Street photography is a tricky genre because of the candid nature of making photographs of strangers. The process can be daunting at first and dismay beginners from getting started. Street photography does not have to be this scary thing that keeps you from pressing that shutter button. I hope with some simple tips here in this blog post, I can encourage you to keep pushing with your street photography.
Your photography matters
Firstly, I believe it’s important to recognize that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. Street photography is all about documenting the human experience and preserving work for future generations. Empower yourself with the camera by understanding the importance of your photography.
Make self portraits
To get more comfortable on the streets, perhaps it’s a good idea to get more comfortable with yourself in front of the camera. Just think, if you’re going to make photographs of others, you should know what it feels like to be on the other side of the lens. by making self portraits, it will not only boost your confidence, recognizing how beautiful you are, but it will hopefully inspire you to photograph others!
Confrontation and street portraits
I believe that making street portraits is a great way to get started with street photography. I’m a fan of the street portrait because it engages the photographer with the people on the streets. This is the easiest way to learn how to deal with confrontation and rejection. If somebody says no, that’s okay, but you will be pleasantly surprised by how many people are interested in having a portrait made of themselves. My suggestion is to bring an instax camera around for your first couple of weeks on the street, and hand people prints right after making the portrait. By asking for permission, it will give you courage to make more photos.
Be a tourist in your hometown
Once you’re comfortable with making portraits of yourself and strangers, and you feel empowered with your camera, it’s time to embrace the candid nature of street photography. One practical suggestion I have for making candid photographs is to play the role of a tourist in your hometown. What this means is, the way in which you operate the camera is a bit more amateurish by default. Always wear a smile and enjoy the day as a tourist would!
How to be stealthy on the street
Act as if you’re photographing whatever is in the background of people on the street. Use the LCD screen on the back of your camera and walk around while looking through it. This will give you the perception that you may be making a video or simply learning how to use the camera. Try to get as close as possible without asking for permission. Don’t be afraid of conversation at this point now that you’ve developed some social skills through confrontation. It’s always important to acknowledge others if needed, but for the most part, it’s perhaps best to gaze away from the people you’re photographing and not make eye contact. Watch the video below to learn how I use the “tourist technique” on the streets to make candid pictures.
How to deal with confrontation
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve been confronted since using the Ricoh GRIII and strictly an LCD screen. It’s so stealthy that nobody can even tell what I’m doing with my camera. However, if I am confronted, I’m not afraid to have a quick conversation to diffuse any problems. Ultimately, if they decide that you need to delete the photograph, of course, I think you should do so! We don’t want to have any issues with people. Make the confrontation as smooth and quickly as possible. Tell them you’re a student and that you’ll be out of their way. It’s the easiest excuse so that you can move on as quickly as possible. Just don’t escalate anything or cause drama.
Street photography is all about courage
At the end of the day, did the photographs you make require courage to click the shutter button? Perhaps these are the photos that are most meaningful. The more courage you display on the streets, the more interesting your photos will become. The notion that “the closer the better” is mostly true in street photography. Our goal is to evoke the human experience, and the closeness of the people on the street will help display this. Walk with your head held high, chest open, and shoulders back with courage and confidence. I wish you much success with your street photography journey, and hope that some of these tips can help you overcome any fears or anxiety that you have about getting started. Happy shooting!