How to Find Your Style in Street Photography | Lessons from the Masters
How to Find Your Style in Street Photography | Lessons from the Masters
The Journey of Finding Your Style
What’s poppin’ people, it’s Dante! Today, we’re diving deep into finding your style in street photography.
For over a decade, I’ve traveled the world, honing my craft, and through sheer consistency and discipline, I’ve developed my own photographic voice. But here’s the thing—style isn’t something you force; it’s something that emerges naturally over time.
Many believe that style is about post-processing, editing choices, or gear preferences, but that’s missing the bigger picture. Your style is a reflection of how you engage with life and how you choose to see the world.
To get there, you need three things: consistency, discipline, and courage.
Focus on the Essentials
It’s easy to get lost in the gear talk: What camera should I use? What lens? Should I shoot film or digital? All of that is noise. The real work begins when you simplify.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Stick to one camera and one lens. Limiting your tools forces you to focus on seeing rather than tinkering.
- Pick a direction—color or black and white—and commit. Constraints fuel creativity.
- Shoot daily with discipline. There’s no shortcut; consistency breeds growth.
For the past two years, I’ve been exclusively shooting in high-contrast black and white. Before that, I spent years photographing in color. But looking back, I can see that my vision has always been there, running through all of my work, regardless of the medium.
If you’re just starting out, experimentation is fine. But after a while, you need to commit to a direction to push your vision forward.
The Role of Courage
Finding your voice in photography is less about technical knowledge and more about how you engage with the world.
“If you want to get close to life, you need the courage to stand on the front lines.”
For me, that meant getting physically close to my subjects. I’ve always been drawn to raw human energy, and my work reflects that. To achieve this, you need to be bold, audacious, and willing to face rejection or discomfort.
Learning from the Masters
William Klein: Embracing Chaos & Energy
Klein’s photography is gritty, raw, and unapologetically immersive. His fearless approach to the streets—getting up close and personal—deeply influenced me.
Take his famous photograph of the boy with the toy gun—it’s bursting with rawness and energy. Inspired by this, I made a similar image in Philadelphia of a young boy pointing a toy gun with a huge smile in the background. Different emotions, but a similar visual tension.
Key takeaway from Klein: Be present. Don’t be a fly on the wall. Engage with the scene.
Larry Towell: Emotional Intimacy in Documentary Work
Towell’s book The Mennonites remains one of my greatest inspirations. His photographs have a deep emotional closeness, not just physical proximity.
During my time in Jericho, Palestine, I applied this lesson—immersing myself in daily life, sharing meals, drinking coffee with men after prayer. One of my favorite images came from those moments: a heartfelt embrace between two men, reminiscent of Towell’s intimate portraiture.
Key takeaway from Towell: Get close, not just physically, but emotionally.
Alex Webb: Light, Color, and Layered Complexity
Webb’s use of light and shadow is masterful. His compositions are layered, filled with energy and depth. His images from Mexico, with slices of golden light and deep shadows, completely changed how I see.
When I was in Zambia, I found a moment that mirrored Webb’s style—a child’s face perfectly aligned with a beam of light, the surrounding environment creating a layered composition. Webb taught me to position myself in interesting light and let the scene unfold.
Key takeaway from Webb: Observe the light first, then position yourself for the shot.
James Nachtwey: The Courage to Witness
Watching War Photographer changed everything for me. Nachtwey’s ability to document conflict with courage and precision inspired me to photograph in high-tension environments.
When I traveled to the West Bank, I documented street confrontations, inspired by Nachtwey’s powerful images from the region. Standing there in the heat of the moment, camera in hand, I realized: this is what it means to document history in real-time.
Key takeaway from Nachtwey: Be fearless in pursuit of truth.
Cultivating Your Voice Through Experience
Studying the masters is important, but nothing replaces getting out there and photographing real life.
Some pivotal experiences that shaped my style:
- Volunteering in Israel and Palestine – Living on a kibbutz, working with Palestinian families, and photographing daily life up close.
- Traveling to Zambia with the Peace Corps – Spending time in rural communities, photographing baptisms, funerals, and everyday struggles.
- Shooting daily in Philadelphia – Practicing in my hometown sharpened my instincts and prepared me for global adventures.
“To create photographs that resonate, you have to be present in the world.”
The Power of Photo Books
One of the best ways to grow as a photographer is to study photo books.
For me, Alex Webb’s The Suffering of Light became my bible. It’s 30 years of his best work, and every time I revisit it, I find something new.
Ask yourself when looking at photo books:
- What makes this photograph great?
- What emotions does it evoke?
- How do light, color, and composition work together?
Keep Moving Forward
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s this:
“Never stop moving, never stop making, never stop exploring.”
Curiosity fuels creativity. It’s what pushes you to try new things, go to new places, and press the shutter again and again. I’ve been photographing for a decade now, and I’m still just getting started.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling to find your style, remember:
- Simplify. Limit your tools and commit.
- Study the greats. Absorb inspiration, but don’t copy.
- Put yourself out there. Travel, explore, and engage.
- Be disciplined. Consistency is the foundation of growth.
- Be courageous. Push yourself to the front lines of life.
Photography is about living and engaging with the world. Style isn’t found in Lightroom presets or fancy cameras—it’s found in experience, in the streets, in the moment, in the act of seeing.
So stop overthinking it. Pick up your camera. Step outside. And start shooting.
Peace.
