Wedding + Portrait
Candid Wedding Photos in the Moments in Between: Love in a Puddle
August 1, 2024
To get a once-in-a-lifetime candid wedding photos, sometimes a photographer needs to be a few steps ahead while looking back! That was the case in this gorgeous shot, taken in the reflection of a puddle outside the New York City Hall, by Parker Selman, one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024.

Romance in the Rain
The couple, Renee and RJ, were rushing to meet their family for their wedding ceremony. Selman was several paces ahead when she turned around to see their reflection in the puddle. It took her breath away.
Selman says, “A director friend of mine told me once that they always wet the streets in movies because wet pavement looks better on camera and the water diffuses reflections. Ever since then, I have loved shooting right after a rainstorm as the streets look particularly romantic.”
Selman primarily shoots her candid wedding photos on film, bringing seven to eight film cameras with her to each wedding, in addition to a digital camera. She has long been inspired by the work of Vivian Maier, who frequently played with mirrors and reflections in her work. Selman says, “Reflections, puddles, and mirrors are an enormous source of inspiration for me.” She also loves to focus on little, intimate moments between her couples. She says finding these moments requires constant observation. Had she kept her focus on getting to City Hall for the typical wedding shots, she would have missed out on turning around to observe and capture her favorite shots of the day.
[Read: Candid Wedding Photographs: After the Family Formals]

The Most Perfect Little Puddle
Selman acknowledges that finding a perfect little puddle like this depends heavily on “good, old-fashioned luck.” She says for the very best shots with puddles, the subject needs to be juxtaposed against the sky.
Beyond that, she encourages photographers to stay alert to such environmental gifts through constant observation. As well, they should reflect on any given scene, asking themselves questions like, “How can I shoot this differently? Would this image be more dynamic if it was taken from above? Or of the couple’s backs? Or across the street as the cars rush by?” By evaluating every scene from multiple perspectives and as many angles as possible, organic moments like this will naturally unfold. Then, “it’s just up to [the photographer] to notice and capture them!”

Unique Perspectives on the Move
Shooting primarily on film requires Selman to be deeply intentional – deliberate and thoughtful – while she shoots. She focuses on creating a relaxed atmosphere where everyone feels at ease so that genuine emotions can naturally surface. She is a patient shooter, watching a joke unfold before taking a shot, so that she can capture the moment when the punchline hits and waiting for a group to return to natural positions after having posed themselves.
Selman says, “In essence, my photography style is a blend of methodical observation from afar, framed through unique perspectives, and intimate close-ups that emphasize the profound emotions and unfiltered joy of the moments I capture.” During a wedding, she is constantly on the move to capture all these different perspectives — “whether it’s viewing the first look from across the street so you can see the bride’s parents peeking down from the second floor or capturing the bridal party from the middle of the pack as they run through the West Village to the reception.” In this way, she can offer a gallery of images that captures what it felt like to be present on the day.
Being on the move throughout the day also gives her the opportunity to spot unique perspectives of the day, like a beautiful reflection on a perfect puddle on the perfect wedding day.
Follow Parker Selman’s work on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Stars Winners Gallery for 2024.
