Creating natural memories & stepping into the moment with Jocelyn Rae Photography

In the world of documentary wedding photography, every day is a new adventure. No two weddings are ever the same, and that’s what makes this job so incredible. However, the spontaneous nature of capturing natural memories can be challenging. To ensure we get those perfect shots, we might need a little help from you. I believe that creating beautiful photos is a collaborative effort. While a skilled photographer can make anything look good, with your help, we can create pure magic in the form of candid wedding photos.

Getting to know each other

Let’s face it — getting your photo taken can be awkward, especially on one of the happiest days of your life. The best candid photos happen when you’re comfortable and relaxed. Learning more about who you’ll be spending an intimate day with is a simple way to ease those nerves. When you feel like you’re hanging out with a friend instead of posing for a stranger, natural candid moments will flow.

Make sure your photographer wants to get to know YOU too. Share your horoscope signs (if you’re into that sort of thing), quirks, and favorite things about life as well as each other. This helps your photographer capture your story more authentically.

A simple coffee date can work wonders. No pressure, just getting to know each other. If you’re still nervous, schedule an engagement session to see how fun and relaxed a photo shoot can be. This way, you’ll feel confident in your photographer and the way they make you feel in front of the camera. This helps ensure that you feel like yourself on your wedding day.

The art of slowing down

If your wedding timeline is jam-packed with little room to breathe in between, you may get so caught up with staying on time that you forget to take it all in. Some of the best candid moments happen during that downtime in between events. It gives you that time to have those long conversations with your grandparents, an impromptu dance-off moment with your best friends, or more time to hug all of your guests.

Be present. Time flies extra fast on your wedding day. I promise the extra wiggle room will be filled with joy.

When in roam (candid wedding edition)

If the venue allows it, make sure your ceremony and reception area give your photographer plenty of room to explore. As a documentary photographer, I love capturing candid wedding photos. I look for things like guest reactions during the ceremony, speeches, etc. and it makes my job easier when I don’t have to squeeze through a tight space or aim the camera only a few feet from your guests. With more space, there are more opportunities to notice the way the light is hitting in different areas, the way your grandma sheds happy tears as she listens to you share your vows, or the way your closest friends cackle at the speech about how you met your partner on tinder.

The more space you give us, the more inconspicuous flies on the wall candid wedding photographers can be.

Simple ways to honor your guests

Your wedding day is primarily about the two of you, but incorporating little gestures to make your guests feel loved adds a special touch. After all, they’ve taken the time and money to be here to celebrate you and they were invited for a damn good reason. Awe them with a beautiful venue, stunning attire, and impeccable florals, and honor them with your words and time.

Here are a few simple ways to honor your guests:

• Write a personal love note or a quote that reminds you of them on each guest’s name card, even if it’s just a sentence.
• Spend 5-10 minutes at each table, greeting & hugging your guests individually.
• Include photos of your guests in your guestbook (the perfect polaroid moment)

These acts of love foster beautiful moments and memories. The more love you pour in, the more it will shine through in your day and your photographs.

Link to your Polaroid Guestbook

Clear spaces + good light = candid wedding photos

I will always prioritize preserving the moment over making sure everything in the photo looks perfect. The most important part about candid wedding photos is making sure that the moments happen naturally, not because I stage them to happen. If I notice something in the background of a meaningful moment, there’s a higher chance that I will capture the moment in front of me versus turning into the one-woman cleaning crew.

That being said, if aesthetics are important to you, make sure your spaces are clean and free of anything you don’t want photographed (water bottles, half-eaten food, etc). I’m more than happy to help you choose a space with good lighting. But, even the best photographers can only do so much with dim lighting and a messy space. Help set us out so that we can do the best job for you as we possibly can.