much for and it is finally here so be present in it and enjoy!

Trust your photographer

I can’t emphasize this one enough – trust. is. everything. For the best candid photos, you’re going to want to give your photographer the freedom to be creative. Let the moments happen and trust the expertise and experience of your photographer. 

This can look like giving your photographer permission to roam freely around your venue so that they can capture all the different moments unfolding. This will also enable them to capture photos from different angles as well. Additionally, this means letting your photographer blend into the background instead of being there to direct every single shot.

Your Wedding Photographer as an Observer vs. A Director 

The best candid moments (and your favorite photos) can happen when you let your photographer take on the role of an observer. The traditional role that you’ve probably seen more than once is that a wedding photographer is placed as the director of the wedding day. 

However, if you allow your photographer to be an observer this is going to lead to much more creative and meaningful shots. This isn’t to say that your photographer shouldn’t be directing you in some regard but it is also great to embody the idea that your photographer isn’t your director of the day. 

Instead, let your photographer’s role be to keep you on schedule and in sync with your wedding timeline while still recording your day as it naturally unfolds behind their camera lens.

What are the Benefits of Having a Timeline Yet Unscripted Wedding Day? 

I know that when you think about your wedding day your thoughts are probably going in a million different directions, panicking about how you can fit everything into one day (including all your photos). 

And hey I get it – a wedding day needs a timeline to operate. However if you want those candid, in-the-moment photos let’s talk about why you should have both a wedding timeline and an unscripted celebration.

One of the benefits of having an unscripted wedding day is that it gives you the chance to have a more personalized experience. You can be fully present and embrace the day you’ve worked hard to create. If you let some of your celebration be in-the-moment you won’t always be thinking about the next pose you need to do, the next location you need to move to, etc.

Also, having an underlying theme of an unscripted day will allow for your photos to capture those unplanned, special moments and interactions. This is going to create a unique and personal wedding experience for you. Futhermore, you won’t end up having only having posed and traditional wedding photos in your wedding gallery.  These unscripted photos will show every moment, every transition, every raw emotion, and more.  

And of course, along with all of this is the fact that having a relaxed day will foster a more relaxed atmosphere for you, your partner and your guests! There will be many more natural interactions, it will be easier to problem solve if things go awry, and this will also allow for things to be more spontaneous. 

If you’re someone who loves planning and you simply can’t imagine your wedding day without everything figured out, this again isn’t to say that just because you leave some of your day unscripted that you can’t also have a timeline to follow.

But, again, if you do really want those beautiful candid moments, that also means not filling the day with a bunch of requests and allowing for things to be more laidback. This is the best way to have a mix of photos that are authentic and candid while still having a wedding day that is well-organized. 

Final Thoughts: Candid Wedding Photography

I hope you found this blog post helpful and also that it gave you some more insight into how you can have candid wedding photography as part of your celebration. 

Beautiful wedding photography is so much more than lighting, composition, and poses.  Capturing authentic, candid images (and my personal favorite style of photos) comes from the ability to feel the emotion within them that was created at that moment. This is something I’ve learned to master with all of my couples. 

My goal as your documentary wedding photographer is to let you and your partner fully express who you are. I will portray your love story to show the intimacy, emotion, and the bond you both share together.

And…if you’re looking for a documentary wedding photographer who is going to create magic with you then you can get in contact with me here or learn more about my services here.