Wedding candids

[Sheldona]

Going to a wedding in a weeks time and want to shoot candids. Any tips? As far a s I know theres going to be around 40 guests and being held in a room with a meal after. its going to be a small affair.

I'll have a 70-200, 10-20 and 18-55 lens, flash which I can use remote as well if needed.
I've done some before with OK results but I really want to nail this one without the normal spray and pray results by shooting 500odd shots and getting 50 or so keepers.

Thanks in advance.

[SuzyView]

I love my 70-200 2.8 IS for receptions because people can't see me when I catch them. You can sit in one place and go nuts. It's fun.

[Robert16]

Yeah. Sniper tactics with the 70-200. Capture expressions without 'em knowing.

[form]

Telephoto is great for candids, especially single or two-person candids, because the out of focus background isolates the subject, particularly at wide apertures.

The faster and/or longer the lens, the better it is for candid capturing in many cases. Not all cases, of course.

I don't have a 70-200 f/2.8 IS, but I have a 135 f/2 and it does just about as well.

IMO, candids are some of the easiest shots to get; much more difficult are the "perfect moments" and the creative shots that I struggle with.

[Mike]

I agree with the others, the 70-200 2.8 L IS is great for candids.

[egordon99]

Ditto the 70-200 (I have the f/4 IS), except for some reason NO ONE asked me "Hey, can you take our photo" when I had my 17-85 mounted. Switched to the 70-200, and everyone started asking me to take group photos of like five people INSIDE! I moved back as far as I could and 70mm was still too long (time to buy a 2nd body!)