Tips and tricks on how to get candid and natural wedding photography in every moment during your amazing wedding day.
October 10, 2024 / /
The Hendricks had such an amazing wedding day full of candid wedding photography moments. I’d love to share that and to also give you 5 of my biggest tips on how to create a natural environment for the most memorable and fun photos throughout your day.
A lot of couples let me know that having candid photos for their big day is what matters most to them. Being in front of the camera can be taxing and awkward for couples sometimes. Trust me, I get it! That’s where I come in to make it more memorable and fun during our time together. With the help of my planning meetings and the guide that I send you during our time together, you’ll have all the tools that you need. Our time together will be a blast!
Kali and Justin got married at their home in Indiana. It was such a beautiful set up from the florals to the signage to their custom wedding sign. It truly was a day to remember!
Tip #1: Create a relaxed environment for the wedding day
On your wedding day, stress can hinder the natural flow of events. To create a relaxed atmosphere, communicate openly with your wedding party and vendors. Encourage laughter, fun, and spontaneity. The more you and your guests can enjoy the moment, the more authentic the photos will be. Create a list of what needs to be done before the wedding. Delegate it to your maid or matron of honor or any other bridesmaid in your wedding party.
My free wedding checklist can definitely help with this as well! I highly recommend also having a details box prepared beforehand. This will help me efficiently capture your detail photos and you won’t have to scramble to look for those things. What to use in your details box is in the wedding guide that I give you! During my time with Kali and Justin, we were able to create some fun moments during the getting ready process.
Tip #2: Embrace Natural Light
We all know that lighting matters. And the way that we can capture the best candid photos is to consider the best lighting when we can. During your getting ready process, consider a room that has a lot of windows for that natural light. Getting ready in darker rooms like basements make it a little bit harder to capture candid moments especially without a flash. During the ceremony, I highly recommend an afternoon ceremony that capture the light the nest so that we can also have plenty of light to play with during golden hour for those beautiful family photos and even couples’ photos. This will create a soft and natural mood that sets up some of the most amazing photos!
Tip #3: Focus On Interactions
Rather than trying to capture every detail, focus on the interactions between you and your loved ones. Whether it’s a shared laugh with your partner, a tearful hug with a parent, or playful moments with friends, these candid interactions tell the story of your day. As a photographer, I’m always encouraging couples to not look at my camera as much as possible and to always be intentional with those around them. This helps me capture those more candid and documentary wedding photography throughout your day!
Tip #4: Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Focus on enjoying the moment rather than worrying about getting the perfect shot! Allow things to flow naturally, and trust that your photographer will capture the beautiful chaos of the day. Embrace the imperfections—they often make for the best stories! Whether it’s rain shine, it’s okay if there are some things that don’t go according to plan! It’s totally normal and it happens! Allow your wedding photography to speak for itself!
Tip #5: Embrace the Unscripted Moments (It’s Okay to Cry!)
One of the beauties of candid photography is that it captures unscripted moments—the laughter, the happy tears, and the fun interactions. Trust me to be in the right place at the right time, and let go of the need for everything to be perfectly posed. The best memories often happen when you least expect them! And let yourself and your loved ones cry tears of joy throughout the day. Don’t take things too seriously! Relax, loosen up and enjoy all the memories being made before you!
Overall, your wedding day is what you make it. So let’s have some fun with it because it will be something that you will always remember for years to come! My hope and wish is that I am a catalyst to help make your day one for the books and to capture photos that you can look back on for years to come and to be proud of! Feel free to head over to my contact page to chat about how we can create some memories together for your upcoming day as well!
