For more than 10 years, I’ve had the incredible privilege of capturing countless couples on their wedding days. As a Candid Wedding photographer, I focus on the emotional connections and the little moments that often go unnoticed. These are the moments my clients tell me they love the most—unscripted smiles, laughter, and the quirks that truly tell their story. Over the years, I’ve learned a few secrets that help me capture these authentic, heartfelt moments, and I’d love to share them with you.
The Art of Storytelling Through a Candid Wedding Photographer’s Lens
1. Be in the Midst of the Chaos
Emotion doesn’t happen on command. It happens naturally, in the moment, and if you want to capture it, you need to be where the action is. Gone are the days when I could hide behind my lens and try to document from afar.
When the boys are getting ready, for example, I might turn away while they’re dressing, but as soon as they’re decent enough, I step in to capture all the little moments that make the room feel alive. Like this one time, a groomsman came out of the bathroom joking around with the groom, grabbing his crotch to make everyone laugh—it’s moments like this that make wedding days so memorable.
Being present in the midst of the action allows me to capture real emotion as it happens, without intruding. And looking back, my clients have never felt their privacy was invaded. Instead, they are often in awe of the genuine emotion documented in their photos. This is why I consider being in the action one of my top secrets for candid photography as a Bendigo wedding photographer.
2. Let It Play Out
Another secret I swear by is simply letting the day unfold naturally. Sometimes, there’s an urge to intervene—hold the veil, fix the dress, or stage a moment—but the truth is, your wedding should play out as it was meant to. If it rains, it rains. If the wind blows, it blows. These little moments become part of your story and make every wedding uniquely yours.
By allowing your day to progress naturally, I can capture authentic moments that reflect your story exactly as it happened. This philosophy is at the heart of my approach as a documentary Candid Wedding Photographer.
3. Anticipate the Moment
The third secret for candid photography is knowing where to look and learning to anticipate the moment. Over the years, I’ve learned to recognise the patterns and cues that lead to spontaneous emotion. For instance, I always seek out the children at weddings because with kids, there are no rules—and where there are no rules, authentic, playful emotion often happens.
Anticipation also comes into play during key moments, like speeches, where emotion gradually builds, or just before the bride walks down the aisle, capturing the groom’s reaction as he sees her for the first time. These are the moments that require experience, observation, and intuition—and knowing when and where to be ready to capture the perfect candid shot. This ability is one of the things that sets me apart as a Candid Wedding Photographer.
The Secrets Behind Candid Wedding Photos
To summarise, here are a few of the secrets I use to capture candid wedding moments:
- Be present in the action—don’t hide from the story.
- Let moments unfold naturally without forcing them.
- Anticipate the emotion and know where to look for it.
- Pay attention to little quirks, laughter, and gestures that make each wedding unique.
- Trust the day—and the emotions will follow.
Candid, emotional wedding photos aren’t about staged perfection—they’re about capturing your story exactly as it happens. I’ve found that these secrets allow me to document moments that make couples laugh, cry, and relive their day every time they look at their photos.
While you’re here, don’t forget to check out more relatable blog posts below for tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes stories from weddings I’ve captured.
- 10 Best Wedding Venues in Bendigo
- Finding Magic in Documentary Wedding Photography: Capturing Genuine Moments
- Engagement Photography in Bendigo: Why it Matters
