Candid photography is my favorite kind. It focuses on capturing the moment, not technique. These are the photos, in my opinion, that are the best. They tell the story…they show people as they really are. They aren’t posing, with a fake smile on their face…they are being themselves, whether smiling, laughing, or crying. These are the moments…the real moments. Your main concern, when taking candid photos, is not on the camera, and all of its settings, but on the task…on what is happening around you.
Because the focus is not on using the technical aspects of the camera, and next to no time to set up the shot, or pose things where you want them, for some people, candid photos are stressful! If you’re a parent, well you probably already have the basics down! We, as parents, are experts, practically, at getting candid shots. At least most of you are….those of you who find yourselves constantly waving at your little one and telling them to look at you and say “cheese” probably need a little more practice. The first step…stop doing that!
Here are some tips for taking great candids:
-Take your camera with you…everywhere you go! Keep alert…a good candid shot can be found anywhere!
-You don’t get a second chance, GET THE SHOT when you have the chance. Worry about fixing small errors later!
-Forget advanced features; concentrate on your subject, let the camera’s auto features take care of the rest. I don’t know about you, but frankly, my camera is smarter than me, I let it do most of the thinking for me!
-Set your camera to Auto ISO if you can. If not, set it to around ISO 400 so it uses a fast shutter speed, this will help you grab the shot even if you are moving.
-Don’t be too obvious. People get all weird when they know there’s a camera around. BLEND IN, you want people to keep doing whatever it is they do!
-You don’t always have to put the camera at eye level, you can shoot by supporting your camera from the waist, but this requires some luck, or experience to get the framing right.
-Use your zoom so you can keep away from the action while you take your shot.
-Try converting the image to black and white.
-Try to catch people DOING things. Laughing, playing sports, gazing at someone they love…you want your photo to depict what a person is doing.
-EXPERIMENT! Try different angles, places, and scenes.