This technique was inspired by a story a photographer I met in passing years ago shared with me. When she was learning her craft, she worked as a second shooter with a local wedding photographer. One evening, they were shooting candid photos of the reception guests after a long day of wedding preparation, ceremony and portraits.
“Watch,” he said, pointing to a group of guests clustered together. “Wait… they’re all about to laugh… now.” As he spoke, he raised his camera, and the guests burst into laughter. Snap.
“How did you know that?” she asked.
“I’m photographing with my ears,” he said. “Listen to their conversation and listen for when the laugh will happen.”
I’ve always remembered this story. Perfect candid photos require you observe the ebb and flow of conversations to capture punchlines and emotional moments, rather than the weird in-between expressions of people mid-talk.
Use your senses: techniques for perfect candid photos
This is a prompt for training your ability to read interactions and know when things are about to happen, so that your camera is ready when they do, and you don’t waste time snapping and sorting out unusable photos.
How to use this photo pose prompt
When working with two or more people, use your senses to observe and predict their interactions. This works for candid situations (documenting reception guests, party guests interacting, families playing, people in their own homes, etc) and also when you have set up an interaction using a prompt. Train your skills so you take the important photos at the important moments.
Technique 1: Listen and watch
- Listen to the flow of conversation: punchline, pause, laugh. Capture the laughs.
- Work in the silences: shoot when people aren’t talking (avoid half-talking expressions).
- Watch for natural connections: eye contact, shared gaze, touch, smiles.
Technique 2: Feel
- Buy into the emotion of the room; feel it as more than just an objective observer.
- Get in tune with what’s happening to predict what’s coming next.
- Wait for the emotional moment, then capture it.
Creative extension
- Take photos from a distance. Use a long lens (like this) and get out of the action so you can observe without disrupting. This is useful to change the tone to candid after a more directed part of the shoot.
- Look for frames and symmetry: archways, doorways, branches, flower stems, glassware, shadows and spotlights, windows, mirrors. Use them to highlight the subjects.
What’s your favorite candid technique? Tag me @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share with us.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarized onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 1: Individuals and Couples Essentials in your Field Cards.
