Of all the jaw-dropping images that I’ve created over the years as a wedding photographer, I can truly say that there is no more honest image than the one I didn’t plan. These are the moments that happen because they were meant to happen, and because they should happen.
Here are my four tried and true tips for capturing your wedding day with a candid/documentary-style/photojournalistic flair. The acronym for remembering these steps is RAAD, and it couldn’t be more appropriate.
Relationship
Anticipation
Agility
Direction
Step 1: Relationship
The single most important thing I can do is build a relationship with my clients. All of the couples I work with let me into their lives by sharing their relationship with me. The opposite is just as important. All my couples know about me, my family, and even more revealing; some add me as a friend on Facebook (where my filter really comes off). The more you can relate to your photographer as a human, the more you can trust your photographer, and the more willing you’ll be to let us in close enough to document the most intimate time of your lives.
Step 2: Anticipation
Knowing what to expect when I walk into a room – who to look for, the energy of the room, and where my best light source is, are key components. If I’ve noticed that dad has a special connection with the bride then I know he is someone that I should key in on, as I’m very likely going to see tears. And dad tears are the Nutella on a wedding sandwich. Your photographer should know who to look for as soon as they walk into the room and be able to anticipate any moments that may happen.
Step 3: Agility
If there’s one thing I pride myself on, it’s being humble, and that I’m physically fit! Being a committed fitness junkie has given me a lot of advantages while documenting a wedding – I move swiftly and I never tire during a wedding day. Moving quickly and discreetly in order to quietly document those amazing moments on your wedding day is critical to documentary style photography. Your photographer should be constantly moving, never sedentary. The more we move, the more angles we see, the more people we engage, and the more stories we tell.
Step 4: Direction
Often times I’ll see a moment developing, but some guests are hesitant to make that happen for fear of “getting in the way.” Repeat after me: “I am not in the way. Ever.” However, when this happens I’m more than happy to provide direction, to give someone that nudge to say “It’s ok, go make your moment.” Or “go grab your bride’s butt – make her laugh!”
