Many of the brides I meet with say how much they want candid photos of their wedding day...and over time I’ve realized there are some key things every couple can do to help improve the chances for beautiful photos of candid moments at their wedding that are “Pinterest worthy.” Listed below are my top 5 tips for having an environment where beautiful candid moments and photos are captured! 1. Everyone important is in formal attire for the whole eventBelieve it or not this one is trickier than it sounds. For many Oklahoma weddings, there’s a mix of formal and casual which means as soon as the “formal stuff” is over people want to be back in their “comfy” clothes or what I call street clothes. My argument against people changing clothes during a wedding is very closely tied to beautiful candid wedding photos. This is because many of those happen before the ceremony, while everyone is getting ready and after the wedding ceremony at the reception. I’ve included a few examples of candid wedding photos and I want you to imagine if the people around the bride/groom weren’t wearing wedding attire.  Photo by Kenzie's Photography  Photo by Kenzie's Photography 2. Do things that make your wedding fun for youIf you’re having fun you’ll be smiling more, and since candid photos involve photos being taken while the subject isn’t looking at the camera, you kinda have to “turn it on” and the way to do that without feeling fake is to genuinely have fun during your wedding. Play games, dance, do anything that allows you to interact with your guest in a way everyone can enjoy. Many couples will “make the rounds” and talk to each table of guests but those photos rarely result in heartfelt meaningful moments, in fact they usually result in you standing by a table of sitting guests (not a flattering pose) and one of your backs is turned... Whereas, coaxing grandma and grandpa out onto the dance floor for the anniversary or dollar dance can easily lead to more memorable moments and photos that will capture a memory.  Photo by Kenzie's Photography 3. Admit you might have RBF and learn how to work with it…Yes, it’s time to talk about RBF (Resting Bit*h Face) and how it can affect your wedding photos. Whatever you want to call it, focus face, thinking face, RBF… it’s real and you’ve got to be aware of it! Everything in a photo can be going right- the lighting, posing, mood… but if you or anyone in the photo has a grumpy facial expression, there’s not much that can be done by the wedding photographer. I usually give a pep talk to wedding parties about not having their “focus face” on while they walk down the aisle. And the best way to avoid it is to stay in the moment, whatever stress has happened that day must be set aside because as soon as everyone is in the moment with you, their facial expressions will be genuine.  Photo by Kenzie's Photography  Photo by Kenzie's Photography Which leads me to my next point… 4. Be “so happy about it”I’ve coined a phrase that I say anytime I catch some RBF or focus face and it’s “so happy about ____” … let me explain: Anytime couples are in between conversations, signing the marriage license or some of the other routine parts of a social event, a quick reminder that you’re “so happy about signing that marriage license because now you’re officially married!!” goes a long way. So, remember that while you want candid, if you want those candid wedding photos be full of joy then remember that you have to be full of joy even in the little wedding details and traditions! 5. Laughter is keyFinally, to sum up all the previous points: laughter is key for fun and beautiful candid wedding photos! Laughter lightens the mood, helps everyone relax and even forget a camera is around so that they can let loose. A laughter smile is usually most photogenic and really adds a spark to the candid feel of a photo. So be sure to incorporate things into your wedding day that remind you to smile and laugh!  Photo by Kenzie's Photography  Photo by Kenzie's Photography Here's the TL;DR:
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Oklahoma's Affordable Wedding PhotographerHi, I'm Kenzie! This article page is a resource to brides and grooms on a budget. It features helpful articles on planning a budget friendly wedding, samples of real weddings photographed with my low price affordable packages and updates on my business. Please use my contact page to check my availability and to schedule a free consultation! Follow me on Insta! @kenziesphotographyokc |