In the realm of candid wedding photography, my lens captures the authentic moments of your day. The goal for me is that each photograph is a testament to the genuine, unscripted moments that define your celebration. While I respect photographers who are masterful at posing their clients, personally, I find as a candid wedding photographer, that contrived scenes fail to capture the essence of your experience and can disrupt the natural flow of the event. Modern weddings are diverse in nature. They may forgo formalities altogether, be rich with rituals, or beautifully blend various cultures and traditions. Whatever kind of celebration you are having, your wedding photography should reflect who you are. I want you to celebrate as you are, without spending time on poses or activities that feel unnatural.
Candid Style
Alongside documenting your memories, my approach is also to show the mood and feel of the day. This means that while you will see a similarity in my work from one wedding to the next, I aim to bring ‘you’ into each picture. This means that I won’t usually try to replicate a specific ‘shot’ for each event. I’m looking for the moments that take place instead of trying to wait for something I expect to happen. This means that each couple gets something unique in the images I deliver for them. This style is best described as ‘Documentary Wedding Photography‘, and as with any documentary photographer, I have my vision, but the telling of the story of my subjects is paramount.
I’m sometimes asked by couples who are uncomfortable in front of the camera for advice. First of all, there will be so much going on during the day that after 10 minutes of me hanging around, they will forget about my presence. Secondly, that is why you want a wedding photographer who shoots in this candid style. You don’t need a TikTok filter, studio lighting, or wild poses to look good on your wedding day. You will already be dressed in your finest and glowing with joy to be marrying the love of your life, so all I need to do is catch that in a photo. I look for good light and wait for the right moment – you only need to be you. I also avoid using flash to disrupt the mood of intimate moments and will always keep at a comfortable distance. And if there is a situation where you feel overwhelmed and need a minute, I’ll step back to give you your space.
Group shots?
What about group shots? I definitely do group shots, but I recommend keeping them to a minimum and having someone with a list planned in advance to help you organize everyone together at the right time. Honestly, I used to take issue with group shots and find them boring and unnecessary, but I changed my mind. I think 5-10 group shots on the day are really nice to have as a record of close family and friends together. It makes me reminisce about old family albums where relatives gathered for a reunion and they just took this one photo that ends up being the only image on record of that distant Aunt that your parents always talk about. I do also like the few seconds after I say we’re done with the photo and sneak a few images of people giving knowing glances and little giggles at each other. But like I said already, group shots are a good definition of where less is more. I always feel for the children trying desperately to feign a smile when they have had enough and just want to take their shoes off, run around, and eat cake.
Couple Portraits?
After working with so many couples, I know that the time you have on your wedding day with your loved ones is precious, so I don’t want to take you away from them for an extended period. I will work with you to figure out the optimal window of time, but I aim to seek out the best time for good light and keep your couple portrait session to roughly 20 minutes. I usually do this after the ceremony while guests are mingling or after dinner before the dancing begins. Having said that, couple portraits and group shots are by no means mandatory and can be left out if you prefer.
Natural Wedding Photography
The couples I work with want to enjoy this time with their friends and family. They want me to be unobtrusive, like a guest who mingles with the crowd but you almost forget that they were there. I won’t ask you to do something again, tell a guest to move out of the way, or try to replicate a moment I saw at another wedding. I won’t arrange your rings and shoes in a special display or hang your dress on a tree. As a candid wedding photographer, I strive to ensure that the fluidity and authenticity of your day are preserved for posterity. It is a wonderful compliment when couples tell me they didn’t realize I captured so many great moments as they were barely aware of my presence throughout the day.
I will document the little details, your flowers, the table decorations, a special note posted on the wall from your partner, a handmade gift from your niece, or the shoes you spent hours deciding over. I know you will have spent a lot of time planning and organizing this event, so all these details make up an important part of the story of your wedding that I won’t want to miss.
Authentic and Unobtrusive
If you would like to share examples of photography you like, I’d love to see that as it helps me to understand your vision and get to know you better. However, I don’t need a shot list, as this will take me away from the honest and authentic candid approach I take to your wedding photography. I definitely would love to know about the colour theme and your inspiration, as knowing more about these things helps me be more immersed in your wedding so that I can get images for you that represent your vision. I do need a schedule of the day’s events, as that ensures I’m in the right place for critical moments like speeches and helps me plan toilet breaks.
Candid Wedding Photographer
As an Ottawa Wedding Photographer based in the capital of Canada, I would love to document your Wedding event. All the details of the celebration of your union. Contact me to book a consultation for your wedding today.
