Candid photography is the art of taking photos of people in their natural state.
It’s a style that has been around since the invention of cameras, but it wasn’t until recently that candid photography became popularized and widely used by photographers.
What Is Candid Photography?
The term “candid” comes from Latin and means “free from pretense or deceit.”
In other words, a photograph taken in this style should look as if it was captured without any interference from the photographer–the subject should not be posing for them or aware that they are being photographed at all.
This makes candid photos unique because they capture real moments between people rather than staged ones (like those seen on social media).
Preparing for a Candid Photography Session
Before you can start shooting, you’ll need to prepare for your session.
The first step is choosing a subject and location.
You should also make sure that all of your equipment is in working order, as well as checking on any lighting requirements.
Capturing the Perfect Moment
You’ll want to avoid the common mistake of taking pictures too early or too late.
If you’re not sure when the perfect moment will happen, try using a timer on your camera so that it takes pictures at regular intervals.
This way, if something interesting happens while you’re away from your camera and unable to capture it yourself, there’s still a chance that some photos will turn out well!
It’s also important not to be afraid of being patient while waiting for those special candid moments–you never know what might happen next!
Editing Your Photos
Editing your photos is a great way to make them look even more polished and professional.
Here are some of the most common editing tools:
Color correction:
This tool can be used to adjust the overall color of your image, or it can be used to correct problems with white balance (when an image looks too warm or cold).
Cropping:
Cropping allows you to cut out parts of your photo that don’t work for you, or add space around an object in order to draw attention toward it.
For example, if someone’s face is cut off by their body in a portrait shot but they’re very important in terms of storytelling, cropping will allow us to show just their face without having any other distracting elements around them.
Retouching:
This tool allows us not only remove blemishes but also make minor changes like slimming down someone’s waistline or smoothing out wrinkles on clothing.”
The Best Locations for Candid Photography
Urban Areas:
If you’re looking for a unique location, consider shooting in an urban area.
There are plenty of buildings and streets that can provide interesting backdrops for your photos.
Natural Settings:
Nature is another great place to take candid photos because it’s full of unexpected elements that can add interest to your images (think trees, flowers and animals).
Just be sure that you have permission before entering private property!
Events:
Finally, if you want some inspiration for shooting candidly at events like weddings or parties then check out our guide on how to photograph a wedding with candids here!
Tips for Capturing the Best Candid Photos
Be Discreet
Capture Emotions
Use Props
The Benefits of Candid Photography
The benefits of candid photography are many.
For one thing, people tend to feel more relaxed when they’re not being photographed.
This means that you’ll get natural expressions and actions from your subjects–as opposed to forced smiles or stiff poses.
Secondly, candid photos capture memorable moments that might otherwise go unnoticed in a traditional portrait shoot (e.g., someone laughing or smiling at something funny).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid using flash.
The best candid photos are taken in natural light, and while you may be tempted to use your camera’s built-in flash to illuminate a dark scene or subject, it will often produce unflattering results.
Flash can wash out colors and create harsh shadows that make people look older than they are (or younger).
Instead, try moving your subject into the sunlight or finding another source of illumination nearby so that you can take advantage of its softer glow.
Don’t take blurry photos!
Your phone has an automatic setting for taking pictures at night–but if you’re trying to capture someone who’s moving quickly (like a toddler), this setting might not work well because it requires more light than what’s available at night.
To avoid blurry shots like these:
turn off any features on your phone that automatically adjust focus or exposure;
set up stabilization mode;
hold steady while pressing down on the shutter button; turn off any filters before taking pictures (they could cause blurring);
keep track of where subjects are moving so they don’t get out of frame while shooting video footage instead of still images
Candid Photography – Wrap Up
So, what have we learned?
Candid photography is a great way to capture the real moments in your life.
You don’t need a fancy camera or expensive equipment. Just use whatever you have at hand!
Candid photography is all about being yourself and having fun with it.