Directing VS. Candids
Each photographer has a different way of shooting. Some prefer directing whereas others prefer the more candid look and feel. What’s the difference and how do I know which I’d prefer?
Well let’s start off with directing. So what does directing mean in terms of photography? Directing, or guiding as we like to call it, is where the photographer steps in and helps you into a certain pose or adjust certain body placements. It’s an action on both ends. Take shooting with a couple as an example. A photographer may say something along the lines of "hold hands with your partner" or "bring your hand up to their face and caress their cheek." It could also be where one persons arm looks weird so we redirect it and make it look better. If you’re someone who tends to say “I don’t know what to do with my hands” or ask “Do my hands look weird like this?” then guiding might be a better approach for you. Directing is also generally more faced towards the camera compared to candids.
Here are a few photo examples of directing.
Some people prefer someone else telling them what to do whereas others prefer a more natural look and feel to their photos where they do what feels best to them in certain moments.
Speaking of candids, let’s dive into those. Candids are something you’ve probably heard of. They’re the classic “laughing with a friend, not knowing there’s a camera” type of photos. They are genuine moments that get captured and they’re usually an unexpected, spur of the moment. An example of a candid would be when you’re talking with your partner and they make a joke, making you laugh in response. If a photographer grabs a photo during this time, it’s considered a candid due to it being 100% real and raw.
When talking about candids, prompts often get brought up. Okay, another term. What does prompt mean? Well, prompts are moves to action. They're instructions or invitations, to set in motion. An example of a prompt would be telling a couple to run into one another's arms and embrace each other like it's the first time they've hugged in years. Candids and prompts co-exist with each other because prompts often evoke those moments that become candids. So what's the difference between prompting and directing? While both have to do with your photographer saying something, prompts are more loose and tend to be more natural. They’re usually a reaction rather than an action.
Here are a few photo examples of candids and prompts.
Which is for me? Directing or candids? It totally depends on you. What photos do you find yourself more attracted to? It could be both! Lots of photographers, like us, do a mix. When looking to get photos done, look at the photographers style ahead of time. Do you see a mix of both? Just directing or just candids? Make sure you work with a photographer who represents the look and style you’re going for!
