You have to learn the rules of the candid game. And then you have to shoot well than anyone else.

The candid photography is an art starts with understanding that it is not shooting pictures of people without their permission, like a person waiting outside the front door or sneaking around corners. The best candid photos are those that are taken when people know you’re taking pictures, but they’re unaware of what image you’re trying to capture, and when. This will tell a story and convey emotion without the need for words.

Developing your candid photography skills will improve all your other photography categories because you’ll get to know, how much quickness & involvement at least need. Most of the candid photography will be of family members, friends, colleagues, etc. Like a photojournalist, you must have your camera with you all the time. Good candid photos occur when and where they occur – and usually only once.

Here are some simple rules to hit the shot:

  • Be Familiar with Camera Settings first. Be confident you can change settings quickly and without looking at the buttons. Sometimes, no one wants to stop, pose for a shot, and then stare \at you as you fiddle with dials and press buttons.
  • Use continuous shooting mode to photograph.
  • Try it with a longer zoom lens or use less MM lenses with lowest aperture.
  • Forget the flash!
  • Experiment with the low-light settings on your camera, so no harsh lights should ruin your images.
  • Know the location of an event where you know you’ll being taking candid photos, such as a wedding, birthday party, etc.
  • Shoot from low and high angles, shoot some pictures without looking through the camera and turn the camera at strange and unusual angles. This becomes fun for you – and you’ll be the center of attention when everyone wants to see the candid photos you’ve taken.
  • Pay Them a Compliment if their appearance or whatever looks interesting to you.
  • Try to dress for the area/type of person you might be shooting.
  • Don’t review each shot you take on the LCD. Check the first shot on the screen, adjust settings if needed, and check once more before taking a few more shots. If adjusting is taking longer, talk a little to keep them relaxed