I recently emailed the management people at the newly-opened shopping centre near to where I live, and explained that I'm wanting to add some more interesting pictures to my portfolio, and they were extremely helpful, arranging a pass for me to wear so I wouldn't get bothered by security and stuff.
Now, I normally feel a bit self conscious when I'm out in public taking pictures - so apart from in obvious places like the sea front and the beach and stuff, I tend not to do it too much - but wearing a pass hanging from my jacket somehow made a difference.
You can see some of the results by following this shameless attempt at self-promotion -
Retail therapy
All of these shots were taken with long exposures, so I wasn't just snapping, I was using a tripod, setting up shots, using a remote release, and standing around for ages for each picture. For one of them (the one that's taken from ground level), I was practically lying on the ground for ten minutes to take it - and even then, nobody really gave me a second look.
I know it sounds like a crazy and fairly lame thing, but having a pass on my jacket that said I was there taking pictures with the blessing of the management gave me more confidence than I normally have. In fact, I'm going back tomorrow when it's going to be busier, to get some more interesting shots with people in.
You could maybe try doing something like that - ask the management people in your local mall if they'd let you take some pictures. Offer to let them use any pictures that turn out well for their own promotional material if they want. At worst, they'll say no, and you'll just have to take snaps as and when you can, and at best, you'll make a useful contact in their management department..
Russ.