What Does a Candid Wedding Photographer Do?

If you have ever worried about feeling awkward, overly posed, or missing the real moments on your wedding day, candid wedding photography might be exactly what you are looking for. Whether you are getting married in Richmond or anywhere else, this style lets you experience the day while I quietly document it as it happens.

What You Need to Know First

• You do not have to choose 100 percent documentary or 100 percent traditional. You can lean candid while still making space for a few classic, everyone-looking-at-the-camera photos.
• Candid wedding photography focuses on real moments in real time, so your photos feel like memories instead of posed images.
• Traditional wedding photography is more posed throughout the day, with more stopping and arranging, and often includes stiffer couple portraits.
• Most couples who feel awkward in photos are actually better suited to a relaxed, candid approach where they can just be themselves.
• Even with a documentary style, big key moments like your ceremony and first dance are fully covered, so you are not sacrificing must-have photos.

Best Options for Candid Wedding Photography

Option A: Mostly candid, documentary coverage

This is for couples who want the day documented as it naturally unfolds, with the focus on real emotion and real interactions. You will spend less time stopping and posing, and more time actually being present with your people.

Option B: Traditional, pose-forward photography

This is for couples who want more direction throughout the day and prefer structured portraits. It can look beautiful, but it usually involves more pauses and more formal posing.

Option C: A hybrid approach (candid storytelling plus a short formal block)

This is the sweet spot for most couples. We knock out family formals and a few classic portraits efficiently, then the rest of the day gets to breathe while I focus on candid coverage.

Candid vs Traditional Wedding Photography

When couples ask me about my style, I usually say this: I am a candid, documentary style wedding photographer who captures the day as it actually happens. Documentary is basically another word for candid in this context, because the focus is on genuine emotion and unscripted moments instead of staged photos.

With a documentary approach, I stay observant and present, watching for hugs, laughter, quick glances, and the quiet in between moments that tell the story of your day. It is similar to street photography in that I am often photographing people without them paying attention to the camera, which helps everyone relax.

What Traditional Wedding Photography Looks Like

Traditional wedding photography leans more into posing and directing throughout the day. The photographer might pause the action more often, arrange everyone repeatedly, and work from a tight shot list to make sure every classic pose is checked off.

Couples portraits in a traditional style usually involve more precise, held poses. Think “stand exactly here, turn your chin this way, hold that smile” for longer stretches of time. There is nothing wrong with that if you love it, but it does change the energy of your day.

Why I Prefer Candid, Documentary Coverage

I love shooting in a documentary style because it lets me capture real moments in real time. You get to actually live your wedding day with your favorite people, instead of constantly stopping to recreate things for the camera.

One of my favorite examples of this was when fireworks went off at the end of a wedding. The couple thought I had already left for the night, but I was still nearby and quietly captured them kissing with fireworks exploding above them. That moment could not have been staged in the same way, and it feels extra special because it was completely real.

How This Helps You Feel Less Awkward

Most couples who hire me say some version of “We are not models” or “We are pretty awkward in photos.” That is normal. Candid photography is actually perfect for that, because you do not spend your whole day performing for the camera.

Yes, we will still get a few pretty, frame-worthy portraits where you are both looking your best. But I also remind couples that some of the best photos are not perfectly posed. They are the ones of you and your friends laughing about an inside joke or wiping away a tear during a speech.

How I Shoot Candid Wedding Days

My goal is for you to feel like yourself in your photos. Throughout most of the day, I do not interfere unless it is really needed. I let hugs, jokes, tears, and dance floor chaos unfold naturally, and I stay ready to capture it from my point of view.

During getting ready, couple portraits, and bridal party photos, I offer light prompts to help you feel comfortable and to get flattering angles without making it feel stiff or over-posed. These are the key parts of the day where I give more guidance.

Real Moments Only, Not Recreated

An important part of my candid approach is that I do not recreate genuine moments after they happen. If someone runs up to hug you and I miss it, I missed it, and I will not ask them to redo the hug just for the camera.

This does not mean I miss big key moments. For things like your ceremony, first kiss, first dance, or any planned events, I am dialed in and ready. The only thing I will ever ask to redo is a small getting ready detail if it helps tell the story.

When I Step In and Guide

During couple portraits, I use simple prompts that help you move and interact instead of locking you into stiff poses. I might ask you to walk together, share something you are excited about, or pull each other in close so the emotion feels real.

With bridal party photos and family group portraits, we organize things so everyone knows where to stand and we move efficiently. Even then, I like to build in a little movement and personality so the photos feel like your people, not a yearbook lineup.

Getting Experimental When There Is Time

My style is my style, but if we have flexible pockets of time during the day, I love getting more experimental. That might mean playing with interesting light, motion blur, or creative angles that add a unique feel to your gallery.

The key is that we only do this when it makes sense and never at the expense of you enjoying your day. Your experience and time with your people always comes first.

Where I Love to Photograph Weddings

I truly love all kinds of weddings, from intimate elopements to big celebrations. I am especially drawn to beautiful outdoor settings where we can use natural light, open spaces, and the landscape to frame your story.

I photograph weddings and elopements worldwide, from Virginia to destination celebrations. Whether you are planning a Richmond wedding in the city or a celebration in the mountains, forest, backyard, or coastline, my approach stays the same: real, relaxed, and focused on the connection between you and your people.

How to Choose Between Candid and Traditional

You do not have to fit yourself into a box. Most couples end up somewhere between fully documentary and fully traditional, and that is often the sweet spot. What matters most is that the approach matches how you actually want to feel on the day.

Step 1: Look Through Full Galleries

Do not just look at highlight reels on social media. Ask any photographer you are considering to share full wedding galleries so you can see what the entire day looks like, not just a handful of favorite portraits.

Pay attention to how much of the day is posed versus unposed, how the story flows, and how the photos make you feel. You should be able to imagine yourself in those moments.

Step 2: Notice How Comfort and Emotion Show Up

As you look through galleries, notice whether people look comfortable or stiff. Do they seem like they are genuinely having fun and feeling their feelings, or are they mostly standing in place and smiling at the camera.

If you are drawn to photos where people look relaxed, mid-laugh, or caught in a small, quiet moment, you are probably leaning toward a candid, documentary style.

Step 3: Be Honest About What You Want

One of the best things you can do is be completely honest with your photographer about what you are envisioning. Tell them how much posing you are comfortable with, what kinds of moments matter most, and any family or cultural expectations that might affect the day.

Any real pro will guide you in the right direction, even if that means recommending a different photographer whose style is a better fit. My priority is that you find someone whose approach matches your vision.

Pro Tip: Mix Must-Have Shots with Real Moments

Keep any must-have, more traditional shots in a short, intentional block of time so the rest of the day can breathe. For example, we can plan family formals and a few classic portraits right after the ceremony while everyone is still nearby.

Once those are done, you can fully relax into the rest of the celebration knowing the essential combinations are covered. From there, I focus on candid coverage of everything else, so you get both the important posed photos and the real, in-between moments.

FAQs About Candid Wedding Photography

Can we have more stiff or traditional posing if we want?

Yes, you can absolutely request more traditional posing if that is important to you or your family. We can plan a portion of the day for more formal, everyone-looking-at-the-camera photos.

Even in those moments, I build in a bit of movement and interaction so the photos still feel like you. A small prompt or simple motion can bring real emotion into a pose without making it feel stiff.

Will a candid approach mean you miss important moments?

No, candid does not mean careless. I will not ask you to redo a real hug or reaction just for the camera, but I always plan carefully around big key moments like your ceremony, first kiss, and first dance.

Before the day, we talk through your timeline and priorities so I know what matters most to you. During the wedding, I stay ready for those moments while also catching the smaller, unscripted things happening around them.

We feel awkward in photos. Is candid photography a good fit for us?

If you feel awkward, a candid approach is usually a perfect fit. Instead of freezing you in complicated poses, I use simple prompts and let you interact naturally so the focus is on how the moment feels, not how you look to a camera.

You get support when you need it, but you are never expected to act like models. Most of my couples are regular people, not trained in front of a lens, and that is exactly who this style is made for.

Do you still help with timeline and family photos if you shoot mostly candid?

Yes, timeline support is a big part of what I do. Before your wedding, I help you map out a flow that keeps things stress-free and makes room for the moments that matter most.

For family photos, we create a simple list ahead of time and move through it efficiently so everyone knows where to be and when. That way, we get the must-have group shots quickly and you can get back to enjoying your people.

Can we see what this looks like in real weddings?

Absolutely. The best way to understand my approach is to see it in action across real wedding days, not just a few favorite images. You can explore my work and see how candid, documentary coverage looks from start to finish.

Learn more about my wedding and elopement experience.

Final Thoughts

Candid wedding photography is about letting your day unfold as it was meant to, then preserving it in a way that feels honest, emotional, and true to you. You do not have to perform for the camera or choose between beautiful portraits and real moments, you can have both.

Documentary Philosophy: I do not believe in forcing you into rigid poses all day. I guide lightly when it helps, then step back and let the real moments unfold, knowing that is where the most meaningful photos live. Your gallery should feel like your memories, not a staged version of them.

See what your wedding or elopement experience could look like.

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