In today’s fast-paced, visually driven world, where social media is flooded with polished and highly edited images, one might wonder: is candid photography still relevant? Do people genuinely value capturing authentic, timeless moments at events, or are they more focused on looking like film stars with beaming smiles? At Salt & Pepper, we’ve seen firsthand how photography trends have evolved over the years. In India, candid photography never truly flourished. Around 2008, the idea of a photojournalistic approach gained some traction among a niche audience—particularly the well-traveled and art enthusiasts—who appreciated its raw authenticity. We hoped this sensibility would grow, elevating candid photography to a mainstream choice for weddings and events. Today, as Best Candid Wedding Photographers in Bangalore, we continue to champion storytelling through natural, unscripted moments, even as trends shift towards more stylized and editorial approaches.
However, this shift never fully materialized. Instead of a deeper appreciation for meaning and storytelling, the market saw an influx of more expensive photographers, but not necessarily those dedicated to true candid or photojournalistic work. The rise of Instagram further reshaped perceptions, placing vanity and glamour at the forefront. The demand for ‘editorial’ style portraits surged, with increasing investments in stylists, curated looks, and elaborate decor. As a result, authenticity took a backseat, and the idea of candid photography became more about staged smiles than genuine, unfiltered moments.
Candid Wedding Photography Style
What now for Candid Photography? Is it still timeless?
Without a doubt Candid has taken back seat for most clients. Good looking, shiny, happy photos is what everyone wants in the latest pastel or season’s colour palette. That’s the first tick in the list to be had. Everything else is secondary. People do still appreciate candid photos, but largely in retrospect now. When they see their day again through our eyes, and relive some key moments, the importance of Candid photos comes alive then. But its not the main act anymore. Contemporary wedding photography can now be seen split into 3 main segments:
- Editorial Portraits: Whatever is in vogue and in current style is what the look people aspire to be in. It could be cold and disconnected and far removed from yoru real personality. But hey, its in the memo right!? So this is what is selling the most on instagram, this is a quick way to for the impression that yes the photographer is living in 2025. But beauty is skin deep like they, and that’s only true if you care to dig deeper..
- Documentation: Your clothes, your venue, your decor, your dog and your staff, how it all looked on your wedding day, including small touches like the invites, hampers, rings, give-aways etc. This is important to many and I can understand why.
- Candid Photography: Lastly the superstar of yesteryears. Candid photography. Its important and that’s revealed to most in retrospect. They love it when they see it, but they don’t come asking for it, neither would anyone claim to truly understand this art form deeply. Its extremely rare. Rarer that Dhol-walas behaving themselves at weddings.
As a consequence Candid photographers, or those who jumped into the fray with this romantic idea in their heads, are caught between these 3 streams. They want to be authentic, but they need to be experts on style as well. And this is not everyone’s forte. Not everyone is a champion in resolving the right aesthetic for you. In most cases its a copy paste from another ‘artist’s’ work. But I digress. Basically its now important for wedding photographers to be experts in Editorial, excellent documentation and candid photography. And this is quite a handful for most. Think about this deeply, before you hire your wedding photographers. What are you expecting from them. Have a clear definition or expectation in your minds. The end result would be far more rewarding.
How we work at Salt & Pepper in this evolving understanding of photography.
Clarity is the most important thing to establish with our clients. We have long chats with them to understand what they expect from their wedding photos. We take them through moodboards and share how we work and what all we deliver. This helps them visualise their celebration days and gives them a subtle hint on what to expect for themselves. This little understanding helps align a lot of other things at the wedding, as the priorities get properly defined.
What we bring to the table?
- Years of experience in candid photography
- A core team which has been steady for 7+ years. Rare isn’t it?
- A team of skilled photographers who understand lighting, composition, and storytelling
- Customized photography packages to meet your needs
- The latest State-of-the-art equipment to ensure the best quality photos
- Timeless photography styles tailored to your needs
Final Thoughts
Candid photography is far from fading away. Its ability to capture raw emotions, genuine expressions, and real-life moments makes it a preferred choice for individuals and businesses alike. Whether you’re planning an event, marketing a brand, or simply looking to preserve precious memories, candid photography remains a timeless and powerful medium. But at the same time one has to accept the changing reality of today’s visual world. So whether the editorial quotient is high or low, one will still need to rely on candid photography to tell the story and freeze those precious moments. Do talk to your photographer about your vision and that will carve out an ideal mix for you.
Contact us at Salt & Pepper today, and let’s create something memorable together!
