Candid Favorites
The quiet, in-between moments that tell the real story.
There’s a certain kind of magic that happens at weddings — and it’s not always during the first kiss or the big sendoff. Don’t get me wrong, I love the traditions. The vows. The first dance. The champagne toasts. But if I’m being honest?
My favorite moments are the ones no one’s performing for.
It’s the shaky hands before the ceremony.
The way your dad straightens your tie without saying a word.
The moment your partner finally exhales when they see you.
The tight hug from your grandma, the one that lingers just a second longer.
The tears you try to blink back before they spill. Those are the moments I live for. The candid ones. The quiet fragments. The honest stuff.
Why candids matter more than we think
Weddings move fast. So much planning leads up to this one day — and then, in a blink, it’s over. But the thing is: you won’t remember everything. That’s just human. What you’ll remember are the feelings.
That’s where candids come in.
Candid photos don’t just document what happened. They show how it felt. They bring you right back — to the warmth, the nerves, the joy, the chaos, the deep-breath moments that anchor you in it all. They remind you that your day wasn’t just beautiful — it was real.
The fragments that become forever
Every wedding I photograph, I find myself holding onto these tiny in-between moments that feel like little windows into something bigger:
The flower girl, shoes off, curled up in someone’s lap during the reception.
The glance you share with your partner across a crowded room.
The groomsmen erupting into laughter over an inside joke.
Your mom quietly adjusting your veil when she thinks no one’s looking.
The moment just after the kiss, when your shoulders finally relax.
None of those moments are staged. None of them are planned. And yet? They’re the ones you’ll hold onto the tightest.
I believe the most powerful stories are the ones that unfold naturally.
Yes, we’ll get the portraits. Yes, I’ll gently guide when you need it. But for most of the day, my camera is a quiet observer — looking for the honest moments that speak loudest in silence.
Because years from now, when you’re flipping through your wedding album, I want you to feel it all again. Not just how you looked. But how it felt to be there — surrounded by love, laughter, family, and a kind of joy that can’t be posed.
These are my candid favorites. And they’re almost always yours, too.
Looking for your wedding photographer?
I’m Alex Christensen — Southern California-based wedding and couples photographer, storyteller, and quiet moment collector. If you're dreaming of honest, artful images that feel like you, I’d love to help tell your story.