5 Underrated Street Photography Tips

Today, we're going to chat about 5 underrated tips for street photography. In an earlier post, I mentioned tips that is directly tied to your camera/photography techniques such as using certain types of lighting in your photos or what mode I use for street photography. This post however, is for the tips that I don’t think most photographers really think of when it comes to walking around and capturing photos. So grab your camera, and let's get started!

Tip #1: Limit your gear.

For street photography, less can actually mean more. You don't need to carry around a lot of equipment. Instead, limit your gear to just one camera and one/two lens. By doing so, you'll be able to move quickly and capture those fleeting moments on the street, instead of constantly changes lens, which in itself, can be very annoying.

But why is this important? Well, by reducing your equipment, you can focus more on the scene in front of you rather than fiddling with your gear. Rather than worrying about what lens you’ll need to capture a certain scene, bringing only a one or two lens really makes you think about your composition and trying to capture it with what you have. It allows you to really familiarize yourself with that particular piece of gear and get comfortable with it. For example, going out with a 50 mm prime lens multiple times. After a certain point, you’ll be so familiar with that focal length, you’ll start viewing compositions in that focal length and that can be very powerful. On another unrelated note, it also means you can blend in more with your surroundings, and not draw too much attention to yourself. Rather than carrying a big ol’ camera backpack and walking around the city with that, try bringing just a small sling bag. You’ll probably end up being less intimidating for your potential subjects. Speaking of limiting your gear, that is related a little bit to the next tip which is:

Tip #2: Bring your camera everywhere.

Street photography is very unpredictable. Whether that’s because of the weather, the subjects, the type of events happening on a specific day, etc. You never know when a photo opportunity will present itself, so always bring your camera with you. Whether you're heading to work, meeting a friend for coffee, or just taking a walk, always have your camera at the ready.

But what if you're just going about your daily routine? Can't you just leave your camera at home? Noooooo! Bring your camera with you. The perfect light could come through on a scene and you’ll regret not bringing your camera with you. This combos with the 1st tip as well. The lighter your bag is, the more likely you’ll end up bringing it with you. The more you bring your camera around, the more equipped you’ll be to capture the scene, wherever you are.

Tip #3: Revisit old spots.

Living in a city, you’re bound to run out of new place to go to for photography, which may be make you bored. But in that case, why not revisit some of your favorite places? Revisiting old spots can be a great way to find new inspiration and to see things in a new light. But why is this important in street photography?

Well, sometimes we get so caught up in exploring new places that we forget about the beauty of the familiar. And because we are familiar with the location and know the ins and outs of the area, we know what spots are perfect for the type of shots we like to capture the most, whether that’s the color, the way the light from the sun hits the scene, the style of clothing people wear in the area, etc. Taking that a step further, if you keep going to a location, you’ll eventually start noticing where the light comes from at what times, when it’s the busiest, when it’s not, etc. And then from there, you can start to plan out when you can go shoot to maximize the amount of time you surround yourself in conditions you enjoy shooting in.

Tip #4: Get good walking shoes.

Street photography often involves a lot of walking, so it's important to have a comfortable pair of shoes. Look for shoes that are lightweight, breathable, have good support, etc. But more importantly, find shoes that are reliable and will allow you to walk with no issues. Trust me, your feet will thank you later. This one may sound pretty obvious, but I feel most people don’t really think about it. Not only for comfort, but just overall for your photography. The more comfortable your feet are when doing street photography, the longer you’ll be able to walk around the city, And the more you’re able to walk around the city, the more opportunities you’ll be able to photograph. Because street photography can be so unpredictable, the more you’re out there shooting, the more you’ll be able to capture.

Tip #5: Shoot with purpose.

Finally, when it comes to street photography, it's important to shoot with purpose. Before you take a photo, ask yourself why you're taking it. Is it because of the light? The color? The composition? By being intentional about your shots, you'll be able to create more meaningful and impactful images. Also, this can help you immensely when it comes to post processing. You’ll immediately be able to have an idea and direction you can start off with when it comes to editing your photos. Do you want to emphasize the direction of light? Or bring out a particular color? Is there a certain subject you really want to bring out more in the scene? Whatever the reason is, being deliberate with why you’re taking a photo can lead to more conscious decisions when doing photography.

And there you have it, five underrated tips for street photography. We've explored each tip in-depth and discussed why I believe each tip is important. I hope you found these tips helpful and that these tips can help you find more opportunities for photography. I’ll talk to you all next week!