A good candid wedding photographer will capture authentic emotion and tell a story with the images. The authenticity is why most couples tell me that they love this style of wedding photography most.
Although photojournalism is a critical method for getting a great set of wedding photos, it’s not the best way to capture ALL aspects of a wedding.
This post explains when a candid / documentary approach is best for different segments of your wedding, and when other methods might yield superior results. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of candid wedding photography will help you get better wedding photos and design your wedding day timeline more efficiently.
Key Takeaways
- Candid wedding photography is best for capturing authentic emotions and storytelling during unscripted moments like the ceremony, speeches, and dancing.
- To enhance the look of candid shots, plan outdoor ceremonies and receptions at times when the sun is lower in they sky for better lighting opportunities.
- Documentary style photography has limitations for formal portraits, especially for shy subjects. Even if you prefer documentary style wedding photography, it’s best to be flexable about being posed for formal wedding portraits and group photos.
- A hybrid method—setting up “candid” moments like the first look—combines natural reactions with optimal conditions for superior photos.
- The best wedding albums balance pure candid photojournalism with directed posed portraits for a comprehensive, compelling collection.
When Candid Wedding Photography Is Most Effective
Segments of the wedding like the ceremony, speeches and dancing are where a candid wedding photographer is most effective. The reason for this is obvious in that any interruption during these segments would detract from the event.
Despite capturing photos only as they naturally occur, not all aspects of candid photos are completely left to chance. By planning ahead, you can actually help your photographer capture significantly better candid photos.
Most of how you can help is by selecting a flattering venue for your ceremony and reception. Also having it well decorated will help tremendously for pleasing foregrounds and backgrounds. Timing outdoor ceremonies to happen 45min – 1 hour before sunset can also greatly improve lighting conditions.
A good tip when decorating is to include lots of things that emit light. This will dramatically boost the visual appeal of your photos especially after the sun goes down. Candles, tea lights and string lights on the tables naturally make a huge difference as do up-lights on the surrounding walls.
Another good idea is to spend extra time decorating the areas where the two of you will be. Decorating the alter is an obvious example that will go a long way as most of the photo journalism will happen around that area for the ceremony. The couples table is another good area to focus on as this is where your reactions will be captured during speeches.
When I capture weddings, I find it’s best to get all of the posed portraits captured before guests arrive and then switch to a mostly photojournalistic approach from the ceremony forward. This ensures that the bride and groom get great solo and family portraits with minimal interruption later as the events are captured candidly.
Where Documentary Wedding Photography Falls Short
Although photojournalism is crucial for getting the best wedding coverage overall, it also has its limitations. Good formal wedding portraits for instance are generally not captured using a documentary approach. This is especially true for people who feel shy or awkward in front of the camera as perfect conditions rarely happen on their own.
Although the “perfect” conditions for a portrait are infinite, there are 5 core elements all great portraits have. It’s possible for all 5 of these elements to get captured photojournalisticly, but it’s also highly improbable.
With good light and a photographer that knows how to direct a person into it, great formal portraits are easier to direct towards than capture candidly.
The important thing to understand is that when posed wedding portraits are done well, the posing is invisible. The benefit is that the pose, light and background are usually significantly better.
Many people hate the idea of posed portraits because when it’s done poorly the photos look awkward and stiff. Posed portraits well directed by a good photographer look candid and natural. It’s for these reasons that setting up formal portraits make more sense. This is especially true when they need to be captured in a timely manner, like on your wedding day.
Hybrid Posed Candid Photos
As with everything else in life there’s also a grey area where a photographer can actually set up “candid” photos. This might sound like an unholy paradox, however it’s a very effective technique that often yields superior results to pure photojournalism. The final result of a hybrid approach looks candid even though the moment is partially planned.
Using the first look as an ideal example for hybrid capture, I generally set the groom up in a location with pleasing light and a good background. Next I’ll cue the bride to come in behind the groom and go tap him on the shoulder.
From this point forward I’ll capture the expressions of both of them naturally as the groom see’s the bride for the first time.
In this example, the moment isn’t truly staged, it’s just captured at a specific location to allow for the best lighting and background. Capturing the moment under higher quality conditions naturally allows the photographer to capture better photos.
Candid Wedding Photographer Jason Guy
As a Sonoma wedding photographer with years of experience in the heart of wine country, I specialize in blending candid, documentary-style captures with subtle direction to bring out the best in every moment.
Whether it’s the golden-hour glow over vineyards or intimate receptions under string lights, my approach ensures your photos feel natural and full of emotion. If my approach to wedding photography resonates with you, tap the button below and let’s chat about how I can help you capture your dream wedding album.
Candid Wedding Photography FAQ
Navigating the nuances of documentary style wedding photography often sparks questions from couples eager to capture authentic moments on their big day. In this FAQ section, I’ll answer some of the most common questions I get as a candid wedding photographer.
What is Candid Wedding Photography?
How Do You Capture Candid Wedding Photos?
As a candid wedding photographer, I find that it’s best to use a long telephoto lens to capture moments from a distance. With this approach you’ll barely notice I’m at the event ensuring that you don’t feel overly observed. This helps create natural looking weeding photos that reflect events as they happen.
Is There A Way To Look More Photogenic in Candid Photos?
No. The whole point of hiring a candid wedding photographer is so that they’ll document your event as it happens. Documentary style wedding photography is more about capturing moments than it is about perfect poses and lighting. In short, it’s just not practical for you to pose into beautiful light at all times that the camera happens to be pointed at you. If you want to look more photogenic in your photos, the best way to do this is to take direction from your photographer during certain points in your wedding, like your formal bridal portraits or couples photos.
Which Type of Photography is Best For a Wedding?
The short answer is, it depends on what part of the wedding you’re talking about. A candid wedding photographer believes a documentary style approach is best for key events like your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. A fine art wedding photographer, on the other hand, will need to pose you to capture photos at your best angles and under beautiful light. This approach makes more sense for bridal portraits and couples photos. A hybrid of these approaches can also work well for bridal portraits and couples photos. In short, each capture technique excels for different things, and you’d be wise to hire a photographer who is good at all of these techniques for a well-rounded wedding album.