Candid Wedding Photography
Kent Wedding Photographer
Being a wedding photographer is a wonderful job, I love what I do. This is made even better by working in the way that I enjoy, for me that is in the Documentary style. What does that actually mean? Documentary wedding photography, candid wedding photography and reportage wedding photography, lots of different names for what I consider to be largely the same thing. Simply put, to photograph a wedding in the most natural way possible, without getting in the way, without drawing attention to myself as the photographer and without making people constantly pose. Working in this way allows me the best opportunity to capture the real emotion, energy and fun of the day. Those real laughs, real happy tears and real smiles, not ones forced for the camera.
I do not pose anything over the day, with the exception of group and bride & groom photos, for those couples that want them. About a third of my couples have purely candid weddings, they want to just enjoy the day without worrying about photos. The rest have a few posed family and couples photos, I work through those as quickly as possible so that they can get to the most important part, enjoying their day.
With the exception of the very last photo on this page, every image is completely candid and unposed.
This photograph is from a recent wedding and is possibly my favourite candid wedding photograph that I have taken so far. The couple had just met at the top of the aisle and the registrar was off to the side leaving this view through the gazebo. A completely natural, beautiful and romantic moment, taken quietly so the couple did not even notice I was taking photo.
This photo of the page boy in a bucket is a few years old but still one of my favourite candid photos. The lad and one of the guests were playing with a black bin (a clean one), as he was climbing in and out I grabbed this photo.
Throughout the day I always try to capture the small details as candidly as possible. Here you see the ring on the brides hand and a little of the flowers as she gives her husband a hug. The couple didn't have to pose for this, they didn't even know the photo was taken.
This might look posed but this is as candid as it can be. The couple had just signed the certificate and stood to one side while their witnesses also signed. While they waited, this lovely moment happened.
Keeping it candid means real smiles, just like this. The bride had walked up the aisle with her father and saw her husband to be for the first time creating this amazing moment together.
This flower girl got bored while listening to the speeches and began to quietly dance in the glow of some window light creating this striking photograph of her just being herself.
Capturing the emotion of the day is really important to me. Photos like this one of the bride hugging her Nan really capture the love they have for each other. If I had tried to pose this or to move them to a better location then I would have destroyed this beautiful moment.
This emotional, unforgettable moment of dad crying after seeing his daughter in her dress wouldn't have been the same if I had staged it. By staying out of the way and letting events happen naturally I was able to capture this beautiful moment as dad wipes away his happy tears.
I am always on the lookout for little moments that others may miss, just like in this photo with the pigeons. The couple were walking to their next venue following the ceremony. I was walking a little in front so that I was out of the way, while the couple spent some time together. As this split second moment happened I was able to capture a unique photograph.
One of the best benefits of working candidly is the couples can just have fun without worrying about the next pose. I am not sure what is happening in this photo but the couple had a great time dancing.
This may look posed but its not. The couple obviously saw me as they are looking right at the camera, but I did not pose them they simply raised their glasses and laughed. I took the photo and moved away quickly so they did not feel over photographed.
Below are a few more examples of candid wedding photos
Posed Photos?
I often get asked if I still take posed photos, of course I do, for couples that want them. I will not force anyone to pose if they do not want to or if they feel uncomfortable. For couples that want posed photos I get them done nice and quickly so they can get back to enjoying their wedding day.
