Today, I’m breaking down my 2025 street photography workflow. Over the past couple of years, I’ve simplified everything—gear, process, and mindset—and it’s completely changed the way I shoot. Let’s dive in.
Why did I change my workflow?
It all started in November 2022 when I came back from a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam. During my time there, I spent a month walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, photographing bustling markets, enjoying delicious street food, drinking coffee, and contemplating life. I asked myself: What’s next for my photography?
I realized that the reason I photograph is simple: photography brings me joy. It fuels my lust for life. But at the same time, I knew I needed a change.
Letting Go
The pursuit of making great photographs had its merits, but it also became a weight. While I wasn’t exactly burned out after that trip, I hit a wall in my process. I decided to give up my old ways—shooting RAW, chasing perfection, and sticking to color photography. I wanted to experiment, simplify, and rediscover the joy.
A New Beginning
I sold all my Fujifilm gear and bought two Ricoh cameras: the GR III and GR IIIx. I’d used the Ricoh GR II back in 2015, so it felt familiar. This shift marked a fresh start, and with it, I also transitioned to black-and-white photography.
Switching from color to black and white is bringing me back to day one.
This change makes every day feel new and exciting. Black and white simplifies the process to the basics of light and shadow, letting me focus on photographing my spirit.
The Simplest Workflow
Here’s my current workflow, which I think might be the easiest way to make photographs.
My Camera Setup
Firstly, the camera is important to consider. I believe the best camera fits in your pocket. The Ricoh GRIII and Ricoh GRIIIx are easily the best cameras for street photography right now.
Quick Guide to My Ricoh GRIII Camera Settings
The Ricoh GRIII is a really simple camera once you get it setup the way you like it. There’s so many menus that it can seem a bit confusing at first, but the beauty of this is that it allows for lots of customization for each photographer to find what’s best for them. I set my camera up simply so that the only buttons I use is the shutter and the adjustment lever on the back to set my exposure compensation for moments when I photograph towards the sun. Feel free to follow along with this video or slideshow with screenshots below!
Camera Settings:
- AV Mode
- Aperture F8
- Snap focus at 2 meters
- Auto ISO
- Minimum shutter speed of 1/500
- Highlight weighted metering
Image Settings:
- Small JPEG (3360X2240)
- Image Control: High Contrast Black and White
- High/Low Key Adjustments: -2
- Contrast: +4
- Contrast (Highlight): -4
- Contrast (Shadow): 0
- Sharpness: +4
- Shading: +4
- Clarity: +4
- Grain Effect: 3
The benefit of using a Ricoh is that it can always be with you. Whether I am walking in the streets, riding my bike, or doing errands, I always have an opportunity to make a photograph. The goal is to make more new photos!
Why Small JPEG?
Using small JPEG files eliminates the headaches of processing, importing, and backing up large RAW files. The Ricoh’s sharp lens ensures the photos still look stunning straight out of the camera. The main reason I prefer these files is how small they are. At around 4MB per file, I believe that these JPEGS become the simplest solution to archiving and storing hundreds of thousands and millions to come into the future of my photography journey! My goal is simple: to keep shooting with longevity, indefinitely. The small JPEGs are a part of the solution that really make things a lot easier for me to achieve this goal.
How I edit the work
Secondly, I believe the iPad Pro is the ultimate solution for reviewing your images.
iPad Workflow:
- Use the USB-C to SD Card Reader to import photos directly into the built in photos app
- Create a folder for the date you made the images and store them there
- Review thumbnails in a 3×3 grid.
- Select the keepers by hitting the heart shaped favorite icon
- Drag the winners from the favorites folder into a final selection folder
- Upload the final selects to google photos for backup in the cloud
Looking at small thumbnails helps me judge the impact of a photograph more effectively.
Own Your Platform
Next, publish your work! The beauty of today’s modern art world is that we no longer need to go through a gallery, curator, or a publisher. We become the full stack media empire for our own work. Stay independent. Create your website today!
WordPress Workflow:
- Create your domain (First name)(Last name).com using Bluehost
- Go to WordPress.org and get started
- Install the Astra theme
- If you want to host your own videos install the Jetpack plugin and purchase Videopress
- Upload your photos and videos to the media library and start publishing!
Get off Instagram and own your platform. Create your own empire.
Make Slideshows
One way I have been enjoying sharing work is by creating slideshows. The great thing is, you can use our own website or YouTube as a way to store and archive your images. This way, your photos become easily accessible and people can share them via the link in the URL of the video. The problem with Instagram is the fact that the only people who can view the images are other people who already have Instagram accounts.
Collage and Experimentation
Using apps like Procreate, I’ve started making collages and remixing images by layering photos and playing with textures. It’s a spontaneous, meditative process that keeps me engaged.
Self-Portraits and Details
I’ve embraced photographing myself and finding beauty in small details—from the patterns of birds to the ice forming on a river. It’s all about celebrating the impermanence of life.
Maybe you can’t live forever, but you can make a photograph!
Propagate your voice
Lastly, make a YouTube channel and Spotify Podcast. I believe the beauty of technology and the internet is that the artist has the power to share their voice more than ever before.
- Get a GoPro Mini to record video and audio
- Use the GoPro Quick app to bluetooth transfer videos to your iPhone
- Film everything in 1080p 30fps (I prefer exporting to 720p for small sizes)
- Upload your videos to YouTube, Videopress, and Spotify and share your thoughts to the world
The power is in our hands. It has never been easier to create and publish art than it is today. The ultimate solution for a photographer is to create a blog where you can publish everything yourself.
Final Thoughts
Simplifying my workflow has reignited my love for photography. By focusing on light, shadow, and the joy of the process, I’ve found a way to make photography feel fresh and exciting every day.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to try this approach. Simplify your gear, embrace black and white, and let go of the need for perfection. Photography should be a joy, not a burden.