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What's the best way to approach a stranger for a photo? |
I consider myself an amateur photographer, but I've always had the issue of asking to take a photo of a stranger I see on the street. Next month my family and I are going to NYC for a few days and I'm sure there will be many interesting people on the streets with us. Is there some way I can ask a stranger to get a photo of them? I'm afraid they'd be weirded out by me just asking for a photo. The thing is, I'm shy. Please help, thank you! :) The best way to do it is to just do it. What they'll teach you in a photo journalism class is you shouldn't be afraid to approach strangers. Depending on the situation, it may be okay to take the photo first, then notify them. This is the method preferred by journalists as it allows for a more "real" photo. I've done this many times. Afterwards, I explain that I'm a student photographer and my situation, and a majority of the time people are okay with it. Always ask in a nice way, and don't be afraid of rejection. Some people will say no. This is okay. A majority of the time (in my experience), people will let you take their photo. Well, there are a couple approaches. First, you could make them not so "strange" by just talking to them. Many street photographers and even journalists do this to get closer to their subjects. Of course, this requires a certain amount of confidence, which you say you may lack. OH, and if you're going to interact with them, and depending on who they are, you can always offer a gift or cash. Another way is to just shoot quickly and move on. This works most of the time but you run the risk of someone taking offense and causing a scene. I have done this MANY times (taking a clandestine picture, not causing a scene, lol). As long as you know what you want to shoot and have things set before hand, you should do fine with this. The last way, which is just another version of the first is to shoot with a zoom lens and then you don't really have to worry about it. It's likely they won't notice you taking their picture anyway. If they do, you'll be too far away to do much to anyway. I will tell you that for me, the street images that have the most impact are taken close, with a wide-ish angle lens. It tends to make you feel more "in the action" than a long range shot with a telephoto. P.S. The more professional you seem, the easier this will be. 16 years as a professional photographer You can just go guerrilla and pretend to be taking a picture near them then hit the shutter as they enter the viewfinder :) Shooting from the hip can also work if you practice enough with your camera. If you actually ask permission, you'll often lose the spontaneity of the moment. Many people won't look natural as they'll be on guard being and uncomfortable in front of a camera. It may not be very courteous but candid pictures are almost always better than posed. I've one photographer who smiles and kind of shrugs his shoulders as though asking permission and he said he usually gets good responses to this approach. One thing you can do is get a little fold out stool (usually around $6 at a Target or Walgreens) and sit on a street corner. Get a monopod. Sit there and wait for whatever comes into your viewfinder. People will see you from a distance - anyone who doesn't want to be photographed will cover their face or move out of the way. People will also assume that you're working on a school assignment and maybe give you a little more leeway. Be ready for wisenheimers who will mug for the camera (or flip you the bird) as they walk by. If anyone says "Hey! I didn't say you could take my picture!" You tell them that actually, they RUINED your photo by getting in the way of your intended subject. In fact, you can take photos of people in public without any legal problems (although people prone to get angry at street photographers usually aren't familiar with the law) but you probably don't want to get into a legal debate on a street corner. This approach works best with a monopod and a nice camera. You'll be getting great candids, while at the same time, giving people who don't want to be photographed a way out. |
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