When someone says “we’re really drawn to candid wedding photos,” I know exactly what they mean, but I also know it means something different to every couple. And honestly? That’s part of what I love about it.
Because candid doesn’t mean chaotic, and it definitely doesn’t mean careless.
Candid means intentional presence. It means pausing to witness the in-between.
So let’s talk about what candid wedding photos really are and why the couples I work with consistently ask for them.
It’s not about the dip-kiss at the end of the aisle
That photo where the couple stops halfway down the aisle, dips, kisses, and smiles for the crowd? It’s cute and photogenic. Fun. But it’s not candid…
It’s performative because it was planned.
And there’s nothing wrong with planned moments. But when my couples ask for candid wedding photos, they’re not talking about that.
They’re talking about Grandma’s hands and the way the best man grabs the groom in a bear hug before the ceremony. The flower girl spinning herself dizzy on the dance floor. The tear that sneaks down the bride’s cheek while she’s listening to the vows.
They’re talking about feeling something.
What my couples mean when they say “candid”
They want to see themselves and not the posed version of themselves.
They want to see their guests smiling, laughing, hugging, crying, dancing, and being fully present.
And they want to remember the moment as it actually felt – not just how the timeline planned it.
They want the photos to take them back, years later, to a very specific moment. The moments that live in the margins of the timeline, outside the shot list, in between the formalities.
They want the FEELING.
The 3 types of candid photos I take
Here’s what I’ve learned over years of photographing weddings across the Southeast: not all candids are created equal. And not every moment that feels candid is completely unscripted.
For me, there are three types of candid wedding photos I’m always looking for:
1- The fully unscripted candids
These are the ones where I’m standing back, fully in witness mode. I’m not giving ANY direction. I’m not adjusting angles. I’m simply paying attention.
You’ll see these during first dances, cocktail hour, speeches, dance floors, emotional entrances. You’ll see them in the quiet moment between a father and daughter and a mom wiping away a tear.
These are the moments that happen with or without a photographer. I’m just lucky enough to catch them.
2- The in-between candids
This is my favorite kind. These happen within the direction.
Say I’m photographing a couple during their portraits. I’ll guide them into a natural pose, something that makes them feel comfortable, and then…something clicks. He glances over, nuzzles her neck, she giggles, and the moment softens.
It’s not a pose but it came from one.
This kind of candid happens when trust is built. When the couple forgets there’s a camera, and when the space between instruction and instinct blurs.
3- The loosely-guided candids
This is the middle ground… the “I’m not telling you what to do, but I am making sure I can see you” kind of moment.
Like when I tell a couple, “Hey, I’m going to be standing over here for the cake cutting. Make sure I’ve got a clear view.” And then? I don’t say anything else.
They interact. They laugh. Maybe they smush cake. Maybe they don’t.
But I’m not directing the scene. I’m simply standing there documenting it.
Why candid photos matter more than ever
Here’s the thing: ANYONE can take a photo of a bouquet or a cake. But capturing the way your partner’s voice cracked during their vows? Or the way your brother danced like nobody was watching? That’s the stuff that sticks. And it’s what you’ll show your kids one day.
Plus, we live in a world of content and curation. Everything has a filter. Every moment feels like it needs to be shared or performed.
But on your wedding day, the best moments are the ones you don’t even realize are happening. And those are the moment that tell the story.
That’s what candid wedding photos give you.
They give you your people. The ones who showed up. The ones who matter.
Let me be clear, though: candid doesn’t mean “caught off guard”. It’s not about surprise shots or weird angles or blurry nonsense.
Candid photos are about truth and connection.
They’re about giving you space to just…be. And they give you a way to remember the full experience, not just the posed parts.
For the couples who want to feel it again
If you’re planning your wedding and find yourself saying, “We just want it to feel like us,” this is where that starts.
Candid photos aren’t just about capturing a laugh or a tear. They’re about noticing the little things that make your story yours.
It’s your dad fixing your veil when no one’s looking. Your best friend adjusting your dress before you walk down the aisle. The look on your partner’s face when they finally see you.
It’s not posed. It’s personal.
So yes, I’ll get the big moments. The first kiss. The walk down the aisle. The cheers and the cake.
But I’ll also get the quiet ones.
The in-between ones.
The ones that make you say, “Oh, I didn’t even know you got that.”
Because that’s what candid wedding photos really mean.
And that’s what I’m here for.
