I am a quite shy person ad often, when i find an interesting composition-subject (like a person doing something, a goup of people in a nice setting etc), i struggle to capture it because i feel like i’m being rude taking pictures without their approval, but at the same time i think that, by asking them, the spontaneity of the shot would be compromised. What’s your take about it?
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I just compliment their outfit or style or whatever and ask to snap a quick portrait.
state the reason why you want to take the photo with a compliment
That’s very correct question.
90mm or 135mm will help. After you will decide for yourself that at least you don’t interrupt and bother them.
All in all, then you shoot a city central square, you can’t ask every stranger for their permission.
Here’s a photo I took recently in SF. I tend to approach people by complimenting their outfit, look or a detail (hair, a jacket, sunglasses) and then ask if they’d be into a portrait. They usually says yes, but if they decline, I don’t take it personally. I then own the scene. You have to make sure you have the light you want. That you’re analyzing your frame.
This is another I took in SF as well. It can be intimidating to go up to people, but you have to engage. It’s the nature of shooting portraiture photography. And like any “muscle”, the more you use it, the better you get. You smile, you wink, you laugh a bit more. Jazz folks up. Ask their name. In the end, they’re just people.
Nice photo.
Waist level finder, or have a digital camera with a flip-up screen. If you’re looking down at the camera, even if the lens is pointed at your subjects, it’ll seem less like you’re taking a picture of them than if you have the camera up to your eye and are pointing at them.
I feel bad so, I photograph plants and animals 😅
Go ask them! There won’t be any problem :) people love having good photos of them, if not ig wouldn’t be so popular ;) people will be grateful for sure
Take the photo without asking, then show them and ask them if they like it. Asking permission ruins the shot. And pleasant conversation with a photographer who sees their beauty never bothered anyone worth talking to.
Take the photo, don’t say anything unless they complain. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to get permission.
Seriously, if people are visible, and out in public they are fair game. There is no expectation of privacy. The only time I would hesitate would be if they are visible but on private property, like standing in their front yard. I also avoid taking pictures of children out in public if they are identifiable. Parents can be (and should be) very protective of them.
My reaction to people complaining is to show them the picture and be prepared to erase it in front of them if the confrontation gets out of hand.
Invest in a super telephoto.
No need to talk to anyone.
If you think its going to be a good photo take it and explain yourself after. Most people are fine with it so they will just continue doing what they are doing. I’d find it awkward and a bit annoying to talk to every person I photograph on the street, but happy to speak to anyone who wants to ask.
Check laws about public photography but most places its fine to take photos of whatever you can see.
this is how i went from where you are to shooting candid at 10mm, i shot people i wasnt particularly interested in, i did this over and over so that when i did see someone or a group of people i wanted to capture i did it without hesitation.
you need to be fast and discreet, most of my subjects dont know ive photographed them, i have two cameras, one doesnt have a viewfinder, have to compose from back screen that doesnt flip so this is more difficult to be discreet with, at this point you brazen it out, but still being quick and decisive.
ive never had any issues and im 2ft in front of people, but if you do you can act dumb, tut and frown at your camera like a noob, continue to shoot as the subject moves so they think they arnt the subject, or smile and nod as you move on, i think on my feet and am really fast but i had this woman stood in front of me in a train station with lips pursed so tight! she wasnt happy i was taking photos, before she said anything i just started talking to her acting completely oblivious to the tight expression 'oh havnt been in here since it was all done up its amazing, (click) this was the first place i saw when i moved here as a child, thought id come in and have a look isnt it lovely? (click click)
its amazing how quick you go from being scared to take the shot of the person in front of you to actually herding them to the spot you want them to be by using very discreet body movements, think gary winogrand and the cut off technique.
the hardest shots to take are when its just you and another person, they see you and your camera from a distance, they are wondering if you are going to use it so you have to look disinterested till just before you take the shot and they hear the click as you pass, so build up to that intensity, try busy street lots going on, challenge yourself to pick six people out before you get to the next corner
even when im saying nope in my head, i still take the shot, its very addictive
If they’re doing something that’s actually interesting, they’re not paying any attention to you. Take the open shot.
Just take the photo and wait for result) In my experience, most people don’t care about your camera. Of course there would be people that would complain about that, but it’s a rare case.
Just do some things that you shy about and soon you’ll get confidence.
