How to Be an Ace Candid Photographer and Get Pictures Worthy of Canvas Prints

Most people don’t think about the different roles they play when they take out their camera or smartphones and start taking photos that we hope (there’s always hope) will make eye-catching canvas prints. For most of us, it doesn’t matter if we’re taking landscapes, or portraits, or candids – we just think of it as taking photos we hope we can transform into canvas online.

What that means is that for most of us, we’re not aware that we’re taking candid photos all the time. Out with friends and capturing the moment? You’re taking candids. Walking down the street and see someone interesting? Again, that’s candid photography.

One of the biggest challenges when taking candid photos is to avoid awkward, stiff poses from your subjects. We’ve all seen it: A perfect photo opportunity presents itself, ideal for canvas art, and then suddenly transforms into a stiff, weird photo that you quickly want to delete from the memory card. But don’t despair! Here are a few tips towards making all of your candid photos better.

Candid Canvas Prints Tip #1: Waste a Few

The goal of any candid photographer is to be invisible and unremarked upon. In other words, you need to overcome the instinct people will have to pose and stop being natural every time you show up.

One of the key ways to do this is to take a lot of photos. A lot. And that means that in the beginning you should just waste a bunch. Assume they’re no good, and put little thought into them. Just go around and take pictures, and get the crowd used to you doing so, whether they’re strangers or your family. The more photos you click in the beginning, the more relaxed they’ll be as things warm up later.

Candid Canvas Prints Tip #2: Blend In

Whether you’re at a wedding and looking for great candid shots to make into canvas online or at a street fair looking for something interesting to shoot, you have to blend in. Dress appropriately for whatever event you’re trying to capture, and resist the urge to stand out and be unusual. Everyone likes to dress up and be unique, but this actually works against you when trying to take candid photos, especially if you’re doing street photography – people get freaked out when someone that doesn’t belong in the neighbourhood shows up, with or without a camera.

Candid Canvas Prints Tip #3: Be Up Front

Finally, one of the keys to successful candid photography is honesty – tell people what you’re doing. Let word spread. When people know you’re around, taking photos, they will relax before you even get to them, and forget you’re there. Forgetting you’re there = being invisible, which is always your goal when taking candids.

Candid photography can yield some awesome images well worth turning into canvas art for your walls. All it takes is a keen eye, patience, and the ability to be invisible. And when you have some candids you think are worth making into canvas online, click here and we’ll do them justice, guaranteed.