Nowadays, most couples don’t just want the formal shots at their weddings. Frequently, they’ll ask for ‘reportage’ shots, by which they mean more candid shots of themselves and the guests enjoying themselves without being lined up for the camera.

But in today’s camera phone heavy world, people are far more camera savvy than in days of old. So you need to know how to get good candid shots without people noticing. Here are ten tips to help make that task easier for you.

photo by Rachel Kramer

1. Always Be Ready

The first and most important rule of candid photography is to always have your camera ready. Your camera needs to be in your hand and ready to shoot at all times. Make sure you’ve got your ISO, shutter speed and aperture set to suitable for the environment (I’d recommend a f-stop of around f5.6 to f8, so that you still get some depth of field in the shot) and keep extra memory cards in your pocket.

2. Use The Right Equipment

Whilst having pro DSLRs is helpful for the majority of shots, it can be very useful to have a smaller camera along in addition to help with candid shots. Some of the newer mirrorless cameras, such as the Fuji X range, provide high quality shots in a far more compact body, helping to make you more unobtrusive.

3. Use A Longer Lens

It’s easier to get candid shots if you’re not standing right in front of people. So it’s worth investing in a zoom lens so that you can take pictures from a distance. That way, people are less likely to realise that you’re pointing a camera in their direction.

It also helps to keep the intimacy of the shot, which is really important in wedding photography.

4. Flash Free Zone

The quickest way to get people to notice that you’re taking photos is to fire off a flash. Plus flashlight can be harsh and unflattering. Find other ways to let light into your image by opening up your aperture, slowing your shutter speed or upping your ISO. You might introduce a bit more noise into your images, but the idea is to capture the moment. And noise might actually be a good thing.

5. Plan Ahead

If you can, it’s a great idea to visit the venue before the wedding so that you can scope out good locations for shots. If you can’t get there ahead of time, try and take out a few minutes when you first arrive to scope out the main rooms that will be used for the reception, and what they will be used for.

6. Take Lots Of Photos

This may seem obvious, but the more shots you take, the better chance you have a capturing the spontaneous interactions of the day. A good tip is to put your camera on continuous and fire off a burst of shots. That way you can capture a range of expressions. Candid photography at a wedding is one of those rare occasions where more is more!

7. Photograph People In Groups

This has a two-fold advantage. People interacting with each other often makes for a more interesting shot. But more importantly, once people are talking in groups they become involved in the conversation and less aware of what is going on around them. And this makes life far easier for a photographer trying to capture candid shots.

8. Frame Images

A good way of capturing candid shots is to use a doorway or people to hide behind, so that your subjects are unaware you’re photographing them. However, this can also be a simple way of framing your subjects – the old ‘frame within a frame’ trick.

9. Follow The Laughter

Again, this may sound simplistic, but follow the laughter at a wedding. You want to be where people are having fun and enjoying themselves, as this will lead to the most natural shots.

10. Pay Attention

Lastly, and certainly not least, you need to keep paying attention if you want to get good candid shots at a wedding. Glances and looks can happen in the blink of an eye, so you need to keep an eye on what’s happening around you. It takes practice, but the more candid photography you do, the more you’ll start to anticipate the shots that are about to happen.

I hope you found those tips useful. Please take a moment to chime in and share your own experiences and thoughts via Twitter or Facebook!