Candid Moments are Magic

The Magic of Candid Moments: Why Unscripted Sessions Are My Favorite

When I think about the sessions I’ve loved most, it’s always the candid moments that come to mind. Sure, I appreciate a well-posed portrait and the satisfaction of getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. But the photos I keep coming back to-the ones that really stick-are the ones that happened in between.

One of my favorite sessions was with a family in the park on a windy afternoon. We started with the usual group shots, but as soon as everyone relaxed, the real story started to unfold. The youngest kid chased bubbles across the grass, the grandparents shared a quiet laugh, and the family dog kept photobombing every frame. I just kept shooting, trying to keep up with all the little moments happening at once.

That’s what I love about candid photography: it’s real. People let their guard down, and suddenly you get these honest, unfiltered glimpses of who they are and how they connect. A genuine laugh, a quick hug, a goofy face-those are the photos that mean the most when you look back.

If you’re hoping to get more candid shots in your own sessions, my best advice is to keep things loose. I like to give a little direction-ask people to walk together, tell a story, or just play around-and then step back and let things happen. I keep my camera ready for anything, because the best moments are usually the ones no one planned.

At the end of the day, I think the magic of photography is in those unscripted moments. That’s when you really capture what it felt like to be there, not just what it looked like. And for me, that’s what makes a session truly memorable.