jdfdave

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on taking photo's of those candid moments that happen quickly, like with your family or children.
Here are a couple of shots I took with my p&s canon camera.

chipmaker Loc: Northwest

When I was photographing weddings, the reception provided great candid shots. One thing I found was if a person knew they were being photographed they would stiffen up and a truly Candid shot was hard to come by. What I would do is constantly observe the people in the room, many times out of the corner of my eye. If I saw a good shot I would quickly turn and take the shot and then turn my camera away from the person I had just snapped so that when they looked up they would not see that I had just taken a shot of them. This kept them at ease and they did not stiffen up. This can not be used on every shot or folks will "catch on", but it really works well used sparingly. As you are taking photos always be looking for the next shot. Sometimes the jewels come closely together.

Kathi Loc: Pennsylvania

Hey... finally, a topic I can offer my 2 cents (most of the time I'm seeking the help of others!) My business name is "Capturing Candids" because of what I've learned over the years about getting the unposed expression. First tip: Take LOTS of pictures. I take pictures of theatre, children at play, weddings, reunions, etc and sometimes take in excess of 500 images to get 50-100 that I love!!! When people in the room come to accept you there, they come to just ignore you (nicely, of course!!) If they turn to look at me, I just simply say, "just keep doing what you're doing!" 9 out 10 times it really works. If they turn to pose their smile, I let them know, "I'll be back in a minute."
The other tip that has helped me tremendously is the skill of cropping to get the face, especially the eyes, which is the real story in candids,to fill the frame rather than all the extranneous background things that interfere with the true focus of a candid shot. Hope that helps you! Keep shooting!

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

(Love the third one, they were so busy looking at the other photographer, they didn't see YOU shooting! And your shot of them is really nice... can still see the smiles and everything!)

Perspective is everything, imo. Just catch them doing something that comes natural to them, capture the "natural" moment that shows the essence of who they are individually if at all possible. Kids are tricky. (I posted an instance of this just this morning... under the entry of "In Their Element". Two shots taken during the same sitting, of my g-son Trip. You can tell which one he's being himself in and which pic he resents his Nana for the most! lol)

Other than being at-the-ready-just-in-case, I really don't have any tips of any value... just kudos and hopes that you keep sharing! :)

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Your final shot would make a great stand alone portrait of the older couple. Turn everything but them pitch black and add a bit of a glow and you've got a well posed portrait.

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Another thing I've found to work - if you have a swivel LCD, hold the camera at chest level, like you're reviewing a picture they'll never know you're shooting !