I want to start this post with some honest truth.

Your candid is not the same as someone else’s candid.

A common comment I receive when I’m on an inquiry call is, “I’m looking for a wedding photographer that will capture the candid moments.” Or, “When I look at your photos, I see some candid photos, but I also see super posed photos. I am looking for more candid.”

Insert deep breath.

I know what brides mean and I know what brides want. Brides want to receive a gallery filled with images of what they see on Pinterest- two people laughing, two people having fun, two people crazy in love. But, at the end of the day, what brides are actually seeing on Pinterest are two people who are sharing their love.

Whoah. Honesty.

Your love is different from every couple out there, and that is what makes it so special and unique and amazing. And, I get it, you want your love captured, but you also have to realize when you are looking at other peoples images, you won’t be receiving the same images. Even if it’s the same photographer taking the photo, it won’t be the same, and you don’t want it to be the same.

Your candid isn’t the same as someone else’s candid.

How the two of your take photos together is going to be entirely different from how another couple takes photos! Some couples are awkward and more reserved, some love PDA and some hate PDA, some are all about the romantic photos and some are all about the laughing ones. The point is every couple is different.

When you see any photos of MJ and I, you are going to see us laughing or smiling or him trying to push me into something gross (it’s happened many times now) because that’s who we are as a couple- very joyful, laughing all the time, and making each other smile! We don’t tend to do well with no direction and really serious photos, but that is something we know about us, so that makes finding our perfect photographer much easier!

You figure out your candid first, and then you find your photographer.

Homework Time:

So, how would you describe your relationship? I want you to forget what you are seeing online or on Instagram. I want you to focus on you, the two of you. Write down those adjectives that stand out, and once you figure that out, find a photographer that embodies those adjectives, talk with them on the phone, and say this…

“I am looking for a photographer that will capture us and our love. Tell me more about YOUR process, how you get your couples comfortable in front of the camera…”

From there, I think your gut will tell you who to pick and who NOT to pick.

One of the most important things to look for when finding your perfect photographer is looking for someone that makes you feel comfortable right from the start. BUT when you start talking to all these wedding photographers, make sure to know who you all are as a couple and what you will need from a photographer (not the hours or the price or the packages), but how that photographer will capture YOU and your love story! (The packages and pricing questions can come later!)

So, there ya have it! An honest, yet very eye opening blog post that every bride and groom should read before searching for their wedding photographer because at the end of the day, you might love their Instagram feed, but if you don’t feel comfortable in front of their camera, you will never be able to be candid, and you will never love YOUR images. (True story. It’s happened to me far too many times now!)

Figure out your candid, ask the right questions, and hire the photographer that was meant for YOU (regardless of their Instagram following).