What is Candid Photography?

What is Candid Photography?

In a nutshell, it is where you have taken a photograph of a person or persons without them knowing it.  They have not posed for the camera, and are more than likely concentrating on something else, so their “barriers” are dropped, showing off their true emotions.

It is also a “spur of the moment” thing.  I recently did a wedding for a colleague from work.  Once I had done the main part, it was time for me to have some fun.  I love to capture peoples “natural” experssions when they are enjoying themselves.

Candid Photography Example: Kelly & Kyle on Kelly’s Wedding Day

For the photo above, I could hear Kelly laughing away, so I turned around and saw she was chatting away to some of her guests.  By now the main venue was over, and both bride and groom were used to the camera going off, so I sort of became invisible.

Candid Time!!!!

Lucy, in the example below, hadn’t realised that I saw her applying new makeup.  Out of interest I just watched her, camera over my shoulder.  All of a sudden, she pulled this great facial expression to even out her lipstick.  I couldn’t resist the shot!

Candid Photography Example: Lucy Applying Makeup – without her notice me taking her photo!

There are times when people  that you are pointing the camera at will, just out of pure human nature, pose for the camera – it might be arms around each other, stood side by side.

Candid Photography – A Posed Image: Annie looked at me when she saw the camera!

A good tip if you are wanting to try “candid photography” is stick a 70-300mm zoom lens on your camera, (if you are using a digital SLR), or if you are using a digital compact, zoom right in (or as far as you need to), but “keep out of the way” so nobody knows your there!

Candid photography is very close to Street Photography.  Each tell their own story.  With Candid Photography you are trying to capture the emotion of the persons face.  Street Photography you are trying to tell a story about the person or peoples you are photographing.

Don’t be frightened  to go black and white!  You can achieve all kinds of different photos from  trying different variations!

Above all, have fun. Believe me, once you have had a go at Candid Photography you will want to do more 🙂

Boadecia: On a Current Photography Workshop