How to Incorporate Candid Wedding Photography into Your Special Day
Weddings are all about celebrating the love between a couple and using the power of photography to seize every meaningful moment. And although posed photos are certainly beautiful, nothing exceeds candid wedding photography in capturing genuine emotions. This type of photography is immensely powerful in capturing true, unposed instants that no other style is able to convey.
Today, we are here to provide you with a list of tips on how to get gorgeous candid images from your special day. This will help you understand how you can take advantage of candid photography to acquire shots that are timeless and authentic.
Grant your photographer with unrestrained access to your whole day
Does this seem obvious? Trust us, you would be surprised to know how many couples fail to realize how important it is. Choosing a photographer means that you are hiring an artist that possesses exquisite skills regarding what they do. If you want them to be spotless in their approach, then you need to hire a professional with experience in documentary style photography. Once you are confident you have found the right person, you need to give them complete freedom to navigate through the day in a way that will allow capturing the most captivating shots. Put your trust in their expertise and simply enjoy your day!
Once you realize that your only task is to relish every moment of your celebration to the fullest, you will be able to relieve the stress and let the professionals do what they know best. A professional in wedding photography will know how to take advantage of every situation and ensure it is captured on their camera. This is why you should allow them to bear witness to as many instants as possible- so that they can work their magic and translate every unique occurrence into a visual masterpiece!
This is especially important in candid wedding photography. It is the only way to increase the chances of them seizing all the unique and unplanned moments that reflect your day’s genuine emotions.
So, feel free to invite them to your vow exchange ceremony, as well as to the cocktail hour. Apart from capturing you two, they should also take some unposed shots of your guests. Trust us, you will be pleased to look at images that show the whirlwind of emotions glancing through your guests’ faces.
Moreover, do not forget to secure their presence during the reception as well. There will be plenty of candid opportunities to take advantage of: from photographing guests as they have fun on the dancefloor to you and your partner spending some time alone away from the crowd.
It is moments like that which make the event worthwhile, giving it an unfiltered value!
Don’t pose for the camera
We know that you have developed some kind of habit to smile every time you see a camera point at you. And this is the very thing you should keep from doing when incorporating documentary wedding photography into your day.
It comes as no surprise that this is perhaps the hardest task couples should do. However, photographing genuine moments that make you seem unaware of the camera creates a strong sense of presence. You will be later looking at these photos and see yourselves and the people who surround you as they completely enjoy the moment, without trying to look good in the image.
There is a reason why this is called a candid wedding photography style. It is because it does not disturb the instant in which you are expressing your pure emotions! Posing for the camera makes it difficult to capture true feelings as it creates a staged scene that fails to reflect reality. Getting ready to have your picture taken increases your feeling of self-consciousness. This often leads to unnatural and stiff poses that make you feel like you froze in time and space.
Another reason why you should try not to pose for the camera is to avoid disrupting the natural flow of events. Once you become aware of the person pointing their objective at you, you are bound to change your behavior and change your appearance to be more visually pleasing. This instantly makes the photographer’s task harder because they cannot seize the genuine emotions and interactions that occur.
On the other hand, when you and your guests are unaware of the camera, you are more likely to completely surrender to the moment and have your emotions drive your actions. This will make you look natural in the photos, which is the very point of this photography style.
Let us have a glance at a situation that is very likely to happen: you and your partner are all about unfiltered documentary style photography, while your guests are not aware of your plan. Your special day finally arrives, and they are all smiling and posing as the objective points at them. Since your photographer would not feel quite comfortable explaining the situation, you can easily help them out. Just say something about how they shouldn’t mind the camera and act natural, instead. Encourage them to avoid looking in that direction and try to enjoy every moment to the fullest.
Here are a few tips that will help you appear natural:
Be yourself
The single most important thing that will help you get candid photographs is being yourself. Don’t worry about how your images will turn out or what you are doing at the moment. Simply focus on pure enjoyment, and rest assured that your wedding photography will reflect those unfiltered interactions.
Ignore the camera
We already mentioned this, but understanding how important it is not to pay attention to the camera is essential. Instead of facing it, focus on the people that surround you and interact with them.
Move around
Let us share our best tip! Simply move around instead of staying in the same spot, and you’ll get ethereal flow to your photos and candid allure. Interact with as many people as you can and simply enjoy. This is the best way to seamlessly incorporate candid wedding photography into your day.
Don’t try to be perfect
No genuine moment ever looks perfect, which is why you shouldn't try to look flawless throughout the whole event. Embrace the imperfections and let the photographer capture the genuine emotions and interactions.
Trust your photographer
This is another essential thing to remember about wedding photography. You should hire a professional you trust; one that knows how to use their instincts and get you the desired visual results.
Stay true to yourself
This means that you shouldn’t try to conceal your personality, but embrace it instead! It is, perhaps, one of the most important features that will help you receive authentic photos. Let’s have a look at the tips below and with these, you can seamlessly learn how you can be completely yourself on the most important day of your life!
Opt for a venue that matches your style
Believe it or not, the venue you choose will have a major significance in setting the tone of your celebration! This is what makes it important to opt for one that reflects your personal style and which feels authentic to you.
Choose your outfit wisely
Just like the venue, your big day’s attire should also match your individual style. Opt for something that makes you feel comfortable and which aligns with your self-image.
Add personal touches
Your big day should be a genuine representation of who you truly are, so make sure to include a touch of personality into it. This could be anything- from your favorite florals to your best-liked musician. Adding these elements to your wedding will make it feel more authentic.
Write your own vows
This is yet another way to make your celebration feel more true to yourself. Reading the vows that you have written yourself will also evoke deep emotions, creating a perfect opportunity for candid wedding photography.
Hire a professional
Not every photographer is well-versed in documentary style photography, so you should choose one wisely. Have a look at their portfolio and ask for their experience to see whether they will make an appropriate fit.
A talented photographer will collaborate with you to ensure your personality comes through in your wedding pictures, capturing the genuine feelings and interactions that make your day memorable.
Make space for intimate moments
You might feel vulnerable about letting your photographer capture your most genuine emotions. But this is the only way they can create valuable unfiltered photos. Follow closely the tips below to feel more comfortable while allowing your photographer to grasp the essence of every intimate moment:
Build a relationship
Another important aspect of receiving candid shots is by building a relationship with your photographer. It is crucial that you communicate your thoughts and expectations and listen to their suggestions to feel comfortable when your special day finally arrives.
Discuss your comfort level
You need to talk about your comfort level with your photographer before the day. Don’t be shy to discuss the things you are comfortable with but also what makes you feel uneasy. This might include anything from kissing and physical touch to other intimate instances.
Plan ahead
It might sound strange, but you can actually plan some intimate moments before your special day arrives. Think about your first look, a private moment together after the ceremony, or a quiet moment during the reception. Having these planned ahead will help you feel more prepared and comfortable.
Focus on your partner
Lastly, remember to focus on each other when sharing all your genuine moments together. After all, this day should be all about you, so ensure you are present in the moment and allow yourself to feel every emotion as it arises. Focus on the love you have for each other as the main reason why you are gathered there, and let your devotion inspire your photographer to capture candid photos.
Ensure your guests are having fun
Apart from focusing on yourself, you should encourage your guests to have fun, as well! This will help you get candid wedding photography of your guests, too.
Here are a few ways to encourage your guests to surrender to the moment and have fun:
Create a welcoming atmosphere
Making sure that your event’s atmosphere feels welcoming is one of the first steps to relaxing your guests and setting the tone for the day. You can achieve this by including things like cozy seating areas, dimmed lighting, and delicious food and drinks.
Plan a lively reception
Try to design a reception that will be fun and lively, encouraging your guests to let loose and enjoy the day. Think about incorporating a photo booth, dance floor, or other activities that will help them mingle and interact with one another.
Share your vision
Once you have a complete wedding day vision, share them with your guests. Let them know what kind of atmosphere you have in mind, not forgetting to mention the documentary style photography you plan to incorporate. This will prepare them ahead of time and they will feel more comfortable on the day.
Set an example
Finally, set an example for your guests. If you have managed to have fun and be relaxed, it will encourage your guests to feel the same. Simply try to enjoy yourself and interact with your guests throughout the day. This will create the ideal opportunities for candid wedding photography that you will later adore.
In essence, candid wedding photography is crucial for capturing the true emotions and intimate moments of a couple's special day. It's the ability of the photographer to seize authentic moments often missed in traditional posed photographs. To ensure you receive genuine visuals, allow yourself to experience each and every instant throughout the day, without worrying about anything else. Your photographer will be there to take advantage of the situation and grasp each occurrence on their camera.
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