I'm a photographer who shoots weddings around the world. Couples want one kind of photo — but they don't actually use them.

• Joshua Huggett is an Australia-based wedding photographer and the founder of Joshua Huggett Media.

• Most couples want candid shots, but Huggett said that they always end up using proper posed photos.

• He says these photos become valuable as they are often the last time the entire family is together.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Joshua Huggett, a wedding photographer. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I started taking photos in high school because it was a fun and easy subject to pass. After high school, I continued snapping pictures of abandoned buildings, but there wasn't a market. So, I transitioned into event photography — birthday parties and anything where I could make money with my camera.

Wedding photography wasn't even on my radar. But then I photographed a friend's wedding for free as a favor, and I was hooked.

It's a special experience because you're spending time with people on the best day of their lives when they've spent months trying to look their absolute best with their hair, makeup, and all. Plus, you're often at stunning venues — with free food and beer, which is hard to say no to.

Now, I shoot for 120 weddings a year with a team of 28 staff.

Shooting weddings takes you everywhere

I like to say shooting for weddings is the "Olympics of photography" because it pushes every skill a photographer has.

It's not just about snapping candid shots of the couple. There's product photography when shooting rings, dresses, and decor. There's nightclub photography when you're on the dance floor, catching the couple and guests in motion. And there's portrait photography when you're doing family shots.

Our clients range from everyday Australian weddings to higher-end, self-employed clients. Photographing weddings takes you to all kinds of places. One day, I'm shooting a wedding at a five-star hotel, and the next day, I'm out on a farm where the food is cooked over charcoal in the bucket of a tractor.

One of the most interesting locations I've shot at was in the middle of Australia, in a town where the Mad Max movies were filmed. Donkeys wandered through the streets, and a Mad Max Museum was on the main road. It wasn't luxurious, but it was one of my favorites. I've been to places like Peru, where I shot a wedding and visited Machu Picchu

Candid shots are overrated

Couples nowadays are obsessed with capturing "candid moments" at their weddings. They imagine it's all about those spontaneous, unscripted moments — laughing with friends, mingling during cocktail hour, or having quiet conversations with loved ones.

While we take plenty of those photos, most couples don't realize that after the wedding, when it comes down to picking their favorites, those aren't the ones that get framed or hung on the wall.

In the end, couples truly want the big, polished, beautiful shots — the ones where they're posed just right, standing in front of a breathtaking backdrop, looking their absolute best. Those are the images that last.

People might ask for candids, but they'll almost always treasure the traditional, well-composed shots they took. The candid shots are great for filling up an album or scrolling through on your phone, but the iconic images that capture the essence of the day almost always involve a little effort in posing and planning.

They only use about six key pictures: one for the profile picture, one for the family, a few to send to Grandma, and one to hang on the wall.

How to take the best posed photos

When it comes to posed photos, I like to keep things dynamic, adding movement so it doesn't feel stiff or overly formal. It's all about making people feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera.

A good posed portrait isn't just about standing still. It's about creating movement and making people feel comfortable so they don't look stiff or unnatural.

That's especially important for older couples, who often skip the extended photo sessions and simply want coverage of the wedding, candid shots during the reception, and family photos. They value a more minimal approach and aren't looking for hours of posed pictures, just enough to capture the essence of the day.

Over the years, I've also realized that weddings are one of the last big gatherings where families are together—parents, grandparents, and close friends, all in the same place. I can't tell you how many emails I've received from couples thanking me for the photos after losing loved ones.

Those images become meaningful, especially if they were some of the last ones taken. It's easy to get caught up in the details, but the people in the photos make them special at the end of the day.

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