Comments on: 20 Quick Street Photography Tips

By: Alina B

Alina B — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:39:11 +0000

Thanks for answering my question, Damon!

By: Ron Foxx

Ron Foxx — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:38:42 +0000

Fortune Favors the Brave – now that’s a truism. Friday past I decided I wanted to take a photowalk through the French Quarter in New Orleans and photograph people but do it up close and real “in your face” like.

At first it took some nerve to simply walk up to people and ask to photograph them and some (maybe a third) refused my request. Of the ones who agreed some became uncomfortable with how close I got (I shot only with a 50mm f/1.8 lens) but of the ones who played along I got some neat results. I’ll be doing this type of shooting again.

By they way, approaching people got easier and easier the more I did it.

My Flickr Set of the Photowalk in the French Quarter

By: Dave D

Dave D — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:28:17 +0000

Wonderful article. I’m really glad I found this site

To alec…If you want to split hairs about spelling, your name as well as,hi, are both started by small letters vice caps. It really doesn’t seem to bother anyone else.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:30:19 +0000

Yes, I think that’s my problem also – well, and I want a 300mm so that I could stand back far enough that people I don’t know well wouldn’t realize that I’m taking their photo as much. But yes, since I mostly take children’s photos, I worry about the parents. I’ve been taking photos at my son’s tball practices, and so far I’ve only posted one of a child I don’t really know – and it was him & my son from the back squatted down playing in the dirt. So I just gave them my card and told them since it didn’t show his face I went ahead and put it on there. We’ll see what happens though when I get a really awesome photo of someone else’s, and it’s a week before the next time we see them.

By: Mae

Mae — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:56:03 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I had the same questions as Alina and Sarah. I also have friends who frown on my “voyeur” shots. So i’ve been trying to get “unrecognisable” photos. But one of my favourite subjects is children.. because they do the cutest things. So I do worry when I cant get consent from the parents.

By: jamir

jamir — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:39:08 +0000

Great Articles!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:20:36 +0000

Thanks Damon, appreciate the answer!

By: Luis A. De Jesus

Luis A. De Jesus — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:13:36 +0000

Thanks for the article. Very informative and educational. I’ve used a 30mm f/1.4 and my sigma 10-20mm and I can only add how I wish I had something small, inconspicuous, and fast for street. Also, one should be very wise and prudent about where one pulls out a camera. Here in Mexico City there is plenty of paranoia because of the crime rate and consequential mistrust. People with cameras can be mistaken for kidnappers looking for potential victims.

By: Damon

Damon — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:25:01 +0000

@Alina: I think it depends on the commercial use of that photo. If you are actually shooting for advertisements or other such commercial work (where you are using the photo to make money on something else), then yes, you should get a model release. If you are shooting purely for art’s sake, even if you want to sell the photos, you don’t need a model release. Of course this doesn’t apply absolutely everywhere, but it does in the US and most countries.

@Sarah: If you post photos to your blog, it’s possible (though not likely) that people will find out or be annoyed. If that thought bothers you, then don’t do it. But personally, I do it all the time.

By: alec

alec — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 15:50:51 +0000

hi.
You have some wonderful articles including this one. However I wish to make two points. One there are people who make great street photos but might be upset if you take their pic. Your tips didn’t go into how to be less conspicuous when taking photos. And second as I scroll through your articles I see numerous spelling errors.