5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Photos & Videos More Candid and Fun

Your wedding day isn’t about picture-perfect poses—it’s about the real moments. The belly laughs, the happy tears, the little glances you share when you think no one’s watching. While posed portraits have their place, the best wedding photos and videos capture the energy and emotion of the day as it happens. And that’s where we come in as your wedding photographer & videographer. We love to connect with our couples so they feel comfortable enough to truly be themselves and enjoy the day as it unfolds! That’s why we shoot mostly documentary style, so your wedding photos & videos can really embody what your wedding day feels like.

If you want a wedding gallery and videos that feel effortless, joyful, and real, here are five ways to make your photos and videos more candid and fun:

1. Make Time for Real Moments

The best candid moments don’t happen on command—they happen when you create space for them. While wedding timelines are important, try not to schedule every second of the day so tightly that you don’t have time to just be present.

A few ways to build in real, unscripted moments:

Plan time for just the two of you – Whether it’s a private first look, a quiet moment after the ceremony, or sneaking away at sunset, these are the moments where the emotions hit you the most. Couples portraits or first looks can be a wonderful time for you both to really enjoy the day together and soak it all in! We highly suggest carving out extra time for this so you don’t feel rushed and can really feel all the emotions your wedding day will bring.

Have a slow, intentional getting ready experience – Instead of rushing through hair and makeup, give yourself time to soak it all in. Play music, pop some champagne, write a letter to your partner—anything that makes you feel grounded.

Allow time to enjoy your reception – The best dance floor photos and fun guest interactions happen when you’re actually able to be there, not stuck in a back-to-back schedule.

The more space you give yourself to breathe, the more opportunities there are for real moments to unfold naturally. And trust us—we’ll be there to capture them.

2. Keep Moving Instead of Holding Poses

One of the biggest reasons couples feel awkward in photos is because they feel like they have to freeze in a specific pose. Instead, movement is the key to natural-looking photos and videos. A few ways we encourage movement:

Instead of just standing still, we might ask you to walk hand in hand toward us, sneak a glance at each other, or do a playful twirl.

If a kiss feels awkward, we’ll say, “Go in for the kiss, but don’t actually kiss—just get close and laugh.” This keeps the moment lighthearted and spontaneous.

Rather than asking your wedding party to pose stiffly, we might say, “Look at each other and pretend you’re roasting the groom.” The laughter that follows? That’s gold. Or we may have you run through a tunnel made by your wedding party so there’s laughter, movement and fun times!

Movement not only makes your photos look more natural but also helps you feel more comfortable because you’re actually doing something rather than worrying about what to do with your hands.

3. Surround Yourself with People Who Make You Laugh

Your wedding party, family, and friends play a huge role in setting the mood for your day. If you’re surrounded by people who know how to make you laugh, lift you up, and keep the energy light, that’s going to show in your photos and videos. A few things that help:

Choose a wedding party that hypes you up – The best photos happen when your people make you feel comfortable, not self-conscious.

Assign a fun hype person – Someone who can crack jokes, break the tension, or remind you to just breathe and enjoy the moment.

Let go of wedding-day stressors – The more relaxed you feel, the more natural your smiles and interactions will be. If something goes off-plan? We promise—it won’t ruin your day, and you’ll have a great story later.

We’ve seen firsthand how much energy shifts when couples surround themselves with people who make them feel safe and celebrated—that’s when the real magic happens.

4. Focus on Each Other, Not the Camera

It’s natural to feel a little nervous in front of a lens, but here’s the secret: your best photos and videos won’t come from looking at the camera. Instead, they come from looking at each other and letting yourself be present in the moment.

During portraits, rather than just smiling at us, whisper something ridiculous in each other’s ears. The reaction? A real, belly-laugh kind of moment.

For couples who feel awkward, we might say, “Walk together and tell each other what you’re most excited about after the wedding.” The way your eyes light up? That’s what we’re capturing.

When in doubt, hold hands, lean into each other, or take a deep breath together. Forget about the photos for a second—just be together, and we’ll handle the rest.

Your wedding isn’t a photoshoot—it’s a real, living, emotional day. The more you focus on each other, the more effortlessly those emotions come through.

5. Trust Your Photo & Video Team (That’s Us!)

The best thing you can do for more candid wedding photos and videos? Trust us to do what we do best.

We’ll guide you when you need direction but also step back when the moment needs to unfold naturally.

We know how to anticipate laughter, movement, and spontaneous reactions so we can be in the right place at the right time.

If something unexpected happens—like wind catching your veil or an inside joke between friends—we’ll lean into it, not try to force a perfect shot.

When you trust your team to capture the real moments, you get a wedding gallery and film that feel like you—because they are you.

Final Thoughts

Candid, fun wedding photos and videos don’t happen by accident—they happen when you create space for real moments, surround yourself with people who bring out your best, and let go of the idea of perfection.

When you focus on feeling the real emotions of the day instead of worrying about how you look, that’s when the best memories happen. And we’ll be right there to capture them all for you!

Want a wedding gallery full of real, joy-filled moments? Let’s chat about making that happen. 😊