Candid Photography is Photography of the Moment

Candid photography is all about capturing life as it happens and not forcing anything. The real emotion fleeting moments in life present are simply enough, and arguably more beautiful than any photograph that is forced or too posed. Candid photography is all about authentic moments.

Why It Matters (Especially at Weddings)

Weddings are full of fleeting moments that pass with the blink of an eye. A good wedding photographer can make pretty photos, but a great photographer can tell the story of a beautiful day through capturing candid moments as they happen. When people ask what is candid photography, my first answer is always to explain it through the lens of weddings.

How it’s different from photojournalism and posed portraits

Candid photography is a blend of posed portraits and photojournalism. Photojournalism is a style of photography largely intended for the news. It has a very strict ethos around editing photos, and is more about telling the facts than telling the story. Posed portraits are the other extreme, where there is a lot of editing and getting all the angles perfect, which is great for models and magazines, but may not be what you want on your wedding day.

How you can get great candid photos

First, choose a photographer whose style you love and you know you will work well with. Not only do you want a photographer that prioritizes candid photos, but also a photographer that you are going to get along with and bring you out of your shell. If you trust the process and don’t overthink it, but rather just focus on having a good time, the photos will turn out beautiful. And most of all, not just for the camera, but also for you, have a really good time on your wedding day and be present!

Photos by Connor Esau