Your experiences

[justin72]

Hi,

Just wanted to ask for your experiences/opinions about how to change my mentality. I find it very difficult, if not impossible to approach people to take photos. I have literally missed out on hundreds of opportunities over the years due to my inability to walk up to someone and ask if I could take their photo.

Obviously, there are people on here who have come across this and most likely changed their thinking/attitude, but how did you do it? I know there is no specific answer to this but it'd eb interesting to hear some of your thoughts. I know it is down to confidence in yourself but I don't know how to break it, if that makes sense.

I think some of the most interesting photography involves prople and I'd like to be able to explore this side also.

Cheers, Justin

 

[PerfectSpeed]

I have written something Here that might help get you started.

STREET SHOOTONG TIPS (more in our forum)

There is no doubt about it, Street Photography is exciting and equally fear fueled, if you are thinking of starting out there are a few things to consider before you let yourself on the public.

1. START OFF SLOW
A good way to start is to grab a few friends and go out and have a laugh shooting them in markets, festivals or the high street, focus just on them, try this a few times, I'm sure they would like shots of themselves for Facebook or Myspace.

2.STREET ENTERTAINERS
Go where there are street entertainers, they are there to entertain you and hopefully earn a little cash too (so don't forget to put a few coins in your pocket), you might even try to capture a few of the crowd, go wide and pick off center focus points, when you get home you can crop the shots as you choose.

3.TALK TO PEOPLE
Some people will be interested in what you are doing, start a Flickr page or any other photo hosting site and have some cards printed of your URL, you can explain that you are doing a personal project on street photography and they are more than welcome to visit your site to view and download their photos.

Avoid confrontation and if asked to delete the shot, delete it, thank them and go on your way, this WILL happen at some point so get used to the idea, it goes with the terrain.

As you gain experience and your knowledge grows you will be able to judge each situation on it's own merit and make the call on how to handle it.

4. YOUR FIRST SOLO ASSIGNMENT
Rule 1. Have a plan
Rule 2. Have a plan
So you now have been in public taking shots quite a few times and it's time to go it alone, it feels scary but now is the time to have a plan, think of the shots you want to take, the best place to achieve them, the best time of day, early morning markets, bus stops, tourist areas.

Early morning and early evenings provide great and sometimes dramatic lighting, you will soon find the mid-day sun too high and too harsh.

Only take what equipment you need for the shots you want, (you remember your plan right).

Have your internet address cards ready, a smile and some friendly banter.

Slow deep breaths and a focused mind will help to overcome any fearful situation, as a skydiver and extreme sports enthusiast, I can vouch for this.

Keep in mind that you are an ambassador for other Street Photographers, keep it professional

ENJOY the journey

As time goes on you will learn and understand how to read and react to personal space, you will be able to evaluate Proxemics, this is a value that defines distances for personal space.

For Street Photographers, Proxemics change in different social circumstances, walking through a park for example requires a minimum Proxemic value of 25ft, whereas at a fun fair or open concerts, people lower their threshold needs because they expect interaction with like minded people, yet the same person at a train station at rush hour, although lowering their Proxemic value to an Intimate distance, their social distance of violation is infinite.

 

[justin72]

Steve, thank you so much for taking teh time to reply, really appreciated and a lot of food for thought. I do have a card already and I think you are right, it's well worth having something to give out to show you are serious about what you are doing.

I like this comment: Slow deep breaths and a focused mind will help to overcome any fearful situation, as a skydiver and extreme sports enthusiast, I can vouch for this.