Getting Great Candid Wedding Photos

Edmonton weather has been all over the map lately but as the sun starts shining more and more, I can’t help but feel excited for all there is to come! This has been on my mind for a while, so I am happy I have a chance to bring it to the blog before another busy Edmonton wedding season kicks off this summer. As inquiries roll in for 2023 (and couples really start to plan for 2022), there seems to be a theme. It sounds, more or less, like “I don’t really care about all the posed photos but what I really, really want are great candid wedding photos”. So let’s talk about it!

 

First, in order to get great candid wedding photos, you need to trust (and love) your wedding photographer. So, allow me to introduce myself!

I’m Katie – the lady behind the camera here at Katie Ruegg Photography and when I show up to photograph your wedding, I want to make sure you know it’s all about you. I want to capture your personalities and love for one another, and every single moment and emotion that happens on your wedding day. I want to be your creative sidekick and BFF with a camera. If you are looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer and think I might be the one, I would LOVE to hear from you and gush over your love story. Make sure to get in touch here!

Next, one of the keys to getting great candid wedding photos is doing a little extra work ahead of time so that you can stay in the moment. Being present on your wedding day is priority #1.

Don’t skip this step. A lot of couples feel comfortable communicating their desire for candid photos, without realizing how much control they have over the outcome! Here are just a few things you can do to help you stay present on the wedding day, and therefore get the candid wedding photos you actually want (ie. genuinely smiling getting ready, not looking overwhelmed).

Here are some of my tips for staying present on your wedding day:

1. Hire a wedding planner (or at least a day of coordinator!) to help with the overall logistics on your wedding day. Do not count on your other wedding vendors or family and friends who although might be willing to help, aren’t well versed in all the pieces that need to come together for your wedding day.
2. Book engagement photos! Seriously – I talk a lot about this but one of the keys to getting better wedding photos is starting with engagement photos.
3. Trust your photographer. Seriously. Don’t hire the cheap, new wedding photographer (I talk about my own experience with that here so trust me when I say this does not come from a place of judgment). Hire someone you trust and that will make you feel more comfortable on your wedding day.

Plan your Moments

It sounds ironic, but you need to plan your moments if you want those perfect candid wedding photos. Like I mentioned before, there are moments on your wedding day that will ALWAYS be candid. Your ceremony is one example, but your first look or your wedding reception moments are another. If posed photos really aren’t important to you and I can’t convince you otherwise (keep reading!), I also love the idea of you planning a cute activity for your photo time as well (like the boat ride at one of my favorite Edmonton wedding venues – Pine and Pond!).

The best candid wedding photos come between the poses photos!

Lastly, I know right now that candid wedding photos might be all the rage, but that doesn’t mean we need to throw the typical posed wedding photos away. Some of my favorite candid wedding photos are the genuine laughs and glances that happen in between the more traditional portraits.

Listen, there are certain moments on your wedding day that are going to be candid by nature. For example, I hope you aren’t thinking about posing for your wedding photos as you say your vows! But those dreamy posed photos, the ones you will likely hang on your wall, are ripe with the opportunity to capture authentic and genuine moments with your new spouse. Enjoy them. It doesn’t have to be either/or.

Ready to book your wedding photographer?

Seriously, I hope this helps put your mind at ease when it comes to getting great candid wedding photos – it doesn’t need to be as hard as you might think. For those of you who like to do a little extra planning (and if you read this until the end, I’m guessing that’s you!), I completely understand. I’m a planner too! If you are looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, you can learn more about my Edmonton wedding photography packages here, or reach out here and we can have a conversation (I like to think I am better one on one than I am on the internet anyway). Let’s chat about your wedding photos!