A majority of the couples we talk with prefer the the look of natural wedding photos over overly posed images or staged moments. And while they understand the importance of formal portraits and detail shots, they hope for a wedding album full of candid moments. 

The thing is, most couples don’t know how to help their photographer get these kinds of photos. They think it’s as simple as showing up and having their pictures taken.

And yes, while showing up is a part of it, there are actually some things you can do to help your photographer capture the best candid wedding photos.  

So, read on for three little-known things you can give your photographer that will make a big impact on your photos.

1. An Open Mind

It’s normal to feel a little FOMO around your photo list. And it’s easy to fall down the Pinterest rabbit hole and come out on the other side with a checklist of “must-have” pictures.  But you’re likely going to hire your photographer because you love their work – so trust that they know what to look for! 

And while it’s okay to share inspirational images, photo ideas that appeal to you, and a list of must-have family photos, try to avoid micromanaging your photographer’s style or time. Especially if you want candid photos versus posed or staged ones. 

Look at it this way, if you are to hire us as your New Jersey wedding photographer, chances are you’ll want us to capture your event as it unfolds. That means we need to focus on photographing what we see happening in front of my camera. Not spend too much time trying to check off items on a shot list. The more time spent on that, the less time we have to capture your unique story.  

2. An Efficient Timeline

A detailed timeline is more effective than a bullet point list of photos because it acts as a guide. Like a well-written recipe, it shows us what we need to do, where we need to be and when to get the wedding images you want.  

Whether you create your own timeline or collaborate with a planner, you’ll also want to work with your photographer to plan a timeline that has photography in mind. It will help your photographer understand what’s important to you and how things should be compartmentalized.

We like timelines that allow us ample opportunity for candid moments and ensure we don’t spend your wedding day bogged down in formal photos. And, when we work with couples and their planners, we recommend things like a first look to save you time on couples portraits elsewhere in the day and keeping group shots minimal.

A solid schedule gives us a great idea of everything that will happen during the wedding, so we can anticipate certain moments. And while we obviously can’t predict someone crying, a schedule does let us know that toasts are coming up. And that we should probably keep a sharp focus on your maid of honor because she’s been shedding tears all day. 😉

3. Your Presence

This may seem like the most surprising of the three. After all, unless there’s an emergency (or you get cold feet), you expect to be at your own wedding. 

But the point is to really be at your wedding – mind, body, and soul. Immerse yourselves in your day, enjoy each moment as it comes, and celebrate with the people you’ve chosen to spend this special day with. 

Couples can get caught up in getting the “right” photos (or feel pressured to) and worry about moments falling through the cracks. But when you hire a wedding photographer who cares about your experience (ahem…us!), you don’t have to worry about missing anything. 

From the teary-eyed faces during toasts to the uncontrollable laughter on the dance floor, I’ll be there capturing each second of your authentic wedding story.  

So relax into the day, and allow yourselves to be in the moment. When you show up as yourselves and let go of all the worry, the candid photos will happen naturally. You won’t feel like you have to force or stage scenes in order to capture them. In the end, you’ll have a set of images you love because they tell a true story. 

You may not be able to predict what I’ll capture in your candid photos, but you can plan on receiving a stunning collection. Browse my blog to see examples, and reach out to save your date.