70% Candid. 30% Guided.
70% Candid, 30% Guided: My Approach to Wedding Photography
You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to be comfortable in front of a camera. And you definitely don’t need to spend your wedding day being told what to do.
That’s where my 70% candid, 30% guided approach comes in.
After more than 20 years of photographing weddings, I’ve learnt that the best wedding photographs aren’t always the perfectly posed ones. They’re the moments that happen naturally the laugh you didn’t plan, the squeeze of your partner’s hand, your dad getting emotional, your friends losing it on the dance floor, or the two of you quietly taking everything in.
But I also know that completely documentary photography isn’t for everyone.
Sometimes you need a little direction.
So I combine the two.
70% Candid
Most of your wedding day should simply be about being present and enjoying it.
I don’t want you spending your day thinking:
“Is the photographer getting this?” “What am I supposed to do with my hands?”
“Am I standing in the right position?”
Instead, I’ll be watching what’s happening around you and anticipating the moments before they happen.
The nervous excitement before the ceremony.
The look between you as you see each other for the first time.
Your friends laughing during the speeches.
Your mum wiping away a tear.
The chaos on the dance floor.
The little moments that nobody planned but you’ll want to remember forever.
I’ll be there, camera in hand, quietly documenting it all.
You get to be yourselves. I get to capture it.
30% Guided
Now for the other 30%.
Because while I love candid photography, I don’t believe you should be left standing in front of the camera thinking:
“Okay… now what?”
This is where I step in.
I’ll gently guide you when I need to.
I’ll help with positioning, where to stand, where to put your hands, how to move and where the light is best.
But I won’t turn your wedding into a photoshoot.
There’s a difference between guiding you and posing you.
I’ll give you enough direction to feel comfortable and look amazing, then I’ll step back and let the moment unfold naturally.
What does it actually look like?
Imagine we’re doing your couple portraits.
Rather than:
“Stand there. Put your hand here. Look at me. Chin down. Smile.”
I’ll give you something to do.
Walk together.
Talk to each other.
Whisper something ridiculous.
Give each other a hug.
And then I’ll photograph what happens.
The result is often a photograph that looks completely natural — because it was.
You weren’t trying to “look candid”.
You were actually doing something together.
For couples who hate their photo being taken
This approach is particularly important if you’re the kind of person who says:
“We are SO awkward in photos.”
You’re not alone.
I hear this all the time.
Most people aren’t professional models. Most people aren’t used to having a camera pointed at them for several hours. And honestly, you shouldn’t have to be.
My job isn’t to turn you into models.
My job is to make you forget you’re being photographed.
I’ll help you when you need it, then disappear into the background when you don’t.
And after photographing over 1000 weddings, I know when to step forward and when to get out of the way.
We will still get all the important photos.
Candid doesn’t mean missing the photographs you’ll want on your wall.
We’ll still make time for:
- The two of you together
- Family photographs
- Wedding party photographs
- Beautiful portraits
- Important details
- Your ceremony
- Speeches
- First dance
- All the crazy dance floor action
The difference is that I won’t let those photographs take over your day.
I’ll keep things moving, give you clear direction when needed and make sure we get the photographs that matter without spending hours lining everyone up.
Why 70/30?
Because I think it’s the sweet spot.
70% candid means your gallery tells the real story of your wedding.
The emotion. The people. The atmosphere. The unexpected moments.
30% guided means you also get those beautiful, intentional portraits and family photographs that you’ll treasure for years.
It’s the best of both worlds.
Enough direction that you never feel lost.
Enough freedom that you never feel like you’re performing.
If you’re looking for a Central Coast wedding photographer who will help you feel comfortable in front of the camera without turning your wedding day into a giant photoshoot, I’d love to hear about your plans.
