Candid Photography vs Documentary Photography Style
Photography is a great way to capture and preserve the special moments of our lives. However, when choosing a photographer for your event, be it a wedding or a birthday party, you will come across two photography styles: candid and documentary. Knowing the difference between these two is essential to ensure you make the right choice for the special occasion.
To help you in this regard, we are going to discuss the unique characteristics of both candid and documentary photography and their key differences. Let's dig in!
Kieran & Matt's wedding at Lazaats hotel
What is a Candid Photography?
Typically, a candid photograph is one that's taken without the awareness of the subject or the person posing. It's a photography style that focuses on capturing the spontaneous and genuine moments of your event. The photographer just blends in the background to record things naturally and uses quick reflexes to quickly take shots of random emotions and interactions.
What is Documented Photography?
Documented photography, as the name suggests, is a style of photography that aims to chronicle events and environments in a detailed manner. In simple words, it involves capturing a series of images that tell a comprehensive story about a particular subject.
Key Differences: Candid Photography vs Documented Photography
Many people often confuse candid and documented photography as both focus on capturing raw emotions. However, that's not true! There are some key differences between candid photography vs documented photography given as:
Nature of Capture
There's a clear difference in the nature of the candid and documented photography:
Candid Photography
Candid pictures are typically unplanned and aim to capture spontaneous moments. The photographer does not give explicit directions to the subjects for specific expressions, but there may be subtle guidance or positioning. For example, a photo of a child holding a Christmas tree light may be considered candid even if parents gently directed the child to hold the light in a certain way.
Documentary Photography
On the other hand, documented photography is also unplanned. It captures events as they happen, focusing on telling a story without direct manipulation or staging. An example of documented photography is a photographer taking a series of photos and putting them together to document daily life in a community.
Subject Awareness
The overall approach of candid photography vs documented photography to subject awareness also varies:
Candid Photography
In candid photography, the subject is totally unaware of the shots being taken. This is the core of this photography style, as it captures genuine emotions and behaviour.
Documented Photography
Contrarily, in candid photography vs documented photography, the latter sometimes involves both subject awareness and unawareness. The subjects are a part of a larger story, and their awareness can vary, but the main emphasis is on capturing the narrative surrounding them.
Photographer’s Role
The photographer's role in candid and documented photography is quite different.
Candid Photography
In candid photography, the photographer directly interacts with the subjects to capture candid shots. They sometimes blend into the background or subtly guide the scene to enhance the natural feel of the moment.
Documented Photography
Documentary photographers don't have that much direct interaction with subjects. Instead, they rely on the full ninja “fly on the wall” technique, remaining unobtrusive and letting events unfold naturally.
Lens Used
This may be controversial. However, let’s generalise it to give you an idea:
Candid Photography
For candid photography, the 24-70mm wide-aperture lens is the regular workhorse. This versatile lens enables photographers to capture a range of perspectives and adapt quickly to changing scenes, making it ideal for spontaneous shots.
Documented Photography
When it comes to documented photography, a standard 50mm lens should be in every documentary photographer's camera bag. This lens aids you in taking detailed, contextual shots and has little to no optical distortion. The best part is that it can be used in both indoor and outdoor photography sessions and is close to the human eye's vision.
Candid Photography vs Documented Photography: Which One to Choose?
Choosing the best style from candid photography Vs documented photography can be a real hassle. Here are some tips that help you make the right decision in this regard:
Purpose of the Photography
The first thing you should consider when picking the ideal photography style for your event is your purpose. For instance, if you want raw and unposed moments, then candid photography is what you need.
It's perfect for those who prefer a natural, more informal approach and real-time interactions. However, documentary photography is ideal if you want your special wedding, urban engagement, or birthday event to be wrapped in a story form that you can share with generations.
Event Type and Structure
Another thing to pay attention to is the event type and structure. If the event is informal, like a graduation party or a friend's gathering, opting for candid photography is a wise decision.
Nonetheless, if the event is more meaningful, like your wedding or baby shower, you cannot go wrong with documented photography that captures the essence of the event.
Verdict: Is Documented Photography Better?
The world has become quite fast-paced, and we have very little time to appreciate the nuances of our experience. Therefore, many people now prefer documented photography to have a meaningful record of their special events. This photography style is also preferred because it is:
Less Stress: The best part of choosing documentary photography is that it's less stressful. You don't have to prepare your husband to have the picture-perfect smile or get your kids to look at the camera. Just random, natural moments are enough!
Requires No Traditional Setup: Another reason that makes documentary photography appealing is that it doesn't require any traditional setup. You don't have to decorate your home or visit a studio; the main focus is storytelling.
Conclusion
Both candid and documented photography are unique in their own way. However, people often tend to document photography due to its different and detailed approach. If you are looking for a reliable documentary that's proficient in transforming random moments into lasting memories, there's no one better than Take Two Wedding Photography. We are affordable and perfectly understand how special your day is.
Contact us today to capture your moment in a way that you can cherish for generations to come.
We'd love to chat with you about capturing the beautiful moments of your wedding! Swing by our website at Take Two Wedding Photography to peek at our portfolio and see the magic we can create together. If you're curious about our services or just want to talk about your big day, Give us a shout – we're here to help make your memories last forever! And hey, if you're on the lookout for more wedding planning insights, don't forget to check out our Industry friends for some awesome tips and ideas. We're all about making your wedding journey as joyful and stress-free as possible!
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