Two men hugging representing candid wedding photography

Education

Do I Need Candid Wedding Photography? | Cape Cod Wedding Photographer

Are you in the midst of shopping for wedding photographers? There are tons of terms out there: candid, editorial, photojournalistic, documentary, light and airy, moody, true to life… it gets overwhelming! Let’s break down all you need to know about candid wedding photography so that you can make an informed choice.

Bride in a white gown walks with bridesmaids in pale blue dresses on a tree-lined street, holding her dress up slightly.

What Is Candid Wedding Photography?

Out of all of the wedding photography terms out there, candid seems to be the most well known.

Simply put, a candid photo is an unposed photo where the subject(s) of the photo aren’t aware of the camera. The photographer is not directly influencing the subject, and the subjects aren’t looking at the photographer.

You’ve probably seen candid photos your whole life. Think of pictures of you opening presents at your birthday party, your performances during sports or the school play, you taking sneaky pictures of your friends. Those can all be candids.

Two men in suits hug on a boat as others smile and take photos, with a waterfront view in the background.

Is Candid Better Than Posed Wedding Photography?

Over the past few years, I’ve seen a huge uptick in candid wedding photography requests.

When I ask some follow up questions, most people are actually after genuine photos. They want to see the real emotions experienced throughout the wedding day. They want the real moments captured.

You might worry about looking stiff or uncomfortable during their wedding photos. You probably hate pictures that look unnatural and forced.

This makes complete sense! We’ve all been in cringey and uncomfortable photo moments. Don’t you remember craning your neck into a million different angles during school portrait time? I sure do.

So, since know what they don’t want–which is actually super important–they ask for candid photos.

While I will break down all of the benefits of candid wedding photography, I’ll also point out some of the flaws in a moment.

As for what’s “better” or “worse,” that all comes down to personal preference.

There are absolutely couples and photographers that value a completely candid experience. The renowned John Dolan comes to mind when I think of a truly candid or documentary style wedding photographer. Some people don’t want to be posed at all during their wedding day.

But this approach won’t work for everyone.

A man in a white shirt and suspenders dances at a wedding reception, surrounded by other guests in formal attire.

What Are Some Cons For Candid Wedding Photography

Many people both desire and benefit from direction during their wedding portraits.

And, when couples show me pictures from my website, social media, or one of my galleries that they love and think are candids, many of those moments are actually prompted and posed!

A skilled wedding photographer knows how to preserve the true, genuine emotions present on your wedding day while making small tweaks to make the photos extra flattering.

Most of us, definitely myself included, are not super models. We don’t all know our best angles, how to perfectly fluff a dress, and how to frame it all so that it looks flattering and timeless.

A little guidance and encouragement for photos works wonder for couples that may not feel like they are a natural in front of the camera. And like I mentioned before, these photos are still authentic! Just because you make an adjustment for an image doesn’t mean that it’s a lie. That would be like saying a cake doesn’t taste homemade just because the baker took some extra time to polish the decorations. All the ingredients and the homemade setting are still there!

A woman wipes tears with a napkin during a wedding reception, holding a glass of champagne in the other hand.

What is Wedding Photojournalism?

Wedding photojournalism is like a more elevated candid wedding photography style. A photojournalistic wedding photography will still focus on candid moments, but they aim to tell a story with the photos they take.

So, instead of just clicking away to capture as many candids as possible, a photojournalist wedding photographer will aim to let viewers of their work see their interpretation of what happened. There won’t be posing or directing, but perhaps there are some photos that establish the setting, then focus on little moments or tableaus that are naturally occurring.

Guests seated at a wooden table react emotionally during a wedding reception, some wiping away tears.

How to Get Candid Wedding Photos

If you truly want candid wedding photos, you’ll have to make it your goal to stay in the moment and avoid looking at the camera.

This is much easier to do when you and your guests have something to do.

I’m sure you’ve been chatting at a wedding cocktail hour when you spy the photographer walking around, so you slap on your best smile and aim yourself towards the camera.

If you have things for wedding guests to interact with, like a welcome drink wall, fun passed appetizers, lawn games, etc. it’s much easier for candid wedding photos to naturally occur. Your guests will be busy enjoying themselves and your photographer can then capture the genuine emotions and moments popping up.

The same is true for you! If you want candid photos, you need to be doing something. Awkwardly standing in front of the camera while avoiding eye contact really won’t do much for you.

This is why when I am taking more candid wedding photos I give my couples a prompt to do. I might ask you to slow dance, tell each other about your morning, take a walk, or more to get you moving and interacting in an authentic way.

Bride and groom smile while seated at a reception, surrounded by guests at tables with white tablecloths and decor.

Is Candid Photography Worth It?

Again, this is a matter of personal preference.

There are parts of the wedding day when candid and photojournalistic approaches just make sense. I would never even think of trying to direct people during a wedding ceremony. I’m simply there to capture reactions.

And I love getting guest reactions during key moments. I love seeing and documenting the joy guests experience during the ceremony, during toasts, and while they’re dancing.

But there are times where I prefer posing. For your photos and family portraits, I definitely provide instruction. And when I see your bridesmaids helping you or cheering you on, I make sure to snap away then, too!

Bride sits on a stone ledge holding a bouquet as five bridesmaids in pale pink dresses adjust her flowing gown outdoors.

What is Your Style for Capturing Weddings?

I am definitely a mix of different styles throughout the wedding day.

I love grabbing candids during the getting ready moments, while you’re walking in between locations, during the ceremony, and during dances.

I borrow from photojournalism and editorial work during cocktail hour. I want to highlight all of the fun and beautiful fashion from the day, so I love taking pictures of your guests decked out to the nines. I might grab some purse pictures. I also love when guests hold signature drinks.

I’ll try to capture images of the cocktail hour as a whole so you know what all the guests were up to, but then I’ll also focus on small groups.

And, I do like to ask guests if they want photos. So I still include those more posed moments where groups of people are smiling at the camera. Guests love the added bonus of knowing they have a professional photo to look forward to, and you also get great pictures of your guests

For detail shots, I heavily lean towards editorial. I want someone to look through those sections of the gallery and feel like they’re looking at a spread in Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar.

And for the portrait parts of your day, I mix editorial and photojournalistic moments. I love stylized, feminine moments, but I also love seeing your genuine joy as you look at each other and soak in that just married feeling.

I think there are benefits to lots of different styles, so I borrow the best parts as I capture your wedding day as only I can.

If you have any questions I didn’t cover, please let me know! I’d love to hear from you and help you learn more about wedding photography so that you have the best experience possible!