Photographing strangers

[Roxurscott]

I have always been a photo enthusiast who has some apprehensions concerning photographing strangers in their element. I could use some tips on approaching people to be a subject in my photos. I see a lot of pictures on here that I think to myself, "how did they get that guy to pose for them?" Let me know some pointers!

Thanks

[Eileen D]

Hi Roxurscott,

There's a great thread in Games and Challenges called Capture a Stranger Street Style that might be of help to you. Here's the link to get you there. It also links you to a number of other places that give advice about getting photos of people in their environment. It's a long thread with great examples and it's fun to go through!


=Capture a stranger street style=

[gifarkas]

Doing candid street photos can be exciting but a bit intimidating at first. I've collected some useful tips earlier on my blog, you can find it here:

7 Quick Tips for Candid Street Photography

[Bella_D]

Just ask. Even a quick smile from a distance is enough, and I'm sure they will be happy.

I've been on the other side before:



Just ask, and if they're a performer, give them a small tip.



I asked to take this one, and I can't believe how happy the baby is. Also, you don't need to ask if they are not noticing you.

[Northy]

Bella, did you ask the strangers to sign model release too?
Everyone did agree with posing for you?

[SwissJon]

The law is simple on this subject. If you are in a public place and there are no signs stating "no photography" or any other binding regulations (such as a court order barring you from taking photographs of certain things) then you are at liberty to take pictures of anything that you can cast your eye on. There are exceptions to this, certain landmarks are copyrighted, like Big Ben, where I believe you need to get permission to publish the picture if you are doing it for monetary gain. There is no expectation in British law for privacy in a publicc place.

The law states that if you need to go onto private property then people have the right to ask you not to take their photograph, and also you should seek the landowners permission to take photographs, with the exception of publically accessible land where you have the right to roam.

Public performers in train stations should have the expectation of being photographed, and should not have the expectation of having any recompense, however it is good manners.

In general, if you can ask permission without spoiling the photograph, and the expectation to be photographed isn't implied by their activity, you should.. But you can't be expected to ask the permission of everyone, (a football crowd, or people in the way of a well known building would be a perfect example) and sometimes when you are looking for candid photos, asking would spoil the photo, or you may miss a moment. In such cases, so long as you are in public, you don't need to ask.

[candidrachel]

I don't see the point in asking someone's permission to take their photo. I mean that way they start "posing" and looking unnatural. The whole point of street photography is to capture the spontanety of the moment.

[cagg1120]

I somewhat disagree. Although candid photography is great, you can still catch spontaneous moments if you know how to pose someone and make them feel comfortable (for instance my blog post on working with models: Photo Tip World) you can capture a great moment (despite the subject having knowledge of you taking the picture). Here's a good example: