Street Photography 101: Essential Tips for Beginners
What’s poppin, people? It’s Dante. Today, we’re going to be discussing Street Photography 101. I’m going to share some simple ideas that I’ve learned over the past decade of practicing street photography every single day.
You know, I’m always out there with my camera, and I’m so eager to share these ideas because photography, simply put, fuels my lust for life and gives my life so much meaning. It’s such a joy to photograph. Today, we’re going to be looking at some photos I’ve been making with my Ricoh GR3 and 3X, using high-contrast black and white.
By the end of this post, you’ll be more well-rounded and hopefully have a deeper understanding of why we go out there and photograph. We all have our own reasons, but these are some of the core foundational thoughts I have about street photography.
The Camera as a Passport
I treat my camera as more than just a tool to document life. It’s a passport.
“When I get my camera in hand and put it in my pocket, it becomes an excuse to see the world—to get closer and closer to life on the front lines.”
Without photography, I wouldn’t have had many of the experiences I’ve had—volunteering on a kibbutz in Israel, living with a Palestinian family, sleeping on the floors of mosques in Jericho, volunteering with the Peace Corps in Zambia, documenting baptisms and funerals, and traveling through Ethiopia’s mountain ranges.
Photography gives me a reason to step out the door, to explore new cities, and to see my own hometown with fresh eyes every day.
The Tourist Mindset
Every day, when I walk the same familiar streets, I adopt the mindset of a tourist.
“A tourist is always eager to wake up early to catch the sunrise. A tourist is always curious about their surroundings and approaches each place with openness and wonder.”
Here in Philadelphia, I even visit the tourist center in Old City to see what events are coming up, reading plaques on the walls as if I’m seeing them for the first time. Curiosity is everything. When I walk with this mindset, I’m much more engaged, more in tune with my environment.
Letting Intuition Guide You
I go out there without expectations. I don’t have a plan. I don’t have a destination.
“When you let go of expectations, you allow your intuition to guide your photography. This is where the magic happens.”
I walk slowly. I observe. I let life flow towards me. The street is my stage, the world is my canvas, and the people moving through it are the actors. I simply respond to the moment.
The Zen of Photography
Photography is a Zen practice. When I’m photographing, I’m not thinking about the past or the future.
“I become laser-focused on the present moment. My mind, my body, my soul—everything aligns in that instant when I press the shutter.”
I enter a meditative flow, recognizing patterns, seeing light and shadow, capturing fleeting gestures. Photography sharpens my hand-eye coordination, allowing me to react instinctively.
The Power of Movement
“One must move their physical body to improve their composition.”
Photography is not just a visual game—it’s a physical one too. The way you position yourself affects your composition. Move low, move left, shift your perspective. The mundane can be transformed into something special when seen from the right angle.
Practice and Repetition
I photograph every single day. Repetition is key.
“Think of a basketball player going out there to practice their shot—so that when the real moment comes, they don’t have to think. They just do.”
The more I walk, the more I see. The more I see, the more I photograph. The more I photograph, the more I improve. Over time, I learn the rhythms of the street—when the light hits just right, when people step out for a smoke break, when the streets are alive.
Embrace Imperfection
Modern photography is obsessed with sharpness, megapixels, and perfection. But street photography is about imperfection.
“I shoot with a small JPEG file, crank the contrast to the max, bake the grain, and embrace the spontaneous nature of photography from the ground up.”
Photography is about seeing—not about technical perfection. I’m not just photographing people, but also textures, wrinkles, abandoned objects, fleeting moments. The small details matter.
Photography as a Universal Language
“A photograph transcends words. It is a universal language.”
I often carry an Instax camera to gift prints to strangers. No matter where I am in the world, the gift of a photograph breaks language barriers, forming an instant human connection. This is the power of photography.
Detach From the Outcome
I don’t care about books, zines, galleries, or likes on social media.
“I photograph for its own sake—not for external validation.”
Detach from the outcome. Just go out there and shoot. The more you photograph, the more you will understand your vision.
Courage and Presence
“A photograph is a reflection of your courage.”
To photograph people requires boldness. You have to step into the unknown, face humanity head-on, and put order to the chaos.
Photography is about engagement with life itself. It’s about being present. Were you there when you pressed the shutter? Were you close to life?
The Meaning of Photography
For me, photography is more than just taking pictures.
“Photography affirms my life. Every time I press the shutter, I say yes to life.”
It’s a selfish act, a way to fuel my lust for life, to go out there and experience. With a camera in hand, I can create something from nothing, anywhere in the world, in any situation.
Key Takeaways
- Treat your camera as a passport.
- Stay curious.
- Let intuition guide you.
- Practice daily.
- Appreciate imperfection.
- Recognize that photography is a universal language.
- Let go and embrace the process.
By embracing curiosity and detaching from the outcome, you will enter the flow state of photography.
Thank you for reading. Hopefully, some of these ideas will help you along your journey.
See you out there on the streets.
Peace.