7 Candid Photography Tips and Equipment List to Get Started
Being a photographer can feel like being a movie director. You instruct your subject on how to move, sit, stand, or adjust their body for a pose. In candid photography, these rules change as you take images of a subject who is naturally in motion and not in a designated pose.
One type of photography which is controversial in an age of consent is called “secret” photography. This occurs when you photograph someone without their awareness, knowledge, or consent.
Although this can be part of street and candid photography, try and make others aware that you have a camera. If they look or express that they are uncomfortable, request their permission to use or share the images you take of them.
What is Candid Photography?
In candid photography, many variations are depending on your expertise, style, and intent. You can take action shots of a subject in motion, tell your subject to behave as they usually would, surprise your subject, or avoid being a distraction to your subject as you take photos of them.
7 Candid Photography Tips
Relaxed
A subject which is moving, dancing, or running may not appear relaxed in the same way that someone sitting on a bench might, but they will be relaxed within their activity. The best candid photographs use a subject who is at ease with the camera. This means that they look and feel comfortable with you taking images of them, and you can avoid distracting them with your shoot or lens.
Be Mobile
Get ready to be in motion yourself. Bring your camera with you and carry the supplies you need and have backup batteries and equipment on hand. Notice the moments where a subject’s demeanor and expression or stance catch your eye. Try and illuminate the beauty or strength of the person you photograph and seek out images which are emotive and unforgettable.
Ideas
If a visual or subject catches your eye, that is what you should photograph. This could be someone sitting on their lunch break, a couple dancing romantically, an audience member at a big game, someone looking through their purse, etc. Look for moments of joy, happiness, surprise, or (even) sadness and deep thought.
Avoid a Rut
Just because you are taking images on the go, doesn’t mean you want the same angles each time. Go high, go low. Use the rule of 3rds. Experiment with color filters, black and white photography, and more.
Faces First
You will want your subject facing the camera or at an angle when you can observe their face and expressions or pose. Although it can be tempting to go unnoticed and shoot people from behind, these shots will usually be less interesting.
Be Ready For Questions
In today’s day and age, people will speak up and ask what you are doing. Have a business card ready to share, give them your photography page or website link, and be prepared to help them feel comfortable with the images you took. If they approach you, you can ask them to sign a photo subject release form.
If you are photographing in a public place or a large crowd of people, this is usually not required. Avoid private property and if someone expresses discomfort, stop and remove the photos, at their request.
People Doing What They Do Best!
An image of someone doing what they love will resonate with the viewer. This could be a construction worker hard at work repairing a building, a dancer in a performance, farmer, actor, teacher, runner (etc.). When these subjects are in action, this will produce Instagram sharable shots!
Candid Photography Equipment
Make sure you have and use photo editing software. Shoot in RAW format, which will assist with white balance. Consider the shadows in your image, and if they are working for or against your shot. Most of the time, auto-focus will be best as you will be shooting images that are not posed, and you won’t have time to adjust the focus manually.
Use a zoom lens to make the most out of the shoot and enhance the subject range. Burst mode will produce the maximum number of images; which will help you in post-production and give you more choices to choose from.
Has candid photography become one of your favorite types to shoot? Taking these types of photographs appeals to many image creators- from street photographers to those who look for celebrity images. Let us know what and who inspires you!
What tips have you learned that you can share with others? Do people usually welcome your candid photographs or have you ever been questioned about the images you take?
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