I photograph candid weddings throughout Monterey County, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur, and the surrounding Bay Area.

Why I’m Drawn to Candid Wedding Photography (And Why Couples Love It)

• The first time I photographed a wedding, I realized something pretty quickly. The moments that mattered most weren’t the posed ones. They were the in between moments. The laughter that caught someone off guard. The tears no one tried to hide. The looks that happened when people forgot about the camera.

  That’s what made me fall in love with candid wedding photography.

  
  

  Your wedding day isn’t a performance. It’s a collection of real moments, unfolding naturally as they happen. When you look back years from now, those are the images that still feel alive.

  

  Couple laughing together at their sweetheart table

  
  

  What Candid Wedding Photography Really Means for Your Wedding Day

  Candid wedding photography is about observation, timing, and trust.

  Instead of constantly stepping in or asking people to pose, I stay aware of what’s happening around me. I watch for moments as they naturally build, then capture them quietly without interrupting the flow of the day.

  You’ll see:

  • Real laughter instead of forced smiles

  • Genuine emotion during speeches and vows

  • Natural interactions between the people you love most

  These are the moments that tell the real story.

  
  

  

  Bride wiping away tears during speech

  How I Approach Weddings Behind the Camera

  Photographing weddings this way comes from years of experience and knowing when not to interfere.

  Here’s how I work:

  • I stay unobtrusive so moments can happen without distraction

  • I anticipate emotion rather than directing it

  • I make people feel comfortable so they forget the camera is there

  • I embrace imperfection because that’s where meaning lives

  Some of the most powerful photos aren’t technically perfect. They’re emotionally honest. And that’s what lasts.

  How to Prepare for Candid Wedding Photos

  The best candid photos happen when you let yourself be fully present.

  There’s no need to practice posing or worry about what you should be doing. Your only job is to experience the day.

  A few things that help:

  • Trust your photographer

  • Build breathing room into your timeline

  • Share with your photographer what moments matter most to you

  • Choose locations with good natural light

  • Put your phone away and soak it all in

  One of my favorite moments was when a couple slipped away for a few quiet minutes after their ceremony. No posing. No direction. Just the two of them reconnecting before the celebration continued.

  
  

  

  Bride stepping out of a vintage car, sharing a quiet moment with her groom

  Trends change. Authentic moments don’t.

  Here’s why candid wedding photography matters long after the day is over:

  
  

  Candid wedding photography captures the day as it actually feels emotional, joyful, imperfect, and real. These are the images that bring you right back when you look at them years later.

  They matter because:

  • They recreate how the day felt, not just how it looked

  • They honor your friends and family exactly as they are

  • They never feel dated

  • They remove the pressure to perform

  If you’re worried about being camera ready, the truth is this: You already are.

  
  

  

  The Quiet Moments Matter Too

  Some of the most meaningful moments happen away from the crowd.

  A few minutes alone together. A shared breath. A private kiss in the back seat of a vintage car. Those moments don’t need direction. They just need space.

  I pay attention to those pauses. I protect them. And I photograph them gently.

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  Couple inside vintage car

  Candid Wedding Photography in Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur

  I’ve spent over two decades photographing weddings, elopements, and intimate celebrations throughout Monterey County, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, and the surrounding Bay Area.

  My goal is never to stage your story. It’s to witness it honestly and preserve the moments you didn’t even realize were happening.

  When you look back at your photos, I want you to remember how it felt, not how hard you tried or stressful it was.

  

  Couple laughing together Santa Cruz Mountains Wedding

  Let’s Tell Your Story the Way It Actually Happened

  If candid wedding photography speaks to you, I’d love to connect and talk about your day.

  Let’s capture it as it unfolds.

  
  

  If you’re planning a wedding in Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Big Sur, or the Bay Area and want photos that feel real, I’d love to hear your story.