Ariana Grandeβs Wedding and the beauty of candid wedding photography
We were all a touch inspired by Ariana Grande's recently-revealed wedding photographs. After a secret and intimate wedding right in her stunning California home, Ariana was quick to share some enchanting snaps - photographed by Stefan Kohli.
The photographs themselves feature only Ariana and her husband Dalton Gomez, and they do have that truly luxurious feel. More importantly, however, they make the viewer feel the happy couple's authentic love and joy.
A lot of credit for the stunning images goes to the drop-dead gorgeous gown, courtesy of Vera Wang, stunning make up, done by Ash K Holm, their elegantly set and florally-decorated house, and of course, the couple themselves. But one of the reasons these photographs feel so impactful is because the photography is candidly directed, rather than posed.
Whether you've swiped through Ariana's Instagram or perused the images in Vogue, there is a chance you felt a little voice in your head say: "I want that!"
If you've dreamed of luxurious, elevated wedding photography that retains a real and authentic feeling - one that really captures you and your partner's essence and uniqueness - read ahead, and stay with me until the end.
Wedding Photography Styles
A good wedding photographer knows how to capture a few great candid moments at your wedding. An excellent one will be able to distinguish the three different types that make the final collection look truly complete, and utilise each to their full effect to make a complete package. These three essential styles are:
Posed Photography
True Candid Photography, and
Directed Candid Photography
We all know posed photographs are a staple in the wedding photography industry. These are fully-staged photographs in which wedding attendees pose for the camera, often making eye contact with the camera, and with zero movement. There is a misconception that these photographs are by necessity "stiff", but done well they can be very genuine and are by no means emotionless. They have a place in every wedding for a reason! They emphasise broader, group social bonds; when walking down memory lane, these photos allow you to remember and share with others all the different people that were there on the day, and funny little anecdotes you have about them. However, they should not form the majority of your wedding album.
When most couples ask for candid images, they mean images that feel heartfelt and genuine. However, the true candid style requires complete spontaneity and no input and direction from the photographer. True candid photographs will likely be taken by the photographer when you are busy with preparations for your big day, and are not paying attention to them.
They are beautiful and effective in capturing the essence of the unique moments of a wedding, as well as the true emotions and authenticity of people. But the shining star that will make your wedding photos look both authentic and elevated, is directed candid photography.
So how is directed candid photography different from true candid phtography?
Ariana and Dalton's images are likely a mix of directed and true candid photography.
For example, in the photo on the right, the photographer may have observed Ariana and Dalton moving toward the door and said
"Ariana, look up."
She looked towards him, but the movement was completely natural and there was no posing involved.
The end result is an enchanting image with Dalton caught in a truly candid moment of walking, and Ariana with her arms gently folded toward her chest and her gaze turned toward the camera in a moment of directed candour.
The true candid style requires complete spontaneity and no input or direction from the photographer. It seeks to capture fleeting moments that would otherwise be lost to time, and occur "out of the blue.
However, with directed candid photography, the photographer will give the couple some direction, but then leave them to make the moment their own.
"Gently hold her waist and kiss her"
but then he will dip her down, she will laugh in surprise and the stunning moment will be captured.
It is challenging to pull off, but is exactly how the most wonderful photos are taken: by combining authenticity with aestheticism.
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As you may be able to tell, both true and directed candid photography are my favourite types of photography for a wedding. When emotions run high there is boundless potential for lovely, impactful photographs that will continue to transport you back to that day and make you feel the love.
If you dreamt of having such elegant-yet-genuine images as Ariana and Dalton's, make sure you speak with your photographer about their style and ask them if candid or directed candid photography is part of what they do. At the end of the day, it is up to us - the photographers - to capture these stunning, authentic moments, so make sure you find a photographer you connect with well, feel like you trust, and whose style matches your vision and priorities.
After all, the priority for me is for you to enjoy your wedding day and relax, rather than feel stressed about the photography - it is my job, and my dream, to give you the images you wished for, without you having to direct them yourself.
If you would like to see my take on directed and true candid photography, you can have a look at my gallery.
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Taia Aida Wedding Photography
