For a bride and groom, their wedding day is a unique event to be remembered for a lifetime. Emotions run wild and there is a feeling that anything is possible on a wedding day. The job of a photographer is to capture these feelings. Moreover, your photos need to give the impression that everyone at the wedding feels this way, not just the bride and groom. This is why candid photos of the guests are just as important as shots of a nervous groom or a crying father.
These candid shots of the guests portray how the bride and groom would like to remember their wedding- a unique day in the lives of everyone in attendance. A candid photo of an uncle getting emotional, or a quick shot of the always shy college roommate showing off his moves on the dance floor will confirm to the wedding couple that everything was a little different on their special day.
The easiest way for you to capture candid moments of the guests is to be aware of everything that is happening around you. You need to begin to be aware of the normal flow of events at a wedding so that you know what is going to happen before it happens.
The point in the ceremony where the priest or rabbi is talking to the wedding couple is a good example of knowing what to expect before it happens. Everyone knows that this is the time to shoot images of the bride and groom as they look at one another tearfully. But this is also the time to turn around and see what the guests are up to. This is because you know that the priest or rabbi will be talking to the couple for the next few minutes before anyone takes the rings out, and that the pictures you take of the couple will pretty much be the same.
But remember it needs to be candid. So what I do is I kind of take a general sweeping look at the guests behind me and face forward again. Nobody knows that I was looking at him or her, it just seems that I was looking around. Still facing forward, I have in my head the image I want to shoot of one guest in particular who I think looked to be in a moment. So I set my camera settings, then quickly turn around and get the shot before the guest realizes he or she is a photo opp.
To use another example of knowing the wedding flow to be able to anticipate candid photo opps is when the music starts at a reception. Normally people are still too shy to start dancing, but because you are the super wedding photographer you know that the children at this reception are going to run out and play on the dance floor. This is because it's finally time where they don't have to sit still and listen to speeches and they can get rid of all the pent up energy. As you are walking over to them I hope you are adjusting your camera to high speed settings. Kids are always great for candid shots. This means it is a good idea to kind of know where they are in the back of your mind as you are getting other shots. If you see something out of the corner of your eye, and there is a lull, go shoot it. If you do this you'll get some great shots.
Try these tips at your next wedding. Thanks for reading!
These candid shots of the guests portray how the bride and groom would like to remember their wedding- a unique day in the lives of everyone in attendance. A candid photo of an uncle getting emotional, or a quick shot of the always shy college roommate showing off his moves on the dance floor will confirm to the wedding couple that everything was a little different on their special day.
The easiest way for you to capture candid moments of the guests is to be aware of everything that is happening around you. You need to begin to be aware of the normal flow of events at a wedding so that you know what is going to happen before it happens.
The point in the ceremony where the priest or rabbi is talking to the wedding couple is a good example of knowing what to expect before it happens. Everyone knows that this is the time to shoot images of the bride and groom as they look at one another tearfully. But this is also the time to turn around and see what the guests are up to. This is because you know that the priest or rabbi will be talking to the couple for the next few minutes before anyone takes the rings out, and that the pictures you take of the couple will pretty much be the same.
But remember it needs to be candid. So what I do is I kind of take a general sweeping look at the guests behind me and face forward again. Nobody knows that I was looking at him or her, it just seems that I was looking around. Still facing forward, I have in my head the image I want to shoot of one guest in particular who I think looked to be in a moment. So I set my camera settings, then quickly turn around and get the shot before the guest realizes he or she is a photo opp.
To use another example of knowing the wedding flow to be able to anticipate candid photo opps is when the music starts at a reception. Normally people are still too shy to start dancing, but because you are the super wedding photographer you know that the children at this reception are going to run out and play on the dance floor. This is because it's finally time where they don't have to sit still and listen to speeches and they can get rid of all the pent up energy. As you are walking over to them I hope you are adjusting your camera to high speed settings. Kids are always great for candid shots. This means it is a good idea to kind of know where they are in the back of your mind as you are getting other shots. If you see something out of the corner of your eye, and there is a lull, go shoot it. If you do this you'll get some great shots.
Try these tips at your next wedding. Thanks for reading!
About the Author:
Kevin Heslin is one of the leading Wedding and Commercial Photographers in Costa Rica. Besides commercial and wedding photography, Kevin also specializes in Travel and Cultural Portraits. To see more photo tips click on his blog Costa Rica Photographer Or to see photos of his weddings in Costa Rica, or travel and cultural photography in Central America check out his website Costa Rica Photography
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