Yesterday I started a two-part blog series about candid photos. I started out from a photographer’s perspective explaining the 4 best ways to capture candid shots. And, as I was writing I realized that there was a lot of info I wanted to give that had more to do with the client and not the photographer. So, I thought I would write a blog post for the people who may be seeking professional photography and are drawn to the candid and natural looking shots. Here are my four tips for you!
1.) Find a photographer who displays candid work and is perfect for YOU – Whether it is on Facebook, on their blog, or on their website, you need to find a photographer who displays natural, genuine, and candid shots. I know this should go without saying, but it actually doesn’t always happen. I can’t tell you how many people have inquired with me even though they had never seen my work or had only seen one of my pictures. Okay, so I know there are about 96 photographers in a ten-mile radius of your home, but researching the best photographers and believing in their work is key to having a good photo shoot. Look at their website, their Facebook, and their blog and make sure their work is consistent and that you connect with the content that they put out there. If you want a photographer who shoots a mix of candid and posed shots, find a photographer who displays a mix of candid and posed shots! If you find one that is out of your price range, consider saving up for it. How many dinners out would you have to sacrifice to get THE photographer to capture memories of a lifetime? I’m actually saving right now for my favorite photographer to do an anniversary shoot for Steve and me. It may not be this year, but by next year, I will make it happen.
2.) Communicate to your photographer before the shoot – Before I go to a session, I like to talk with the client to go over how I plan to approach their session and what they can expect. We also go over outfit questions and the dynamic of their family. Sometimes we discuss all of this info in several emails back and forth to each other, but most of the time it’s in a phone conversation a few days before the shoot. It is during this conversation where I feel that it is important for you to tell the photographer what you are looking for and ask any questions about their approach to getting those shots. This certainly gets things out of the way before the shoot so you can have a more relaxing session when the day comes. It also establishes your expectations and gives an open door for the photographer to discuss things that he/she prefers not to do. For example, I’m not big on a lot of props when it comes to family shoots. So, although I will shoot the pictures they want, I explain to them that I really like to focus on the connection within the relationships so I want to make sure I get those first and that their gallery is primarily made up of the style I show on my website/blog/Facebook. Again, communication is key to having a successful shoot. If you and I didn’t talk about the props you wanted and you came to a session with a Pinterest page full of different posed and styled shots, then we both would be in for surprise, right? Even if you hire a photographer whose work you think you know because you have been following them for years, please make sure you express to them that you want candid shots. Even though you know you want candid shots and the photographer definitely does them, you may express something different by your body language or outfit choices. This communication will clean things up before your shoot so your photographer can mentally prepare for it. For example, every year I do one mini session marathon fundraiser for a foundation that is very near and dear to my heart. For the past two years this beautiful family has showed up dressed to the nines in beautiful new outfits. Because we have had both shoots in a country outdoor setting, I have been very careful not to get their dresses/suits dirty. And because they are mini-sessions and over twenty families sign up, I don’t get to communicate with each of them before hand. Well, this year, the mom said to me that I can have them playing in the leaves because the outfits are just for the pictures so if they get ruined then she wasn’t worried about it. This was towards the end of the session, and although this was a huge relief to hear, I would have been doing that with them the whole time had I known in advance. I was just too worried to get their outfits dirty. This a perfect example of how a little pre-session communication would have been helpful.
3.) Let your personalities shine – From time to time I see people get in front of the camera and they are totally nervous. But, the very best shoots are when the couple/family can have fun and relax in front of the camera. Trust me, the photographer does not judge the inside jokes or the cute pet names you have for each other. In fact, we prefer that you bring that out! It only makes for a more intimate and natural shoot. Come ready to share some of your story and to be open to connect to your loved ones. My favorite shoots are when I play games with the families and they can let their guard down long enough for me to capture their true personalities. Along with letting your personalities shine, is coming to the shoot dressed in confidence. This is both literal and figurative. You need to wear something you feel confident in and you need to come feeling beautiful inside and out. If this means going to buy a special outfit for the occasion or getting your hair and make-up professionally done, then so be it. Your confidence, or lack there of, will come across in your expressions. And that is not natural. Part of drawing out candid photographs is working with people who can be comfortable and confident in front of the camera. The more confident you are, the less worried you are, and the more you focus on your love.
4.) Interact with your loved ones- I can’t preach on this enough! It is THE most important tip when it comes to candid and natural shots. Come ready to connect, engage, encourage, flirt, and interact. One thing I have learned over the years is that when Mom and Dad try to control the kids and not let them be little and run around, then it just makes for a stressful shoot for all parties. In the same respect, if a couple is not ready to embrace, touch, flirt, look into each others eyes, and take a moment to take it all in, then the photographer’s hands are tied. While the photographer should be interacting, giving good direction, and moving around to get the shots, it is your job to be able to let that happen. Enjoy the shoot in the all the silliness and celebration of love that it should be. My goal as a photographer is not to just take pretty pictures, but to make it a fun experience. So, if you are my client, I would want you to come prepared to do just that. If everyone is having fun, then the natural connections come out more easily in front of the camera.
I hope these four tips help you find the perfect photographer for you this year who can capture your love in the way it deserves to be captured.
XO,
Stacy
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