A Very Important Street Photography Tip!

[Mike-qonm]

I look them dead in their eyes after the photo, walk straight up to them within a foot or so, make it real awkward and ask them. WHAT? Works like a charm and I no longer have to go to the dentist

[duvalpenny]

Absolutely! I do the exact same thing. If you want to carry the charade on a little longer you can even take another shot (or pretend to frame a shot) of the same scene once you're almost perpendicular to them. This way they just thought they were in the way of your first shot.

[louisrafaelcom]

Another tip: shoot again with your camera tilted at an exaggerated angle away from the subject. If the person is walking, take a few shots of the background they've just left.

[goldbecoming]

I was already doing the "don't look at what you just took a picture of" thing, but walking toward them and looking past them is an absolute genius move.

[Sgt_Snacks]

This might be the best street photography tip I’ve heard yet. I’m so scared to take pics of people but this method will help.

[karim]

I'm not gonna say never do this, but I don't think deception should be the standard protocol. In many situations you might be better off with a friendly acknowledgement

[dakotaxu]

Some mirrorless cameras let you use your phone as a remote to trigger the shutter, while letting you simultaneously see the subject on the phone’s screen instead of on the cameras LCD. So this way you could position yourself in such a way as to not physically face the person while looking at them on your phone, for example face away from them with your side facing them but the camera pointing at them and use the phone to trigger the shutter release.

[davidlacziko]

Yup! Exactly!
I just noticed I have been doing that intuitively and never thought about it 😂...

Thank you all the useful advices!😉 These simplistic videos help me a lot as a beginner!

[emesphoto]

I do that also and then feign frustration like the camera isn’t working right. Sometimes I pretend I’m framing the shot, take a few pics, impatiently look up and pretend the person was in the way of my perfect shot. 😂

[fredpaulussen]

Looking at your subject before or after taking their photo is not necessarily a mistake. It's all about how you engage and interact.

What you explain here can be a good technique; I actually use it myself, too. But I have talked to plenty of street photographers with amazing work who actually make it very clear to their subjects that they are photographing them.

To me, there's no right or wrong with these approaches. I enjoy seeing these tips from other photographers like you, so thank you for sharing. But there's no single end-all technique or truth in this genre.

[VernanJagunap]

I look at person, smile at him/her, then show the picture. A smile is always a good anti-anger weapon, at least in my country.

[Johnspartan]

I recently bought my first mirrorless camera because I want to get started with photography, but the idea of street photography is really daunting to me. The idea of any potential confrontation I might have, and also people judging me in general.

[peter]

Haha, great tip!! I’ve been doing that myself for quite a while 😊

[KentBryanPalmes]

Very useful information. Thank you for the advice Sir.

[intuitiveimprints]

I’m a videographer and do a lot of city shots and this man gives great advice. Basically, this is what I do too. 👍🏻

[cantinabandstudios]

I try to use the trick of being “intrigued” with something behind someone but every once and awhile I’ll miss a really good shot because they turn to look at what I’m looking at lmao.

[crer]

Great short mate and this advice is gold. You’ve articulated what I do subconsciously

[bigshooter]

I've seen a few of your lens videos and appreciate your insights and the lenses you review that I might not have taken much notice of, some of the shots you shared here are really nice, You should share more of this work. As for this tecnique of looking past the subject This is a tactic I use a lot especially when I find a fantastic scene and wait for subjects to come into it, I remain in place composing the image after taking the shot so as they walk toward me they understand it wasn't necessarily them I am here shooting the scene.

[ahardmaysnightjt]

another tip: dont be afraid to interact with your subjects. if you’re taking photos of people without asking them then you should be open to confrontation and conversation. this method turns the subject into a tool or animal instead of a human being.

[CosmicOwlChild]

Depends on the situation. I personally like it when someone does notice so they can add a bit more of their personality in the shot. Catching someone off guard in their element is always nice. But he even shows it here with the guy flipping the bird. Makes it more fun sometimes. Just go try things out in the real world. But read the room always. ALWAYS