A Guide To Candid Wedding Pics

5 hours ago
4 min read

How to get natural wedding photos that look like what it felt like.

“Candid”, “documentary” wedding pics are pretty in vogue right now as we push against the perfection of an AI, airbrushed world. More and more couples want their day to be remembered for its humanness, its messy emotions and belly-laugh moments. So how do you perfect the unperfected?

1. Why your timeline plays a part.

The more weddings I photograph, the more I’ve learnt how important this one is for cultivating an environment where pictures happen naturally. If your timeline is full to bursting with a huge shot list and no breathing room, there’s little time for those in-between moments where you get to just be yourself and enjoy the day. This means that if natural and authentic pictures are a real priority for you, you’re probably going to have to book your photographer for more than just the formalities. Not only does it mean you aren’t having to rush from one thing to another, but it also means your photographer has time to think and get creative once they’ve got through all the can’t-be-missed shots. And speaking as a photographer who shoots some of your day on film, it’s a blessing to have a bit more time to notice what’s going on around me as I can’t just hold my finger down on the trigger and hope for the best!

And it sounds silly, but you also need to spend time with your guests if you want pictures interacting with them. To maximise time with your nearest and dearest, you might want to think about having a first look and getting your bridal portraits done before your ceremony. I know it might not be what you imagined when you first started to picture your wedding day but there are only so many hours in an afternoon and if it’s meaningful to you to have as much time as possible with those you’ve invited, it’s the best way to structure your time. In my experience, seeing each other before your ceremony doesn’t negatively impact the way you feel if you’re having a walk-down-the aisle moment - those emotions come out either way! So take a goooood look at your timeline, and think about how it will effect the kinds of photos you’ll receive in your final gallery.

2. How do I relax with a camera pointed at me?

I know it’s easier said than done amongst the current of a wedding celebration with all eyes on you, but the number one thing to remember is to focus on each other. If you want photos that show genuine love and connection, you have to connect and be present. Let go of control and let the day happen, even if it’s not 100% how you planned it. Ground yourself in every moment as it passes because it will be over before you know it. Spend time with your guests, forget there’s a camera around and enjoy being celebrated.

When it comes to bridal portraits, see them as an opportunity to step away and take each other in. You just got married to your person! Let the significance of that land, and have (more than) a little fun! Trust your photographer (refer to point 3), inhale, exhale and remember that we’re not aiming for perfection. If you want photos that look the way it felt, leave the soft smiles at the door and embrace your beautiful, toothy grin.

3. The right photographer and how to pick them.

Ugh, what a cliché right? It gives me the ick even typing it out, but I’ve come to realise how necessary this is. You’re about to spend all day with your photographer, and at the end of it your wedding will be portrayed through their eyes. If you want to look back on your wedding photos and see love, fun and connection, you need a photographer who sees the world this way.

You also need to feel at ease around your photographer. A good photographer is going to photograph your day from the inside out, they’ll be with you in the chaos but also in the quiet, more intimate moments. Meet with your potential photographer before you book them, suss them out and make sure you feel safe and relaxed when chatting with them.

And always ask to see a full gallery to get an idea of how they work across an entire wedding. That way you’ll have a better idea of their style and how they frame each moment. Everyone wins when we approach the day as a team, with a shared vision.

Lastly, your part is simply to be you, together, with the love of your life, and the people who are most important to you. We don’t create candid pics by pretending not to look at the camera, rather we create them by making space for real connections, giving our full selves to the moment (you and me!) and unashamedly celebrating our beautiful and brave human hearts for all the love they have inside them. And there's nothing more candid than that.