The Candid Couple

"It's like having a member of the paparazzi follow you around on your wedding day--it's a lot of fun," said Amelia McCormick, a September bride who used a candid wedding photographer. McCormick said that when she was searching for a wedding photographer, she wanted someone who was willing to be there to capture all the moments--especially the ones that are not normally documented.
    "I don't want to forget anything," McCormick said.
    Tara Mitchell, Wichita graduate student and recently engaged, said that she is considering a photographer that has an attractive portfolio of both the candid and the posed shots.
    "I just think that if people only take the traditional pictures they are truly missing the actual feelings of the wedding," Mitchell said.
    Mitchell said that she wants the photographer to be there as her and her bridesmaids are getting ready and during all the "in-between" moments, so she can look back and see the excitement of the day.
This has become a trend all over the country as wedding photojournalism has developed over the past decade. The objective is to get photos of what actually happens during the wedding, not just poses that the photographer stages.

Photographers in the Lawrence area have adjusted to the requests for candid wedding shots. Local photographer and Overland Park junior, Cate Crandell said that because of this trend, younger photographers are hired for weddings because they are more updated on the styles of today's bride.
The term "candid" implies that the subject is unaware of the camera. This gives it more of a photojournalistic approach. Matt Needham, a photographer in Lawrence, said people want to see photos that tell the story of the day rather than people just standing at the altar.  He gets the most comments on the candid photos.
"I think that's because the expressions on the peoples' faces are real and full of emotion," Needham said.
Needham also said that most brides lately want to keep the posed photo sessions short, but still take them for mom. Out of the 450 to 500 photos he ends up delivering to the bride, usually fewer than 50 of them are posed.
Bridal magazine ads are full of candid shots, which could be a reason for this trend. Jason Dailey, photographer, said that people see the pictures in the ads and it gives them the idea of what makes a "good" photograph.  Dailey also said that the only reason traditional style photos have been requested is for the grandparents.
Not every photographer is experiencing a great difference in the business. Stu Nowlin, a Lawrence photographer, said that the majority of his customers still want the formal pictures with the family. He said that if the couple requests only candid shots, he asks them to think of their families and what the family would like.
"People want the people that are important to them in the pictures with them," Nowlin said. "But with digital you can give them everything. Digital is the real answer here."

There are some challenges to capturing candid photos that satisfy the customer. Crandell said that it is hard to make sure you take pictures of everyone the couple wanted.
"That's part of the reason we still take the posed pictures." Crandell said.
She said the candid shots are a lot more fun for the photographer as well as the couple, and that their expressions are better than the posed pictures.
    While the wedding party still poses for a few pictures to satisfy family members, capturing candid photos of the entire wedding day is a trend that couples all over the country are using to remember the best moments of their lives. McCormick said she prefers the candid shots because anyone can take a posed shot and they do not capture anything that wouldn't otherwise be remembered.
    "They are just static--they're expected," McCormick said.