Picture this. You’re busy wedding planning and discussing your vision with your family. Your parents or older relatives dig out their wedding photos for a bit of fun and you spend a while reminiscing. It’s a wholesome moment, but there’s just one problem. In the majority of the photos, the wedding party are lined up like soldiers ready for uniform inspection. The pictures are posed with stiff posture and fixed cheesy grins. Your heart sinks. Is this what all wedding photography is like? It doesn’t have to be. If the thought of your wedding photos resembling a primary school class picture fills you with dread, don’t panic! Candid wedding photography might be the right direction for you.

What Is Candid Wedding Photography?

Essentially, candid wedding photography refers to a photography style that is not staged. In fact, there’s minimal and loose direction from the photographer. Often, the person being photographed doesn’t even know that they’re being photographed. The photographer blends in with the guests and captures beautiful candid moments, from a ‘fly on the wall’ perspective. 

Why Couples Can’t Get Enough Candid Shots

Candid wedding photography is all about the visual storytelling of your special day. Couples love that their candid photos help to set the scene. Actually, they immerse anyone that looks at them into the atmosphere of the wedding. Couples also love having photos of themselves spending time with their loved ones. These are images to treasure long after the moment has passed. Finally, candid couples adore the carefree, relaxed and authentic vibe that these photos give off . There’s no awkward posing, just love and laughter. 

Getting Comfortable

When shooting candid wedding photography, it’s really helpful if the couple are at ease in front of the camera already. It’s perfect if they don’t take themselves too seriously. This helps the photos to flow really naturally and for the photographer to capture the genuine connection that you share with your partner. There are a few things that you can do to help you feel ‘camera ready’ and make sure that your photos really pop. 

Firstly, book an engagement shoot with your photographer. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know your photographer and their style. You get used to having your photo taken and get some lovely shots of the two of you pre-wedding. By the time your wedding rolls around, you’ll be much more at ease with the camera on you. You can also practise those soft smiles so that muscle memory kicks in on the day. This helps you to look relaxed and comfortable.

Secondly, this may sound easier said than done, but try and forget about the camera altogether. Some of the best shots that I capture are when the couple are totally caught up in their happy ‘just married’ bubble. They’re often catching up about the day so far or just taking a few minutes to be together. I love to capture how they celebrate the commitment that they have just made to one another. So, just focus on your partner, have fun and interact with all your nearest and dearest. Your photos will be effortlessly stunning. 

A Few of My Candid Couples

I feel so lucky to be able to work with so many amazing couples and to capture beautiful candid moments from their day. Here are a few memorable couples who really embraced candid wedding photography on their special day. 

Nichola and Graham

Some of my favourite candid shots of this lovely pair are taken during their wedding breakfast. You can really see them immersed in their magical day, interacting with their guests and you can almost feel the laughter coming out of the photos.

Sarah and Andy

That champagne spray shot says it all! These two were an absolute pleasure to photograph and didn’t take themselves too seriously which meant I was able to capture some really genuine reactions and cute couple shots.

Poppy & Tim

When you throw a tipi festival wedding, it stands to reason that the posed shots are going to be kept to a minimum in favour of a fun, party atmosphere and this wedding was no exception. Just look at those smiles and those dance moves – pure happiness!

Can I Be Candid?

Yes, you can. If you are a couple who prize spontaneity, emotion and experiences over structure, perfection and formality then candid wedding photography is perfect for you. Selecting a wedding photographer who specialises in this style ensures that your wedding album tells the story of your magical day from start to finish through beautiful candid moments, including all the gorgeous interactions, heartfelt moments and belly laughs in between. 

If you like everything that you’ve just read and you think that candid wedding photography might be for you, or you just want to talk through some ideas, click here to book a free no obligation consultation