When it comes to your wedding day, the most meaningful memories often happen during the candid, unplanned moments. While posed photos are great, there’s something extra special about capturing the genuine interactions and joy that unfold naturally. If you’re looking for ways to maximize candid moments in your wedding gallery, here are some key strategies to make it happen.
1. Join Cocktail Hour
Don’t miss out on the fun! Cocktail hour is a great time to mingle with your guests and create unplanned, candid moments. Many couples skip this part, but I encourage you to make the time for it. Not only will you enjoy yourself, but it also gives me the opportunity to capture those relaxed interactions with friends and family. These ways to maximize candid moments in your wedding gallery help paint the full picture of your day and add depth to your gallery.
Additionally, by taking time to visit with guests during cocktail hour, you can also maximize your time relaxing at dinner and on the dance floor. Everyone wants your attention on your wedding day so by taking the time early on to talk with guests that won’t join you later in the night, you can keep the focus on partying the night away.
If you’re short on time, don’t be afraid to extend cocktail hour longer than the traditional hour! Those 60 minutes fly by so fast, especially when we’re also trying to fit extended family photos, a moment alone for you two, AND mingling with as many people as you can. So long as everyone has a drink, enough appetizers to keep them fed until their full meal later, and good music I promise your guests will be plenty happy to hang out for a little longer!
2. Make Family Photos Efficient
Family portraits can easily eat up a LOT of time if not planned properly, which adds stress and takes away from the more enjoyable moments of your wedding. To avoid this, create a clear shot list in advance and I recommend limiting it to 5-7 combinations per side max.
What also makes a HUGE difference is communicating the specific timing with your family members so they know exactly where they need to be and when. It’s especially important that the head of each family has been personally told that they are called for portraits and not to let their family leave after the ceremony/arrive late for pre-ceremony portraits. I could not tell you the number of times that family has walked away not knowing that they were called for portraits. What is usually supposed to be a quick and efficient 10-15 minutes often turns into an extremely stressful and overwhelming 30+ minutes.
The quicker we can get through this part, the sooner you can get back to enjoying the celebration – and the more candid moments we can capture!
3. Schedule Downtime
It might sound counterintuitive, but intentional downtime is crucial to having a wedding day full of candid moments. Whether it’s taking a few minutes to relax with your spouse, playing lawn games, or chatting with guests, having unstructured time allows for genuine interactions. This is when the magic happens – the laughter, the quiet moments, the real emotion – all of which will end up in your final gallery.
4. Incorporate Fun Activities
Another way to maximize candid moments in your wedding gallery is by doing something unique with your wedding party or close friends that takes the focus off of the camera. Whether it’s heading to an arcade + karaoke bar or incorporating lawn + board games into your day, these activities will give you a break from the hustle and allow for natural, authentic photos of your friends hanging out and being themselves. For more ideas on alternative portrait options, check out my blog on the topic!
5. Reevaluate Your Focus
While formal portraits are important, they shouldn’t dominate your timeline if you’re looking for documentary-style photography. Think critically about the ratio of time you want to spend posing versus spending quality time with your guests. In my opinion, those spontaneous, candid moments are often more meaningful than a perfectly posed shot. The less time spent on formalities, the more time you’ll have to relax and let me capture those special in-between moments.
6. Delegate the Details
Hiring a coordinator or planner is one of the best ways to ensure a smooth, stress-free day. Without someone handling the logistics, couples always end up doing it themselves. This leads to a lot of time spent on the phone and answering unnecessary questions. When you’re stressed dealing with logistics, it steals from your enjoyment and reduces the number of relaxed, candid moments. When your mind is at ease and the small stuff is handled, you can focus on the celebration! This is one of the best ways to let the happy, unscripted moments happen naturally.
For documentary-style wedding photography, in my opinion, hiring a wedding coordinator is a non-negotiable. They keep your wedding running smoothly, keeping you relaxed, and resulting in the best candid images possible.
7. Start the Day Right
The morning sets the tone for the entire day, so starting off on the right foot is key. Refer to my blog “10 Tips for Getting Ready” to ensure your prep time is smooth and stress-free. It includes all of my best tips to ensure that your wedding morning goes off without a hitch. If we fall behind schedule early, it can turn the rest of the day into a rushed blur!
8. Micromanage The Details Before Your Day
All those hours of planning and decision-making are about to pay off! By handling the nitty-gritty details well in advance, you can relax and enjoy your wedding day without constantly worrying about logistics. Being organized before the day allows you to live in the moment when it really counts – and that’s when the best candids happen.
There are a few key logistic checkpoints throughout the day that often cause couples stress. Questions like, “What items do I need for the rest of the day, and who is carrying that bag?”. And, “In what arrangement is the table decor to be laid out and how many items go on each table? Lastly, let’s not forget the classic, “Why isn’t this family member where we need them to be?”. I promise that being a little overbearing about the details leading up to the day always makes a difference!
Don’t want to take of these details yourself? Yet another reason to hire a wedding coordinator😘
9. Spend Time Visiting Tables
After dinner, make sure to carve out some time to visit each table and say hello to your guests. This is a perfect time to capture natural interactions and reactions. Pro tip: request to your catering team that I eat at the same time as you! That way I’ve already eaten and I’m ready to take candids when you start making your rounds. This will ensure I don’t miss any of those sweet, unposed moments.
Table Dash:
Additionally, there are two ways to do this! Pictured below is what’s known as a “table dash.” It’s an event where we go around as fast as we can to take a photograph with each table. This is a speedy way to ensure you have a picture with every person who was present at your wedding. This doesn’t allow much time for chatting but does ensure each person has a moment with you prior to dinner ending.
Informal Visits:
If that doesn’t fit your vision, that’s ok! The other way to approach this time is to take your time visiting tables and talking with guests. This version allows for more candids as opposed to smiling at the camera. I normally recommend at least 10 minutes and up to 25 minutes for this section of your day. You can also target certain tables you either didn’t get to chat with during cocktail hour or guests you know won’t be staying late into the reception like older relatives. That way, once the dance floor opens there’s less of a chance you’ll be pulled away to chat with guests!
By following these tips, you’ll be able to create a wedding day that’s not only memorable but also filled with authentic moments. This is my list of the best ways to maximize candid moments in your wedding gallery!
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Kind Words
“Just like I couldn’t imagine my wedding without my now husband, I almost equally couldn’t imagine it without Emma. When you hire Emma you get more than beautiful photos to last a lifetime. You’re hiring your hype woman. Emma is a chameleon. Whatever you need her to be, she seamlessly morphs into, even without you asking or even realizing it yourself. By the time it came for her to leave, I was genuinely sad. Not because I felt like we missed any shots but because her energy was that palpable, I couldn’t picture the celebration without her.
