Candid Photos are amongst my very favorite to capture.  The reason I love candid shots is because they are natural, un-posed, and filled with emotion.

Whether they are snapshots of my children, my extended family or complete strangers, I am always aware and keeping a watchful eye on my surroundings and possible ‘inspirations’.  And believe it or not, some of my most prized photos are shots that I took of subjects who were unaware and preoccupied in their own world, and by all means not ‘camera-ready’.

The next time you are at a local park, on a busy filled downtown street, at the airport, or on the sideline of a parade route, try your luck at capturing candid photos.

But first, here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

• Be patient and prepared to take the photo quickly – patience is a common theme in photography.  Lay low and watch events as they unfold making sure you are ready at any moment to snap the shutter as the subject’s expression or activity could change in the blink of an eye.
• Fade quietly into the background – you can accomplish this by what lens you are using.  A zoom lens is ideal as it allows you to change focal length, however allowing you to maintain a safe distance from the subject(s).
• Use a wide aperture in low-light settings – taking a photo with a flash gives away your presence and your objective of trying to capture a candid photo.  The subject’s awareness will be heightened and the true candidness will be gone as their expressions and actions might suddenly turn to posed and uncomfortable.

Give candid photos a try.  Take your camera with you wherever you go as you never know what opportunities may present themselves.  And as always, experiment and have fun.

I’m SJ, otherwise known as the Colorado livin’, free spirited, music lovin’, compassionate, tatoo’ed, wild mannered, outdoorsy, sharp and entertaining gal who has a photographic eye to boot. I can be found at And All the Jones Men on most days where I can be myself and let it all hang out. In a nutshell, it’s my personal story of my life living with three boys.