Comments on: Shooting People: How to Shoot Street Photography Portraits

By: Antoine

Antoine — Wed, 25 May 2011 15:08:40 +0000

I went around my neighbourhood a couple of weeks ago and took shots from people in the streets and particularly in a market area. Most people seemed to be OK with it, although one person came to me and asked me to delete his picture because he was a undercover street officer or whatever. In another hand, some guys in a shop were so happy they asked me to take a portrait of them and send it to them and asked me if I could take some shots of the place in the future to hang them around the shop as a project. I found the experience awesome and am ready to do it again anytime, as long as you don’t feel too shy about it, I guess most people think you are a professional artist and they don’t bother too much about it, but be careful with people striking funny faces or coming at you in a hurry!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 08 May 2011 08:48:29 +0000

OK, a good article, but for me, the wrong way round….
number 1 is fine, I’m more than happy to get right in peoples faces, to the point where I’m sure they want to hit me. Number 2, that scares the hell out of me. I really really struggle with it. Number 3, I’m OK, sometimes I shoot from the hip, sometimes normally, and I usually have my 20-40mm lens so I’m not just off in the distance being sneaky. But step 2 still gets me every time.

By: Gentlesam

Gentlesam — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:58:55 +0000

Cool post, thank you !!
It’s true that’s it’s quite uncomfortable to ask someone for a photo. Sometimes people who are waiting for the shot are not so natural as if u didn’t ask ! here is the problematic!
Anyway, it’s a good way to share this passion and to explain to the people how you see that way !

By: @nooccar

@nooccar — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:22:36 +0000

I teach at a public high school and have carried my camera to every event and every day. … the kids are use to it. Sometimes I shoot for the yearbook, too, so they are more than excited about getting in the frame. I transfer this confidence to the people I don’t know on the streets.

By: PJMixer

PJMixer — Sat, 29 May 2010 11:30:00 +0000

I do quite a lot of street photography, but must admit I don’t have the knack yet of fitting into the scene and still have a tendency to stay on the edges, although my 100 stranger project (PJMixer on Flickr) is still going strong. I do find that being confident with your camera and taking lots and frequent shots on the street gets recognized as “a job” and gives you more freedom. Getting over that confidence hump is the trick (and one I’m still working on).

By: James Redd

James Redd — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:58:44 +0000

I just found this post and I have determined it is by far my favorite post by you. (: Love it!

By: Heylen

Heylen — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 23:04:03 +0000

Great article thanks! It’s so difficult in the beginning when you start taking pictures of strangers

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By: pete

pete — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:50:48 +0000

Just a few days ago a “sneaky spy photographer” got me on the train at a stop. He stood outside the doors pretending to be waiting for the train, and before the doors closed again, he took a shot from the hip. Literally. I’m guessing he got a lot of shots off that way during rush hour, but I prefer your method. It’s much better to get over the awkwardness so that, if a really great opportunity presents itself, you don’t hesitate to jump into action.