How To Choose Between Candid Or Posed Photography For Your Portraits

Photography is an artistic medium created for capturing life’s important moments. When the photographer is deciding how to produce a memorable portrait, she or he makes use of one of two methods- candid photography or posed photography. Even though the two styles are quite different and subject to personal preference, both methods can beautifully capture the personality of the subject.

Candid Photography

Candid photography involves the photographer taking photos as the subject is engaged in another activity. While candid photography is less formal than posed photography, it’s often preferred since it captures the subject in a relaxed atmosphere and can produce surprisingly beautiful and natural portraits. Candid photography also offers these advantages:

*Candid photography frees the photographer from needing to use large and quite often tedious amounts of equipment. Some photographers enjoy and excel with the challenge of candid photography’s simple and pared down methods.

*There can even be a certain amount of freedom for the subject with this approach to photography. Within a relaxed and unstaged environment, the subject does not need to apply unnatural make-up or clothing, fuss with props or learn how to look and smile at the camera.

*Candid photography is best employed in group situations and functions and can capture interesting interactions between its subjects. It can create great outcomes at weddings, social functions and sports events.

Posed Photography

Posed, or choreographed, photography is often taken in a photographer’s studio or at a designated location within the subject’s surroundings. In this method of photography, the photographer controls the environment by employing lighting and background equipment and also by helping the subject with make up, appearance and with looking and smiling at the camera. Posed photography has some advantages, including:

*In posed photography, as stated, the photographer is able to control the environment. This assures proper lighting and allows the photographer the time to generate essentially the most flattering portrait possible.

*Many subjects feel comfortable with posed photography because they feel more confidant with their appearance. They are allowed to groom as required and create a certain look. Professional portraits are almost exclusively posed.

*Posed photography is popular for family portraits, photos of wedding couples, as well as wedding parties, and children’s portraits. Coordinating group shots is usually easier and much more successful when employing the posed photography method.

Candid and Posed: Combining the Two Methods

Clients might prefer the best of both methods and will eventually request professional candid photography, a method using both candid and posed photography. This approach is growing in popularity and photographers are starting to branch out to satisfy the demand. Whichever photography method you chose for your portraits, you will be able to take pleasure from those captured moments for years to come.

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