7 Common Street Photography Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
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Loading... - Diane Hunter
- 03 Jun 2022
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It’s true. Over the last few years, I’ve worked with a lot of street shooters, and I’ve seen them mess up in the same exact ways, over and over again.
Most of the mistakes are very simple to fix. But in order to fix them, you must know how to recognize them, which is where this article comes in handy.
So to discover the seven most common street photography mistakes (and how to fix them), read on!
1. Thinking too much
When you’re getting started with street photography, it’s easy to spend too much time thinking and not enough time reacting and shooting.
I get it: Street photography is tough. There’s a lot to consider, and a lot that goes into each image. You might start to worry about the results – will my photos turn out? Will they be good enough?
But when you’re out with your camera, try not to overthink things. The more you overthink, the less prepared you’ll be to get great photos when an amazing opportunity comes along.
So instead of worrying about perfection, get lost in the process. You can assess your results during the editing phase. When you’re taking street photos, have fun. Explore, take your time, relax, and just watch everything go by.
In my experience, street photography needs to be enjoyed if you want to do it well. The more fun you have just being out there, getting lost, and exploring, the better your images will become!
2. Traveling too heavy
If you look around online, you can find some great videos of the old masters shooting on the streets. Do you know the one common thread?
They used small, portable cameras and small prime lenses.
Now, you can certainly shoot street with a DSLR or full-frame mirrorless camera, and you can do it very well. There are top photographers who work that way, and they get amazing results – but before you commit to such an approach, ask yourself: Do I really want to carry around a huge camera and lens on a daily basis? Such a setup can become uncomfortable, and it’ll also be very conspicuous.
There are a whole lot of advantages to using a smaller camera for your street photos: You’ll likely enjoy yourself more, you’ll pass unnoticed, and you’ll need to worry less about safety and theft. A small Fuji or Ricoh camera will do wonders, and you can get an older used version for much cheaper than a new model.
Similarly, you probably don’t need a big bag of lenses and filters. If you haven’t tried shooting with just a single good street photography lens, do it immediately; heading out with a small camera body and a small prime lens is incredibly freeing. Yes, you’ll miss out on that 200mm zoomed shot of distant buildings, but you’ll come back with so many great photos, and you’ll have so much more fun, too!
3. Trying to get somewhere too quickly
We’re all in a rush these days, running from place to place, so it’s understandable that you want to move when you’re out.
But rushing is one of the worst ways to do street photography.
You see, to capture great street photos, you need to slow down and take your time. Take a deep breath, and let go of the urge to rush. Look around, wait with your camera, and let the subjects come to you.
The slower you go, the more aware you’ll be of your surroundings, and the more prepared you’ll be to capture those extraordinary fleeting moments.
Sometimes, you might need to remain in a location for 5, 10, 20, or even 60 minutes before you get the shot you’re after. But your feeling of satisfaction will be incredible, and it’ll make the whole wait worth it!
4. Not standing in the middle of the action
Many people start by photographing the streets from a distance, and they never really push themselves to get right in the thick of things. Unfortunately, such an approach rarely works well; if you shoot from afar, your images will be unengaging.
Instead, get in the middle of the street. Get smack-dab in the center of the sidewalk. Carry your camera proudly, put a smile on your face, and get involved in the action.
You might worry that people will respond badly to your presence. It’s a common fear among street photographers, but it’s one that you need to push past. In fact, if you’re shooting from far away, people may be more likely to think you’re up to no good. Whereas if you’re in the middle of the action, people will walk right by and think that you’re doing nothing wrong. Make sense?
After all, how could you possibly be doing something wrong if you are right there in the middle of the crowd? Nobody that obvious would be doing anything bad, right?
So take the plunge. Stop and wait right in the middle of the action, and just let everything happen around you. Engulf yourself in the experience. (And, of course, take some great photos!) Read More…
