Easy Tips for Capturing Better Candid Moments

A Sunday afternoon barbecue, your mom’s laughter while watching her favorite TV show, or your dog’s hilarious walk after he gets up from a nap. Candid moments are simply the best, aren’t they?

Capturing lifestyle photography that features candid moments are an exciting practice of patience, determination, and action. It’s an exhilarating process that, when executed properly, requires additional knowledge. If you’re looking for general tips on capturing unique frames that not only evoke emotion — but ultimately compel a story — then take a peek at our easy tricks that will help you better capture candid moments.

Imperfection is Perfect

What makes candid moments so genuine and endearing is its messy accoutrement in the foreground and background. Capturing realistic scenes means embracing all parts of the photograph whole-heartedly and steering away from perfecting every detail of your picture. It’s what sets apart “lifestyle" photography from a stylistic shoot; more natural and organic. Because you’re aiming to capture what’s supposedly not noticing the camera, there’s something to be said about the scene’s lovely imperfections.

Direct, Don’t Pose

Direct your subject, don’t pose them.

If you’re in a situation where you wish to capture friends or family “unposed”, but still want them to notice they’re getting their pictures taken, then direct their orientation. Give them permission to feel comfortable in front of the camera, but ensure they their posture is upright and proper. Given the fact the lifestyle photography more or less features human subjects in your frame, capturing their real-life movements and reactions to the scene will make your audience feel like they are apart of the moment. It’s a special feeling.

Tell Your Subject to “Do” Something

Action requires someone to “do” something. One of the easiest ways to make your subject feel like they’re not awkwardly standing in front of you is to direct (refer to tip #1) them into an action.

Portrait photography are images of “people”, whereas lifestyle photography are images of “people doing things”. Directing your human subjects to be a moving, organic piece of life in front of the camera will breathe life into your still frame. Telling your human subject to play with their hair, cook their hotdog in front of the fire, or talk to their nearby friend will help induce a creative, veritable emotion to the image.

Set The Scene

Commit to setting the scene by photographing nearby remnants of your subject’s environment. Are they camping? Capture the swaying trees, the blue skies, and the your subjects sitting at the edge of their tent. Are they painting a picture indoors? Step back and catch the window light hitting your subject’s face as they swipe a crimson red on their canvas. Take a step back and capture the entire environment in your frame.

Take A Lot of Photos — Burst Mode?

Burst mode is shooting at a continuous high speed. Within burst mode, several photographs are captured in quick succession by either pressing by holding the shutter button down. This feature is mainly used when capturing successive motion, such as sports photography. The photographer can then select the best image of the group or arrange them in a sequence to study the transitions in detail.

It might be wise to photograph someone “doing something” in burst mode, as to assure you to not miss the coined action point.

The More Movement, The Better

Photographs that evoke the most emotion are the ones that so effortlessly catch movement. Whether its a sport, a belly-laugh, a jump in Lake Tahoe, or a dog bustling his face into a pile of leaves — be sure to act quick with your shutter in catching these exhilarating actions. This one takes practice, but all in good time will it become more natural for you as the photographer.

Happy Shooting!