Top Street Photography Tips for Beginners

Tip #1: Constantly Keep Moving

The easiest street photography tip is to keep moving constantly. Street photographers are never stagnant because they would never get good shots or images of what is going on around them if they were. By going to and from places, a photographer will familiarize himself with the environment and eventually find good subjects to take. Another basic tip in shooting street photos is to be like a boy scout: always ready. A street photographer must be prepared to take shots because interesting subjects can appear anytime in the streets, and to lose a chance to take them will be a big regret on his part. Also, he must always be all set for his instruments, such as his camera’s batteries, the flash or even the other lenses he needs to take photos. This is necessary to avoid hassle or losing opportunities to take good images.

Tip #2: Be Prepared to Take Hundreds of Shots

There is a saying that goes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this type of photography, there are hundreds of thousands of words being shot every time a street photographer works. A single shot does not always guarantee a good one, so it is important that he is prepared to take a hundred just to be sure. Perseverance and patience are good traits in street photography.

Tip #3: Take Candid Shots

Though in street photography, as mentioned earlier, a person is encouraged to take lots of pictures, it is not enough to take them without reason. The shots must always be remarkable – there must always be something new about the scene taken. Candid shots are always a favourite in street photography because they depict everyday life stories. Also, be careful about your background, for there might be elements that you do not intend to be included, or there are factors that will confuse or destroy the essence of the photo itself.

Tip #4: Be Subtle as Possible

One of the most important street photography tips is to be as subtle as possible. A photographer must hide his camera because not all people appreciate having their photo taken. Always keep a low profile. Do not use a flash if not needed, and turn off any beeping sound that the camera makes whenever one is shooting. Asking permission, though, can be done if necessary and if the photographer has the time to ask every person involved in the shot. If a person got offended when his photo was taken, an apology must be made. The key is to be always conscious of the feelings of others because no matter how many artistic reasons he has, a photographer is still invading someone else’s privacy when he takes their picture.

More Street Photography Tips!

All in all, the most basic of the basics of street photography tips are the following: to find a place where there are lots of events or where the surrounding is busy so that looking for subjects won’t be so difficult; to search for different elements in a shot such as irony, juxtaposition or different emotions; and lastly, always to be polite and ready. Click responsibly.