5 Simple Ways To Improve Your Candid Photography

by Christopher B. Derrick

People love candid photography, because it truly captures slice of life moments that will never be repeated and it invokes a sense of the “now.” Only, most people go around taking staged photos and asking people to say “cheese”

1. Lose the Flash

One of the first things you need to do is turn off your flash. Whether you’re using a P&S or a dSLR, the use of a flash shouts that you’re taking pictures. Whereas, if your flash is off — you can subtly snap away and catch those great moments. Also, flashes blind people, so those expressions of joy, grief, surprise, excitement – can get wiped away by the flash.

2. Take A Lot of Photos

Don’t be afraid to take tons and tons of photos (fill up that memory card!), and if you’re not using the flash, the camera doesn’t need to cycle the flash to take advantage of the camera’s shooting speed. Most digital cameras today – P&S and dSLR have a burst mode, use that to your advantage (practice with it in non-important settings to get the hang on of it, because it’s useful and fun in the right hands in the right circumstances).

3. Use Your Zoom and Strategic Positioning

You’ll want to use the longer end of your zoom lens and find the most advantageous places to get shots that don’t intrude on what’s happening around you. This strategic positioning is a skill that you’ll develop the more you seriously think about positioning and placement for effective photographs — before the events happen.

4. Catch People in the Moment

And one of the best ways to improve your candid photos is to photograph people actually doing things… nothing drains the life out of a photo than having it staged; asking people to move closer and smile and change positions so so-and-so can be seen takes the energy out of any moment. The stilted nature of those types of photos (and we ALL know what I’m talking about) is what you’re fight against. Part of the fight requires you just taking pictures when your subject(s) isn’t aware; when they’re caught up in something else (listening to someone tell a story, waiting for the surprise guest to show up, etc.) is an ideal time to snap away.

5. Become Invisible

When your composing your candid shots, try to do a few things to prevent your subjects from knowing that you’re taking a picture. Try keeping the camera down by your belt/waist and fire away (no need to keep your eye at the viewfinder, as you had to with some film cameras) and/or position people and objects directly between you and the subject(s) to act as a framing device. In addition, by finding unorthodox perspectives and camera positions you’ll also increase the power of your candid — especially, if they’re slightly out of focus, tilted and otherwise “messy” — as that mess can be the brilliance.

These are just a few tips, the most important element to taking candid photos is spontaneity — that’s what makes these types of photographs stand-out. It elevates them, and people will remark on them. And who doesn’t want to be hailed as an artist?

Top image by moriza

Chris Derrick is a writer, photographer, screenwriter and director living and working in Los Angeles. He studied film production and screenwriting at the University of Southern California, and continued to expand his photographic knowledge through classes at the Art Center College of Design.

Website: shadowboxercinema.net

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9 Comments

Beth McLain | Web Designer said:

Nice tutorial…i will follow this method..
thanks
Ross Hall said:

Need to be a little careful though – as some people can become very upset if they realise you’re taking candid shots of them (and you can attract the attention of the police!)

My suggestion is if challenged be polite, explain you didn’t want to break the moment and offer to send a copy to them. Of course, you will probably be unable to use any candid shots commercially, so you won’t lose anything and might make a few friends along the way!
Danny Santos said:

Agree 100% on the article. Just want to add that you should be very quick in taking the shot in order to avoid being noticed, or if noticed, to avoid making the subject uncomfortable. And yes, when challenged, just smile and be polite.
Bill Jones said:

@Danny

Great advice. Thanks.
empree said:

great tutorial.. additional, try to use a bigger or higher focal length so the subjects wont notice you from where you are standing. :D
Pete said:

The only point I would take issue with is the use of a long zoom lens. If you follow the other suggestions, you can just as easily get good candid shots with a wide angle or even a normal lens. I do a lot of street photography and I am just as likely to use the 50mm normal lens (I still shoot 35mm film) as anything else. Your lens choice becomes part of your style. Make sure you try them all.
Joey Cosi said:

@Ross

Tell me about it! I’ve had a couple of people giving me an angry stare even if I was trying to explain why I was taking or going to take their pictures.
Austin said:

Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing — feels nice to learn new things each day.
Galloway said:

Great tips, I’ve always found luck with a long lens and a little strategic positioning.