Photographing a complete stranger requires not only good camera skills and a keen eye for composition, but also enough bravery to make the approach in the first place. But the rewards can be great, and the thrill you’ll get from working in this way is huge.
It’s sometimes easy to forget there are other approaches to street photography apart from sneaking candid pictures from the hip. A good set of travel photographs incorporates different styles of photography, and not all have to be created without the knowledge of the subject. In fact, asking someone you’ve just met if you can photograph them can give you access to pictures you wouldn’t have been able to get any other way.
So, how do you win over a complete stranger and convince them that posing for a portrait is a good idea? It’s all about the approach!
Making Contact
It’s really important to be warm and friendly when you walk up to someone with the intent of making their portrait. You want to have your camera in your hand, so they can see who you are, but don’t just start photographing – introduce yourself, say you really like ‘their look’, and then ask if you can make a few pictures.
Most people will be flattered and say yes. If you see someone who has dressed eccentrically or made the effort to stand out from the crowd, they have usually done this because they enjoy being noticed – so posing for a picture is going to feel great! Other subjects might have to be approached with a bit more care: if you’d like to photograph an elderly person with an intriguing face, then charging in and saying “I love your wrinkles!” might not get the desired results. Instead, spend some time talking with them and listening as well as speaking.
Some people will say no and this is fine – it’s all part of the process. Just smile, say “OK, no problem!”, and wish them a nice day.
© Ken Kaminesky
© Ken Kaminesky
The Need for Speed
You can’t really monopolize someone you’ve just met and take up an hour of their time. Street portraits need to be made quickly, which also helps preserve the spontaneity of the moment. With this in mind, think about what you want to do before you make your approach. Have your camera preset the way you want it so you don’t have to think about technicalities when you start photographing, for example:
- Face Detection AF on.
- Continuous shooting.
- Aperture priority mode with the right aperture for the depth-of-field you want.
Also, think about the light and background. If the person you’re planning to approach is not standing in a good spot, think about asking them if they would mind just turning around, or coming over to the other side of the road with you.
© Rebecca Gaal
Creating Your Pictures
Keep talking as you photograph to keep up the good rapport you’ve already built. Don’t take too long and get plenty of variation between the frames you make – you probably won’t get this opportunity again.
It’s good to photograph bursts in the highest speed continuous shooting mode that you can, so if your subject blinks, talks, or looks around it won’t affect your results too much. It’s also good to avoid looking at pictures on the back of your camera too much while you’re photographing – it interrupts your flow and can spoil the relationship between you and your subject.
When you’re done, be sure to show the results to your subject and swap email addresses so you can send a copy of the final picture. If you have an instax printer, you could even make a print on the spot as a thank-you gift.
© Justin Black
- CHALLENGE The next time you’re away be brave and get out there on the streets in search of an interesting character to photograph. Get prepared, take a deep breath and make your approach. Then post the results to social media using the hashtags #MyFujifilmLegacy and #streetportrait. You can also submit your work here for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.
Header image © Bobbi Lane
