Nervous about taking photos in the street? Here's how to get past it

You're walking through the city and you see it. Someone is standing in just the right spot, the light works, the background is uncluttered. You raise your camera. Then lower it again, because that person might look your way.

Sound familiar? Almost everyone who starts street photography comes up against that hesitation. Confidence in street photography doesn't come automatically. That doesn't mean the genre isn't for you. It's just part of it.

Nijmegen is where I first pointed a camera at life on the street. These days I know the city centre like the back of my hand, and that helps. But I don't think anyone gets past that hesitation in one go. You work through it, step by step.

What are you actually afraid of?

It helps to pick that fear apart. What exactly are you dreading? Usually, it's a few things.

You're worried someone will get angry. Or that people will think you're odd, a man or woman standing there with a camera, looking at strangers. Perhaps you're not sure whether it's even allowed.

That last one is the easiest to clear up. In the Netherlands, you're generally allowed to take photos in public spaces. You can read about what to consider when publishing them in can you photograph people in the street?. That won't take your nerves away, but it does remove a fair bit of the doubt.

The rest is mostly in your head. I often notice that what people imagine beforehand is far more daunting than what actually happens on the street. Most passers-by are busy getting on with their day. They don't even notice you.

If someone does notice, they usually glance over and carry on walking. To you, that glance feels like a second full of judgement. To them, it's often just a second.

Start somewhere a camera doesn't stand out

A quiet street with one passer-by is a difficult place to start. Everyone can see you, and you're very aware of it.

A market or a busy shopping street is different. All sorts of things are happening at once. People are buying, browsing and talking on their phones. A camera barely stands out. You're one of many people holding something.

Look for places where taking photos is already normal, too. Near a busker, a stall selling lovely things or in a square where tourists are taking photos, you won't look out of place. You can get used to having a camera in your hand while people walk around you.

Stay put and let the street come to you

Standing still makes a big difference. Walking behind people with a camera makes you stand out, and feel conspicuous too. Stay in one place and, after a few minutes, you become part of the scenery.

Find a spot with a good background or good light. Frame your shot and wait for someone to walk into it. You're not approaching them. They're coming towards you. That feels very different, both for you and for the people passing by.

Get your settings sorted beforehand so you're not fiddling at the crucial moment. With zone focusing, you don't even need to focus. I explain how it works in the best settings for street photography.

A small camera helps

Your camera plays a part too. A large DSLR with a hefty lens can quickly look professional to passers-by. And that gives them something to have an opinion about. A small camera raises fewer questions.

I use a Fujifilm X100V myself. It's almost become an extension of my arm. I can tell by the way I move. It no longer feels as though there's a device between me and the street. I look around and take the photo.

If you don't have a camera like that, your phone is a perfectly good place to start. Everyone holds one up all day, so nobody gives it a second thought. Phones are welcome in my workshops too.

No sneaking about

It might feel safer to hide your camera a little. I think it works the other way round.

When you take photos furtively, you behave as though you're doing something wrong. People pick up on that. The same goes for using a long lens from across the street: it feels safe, but the photos feel distant. And anyone who notices you is more likely to be suspicious.

A visible camera, an open manner and unhurried movements say something quite different: I'm not doing anything odd here.

If someone looks at you after you've taken a photo, it helps to meet their gaze. Eye contact and a smile do more than you might think. A nod is often enough. Most people smile back or carry on walking.

What do you say when someone asks?

Sometimes someone asks what you're doing. Usually, they're curious, not having a go. Still, it helps to have a few phrases ready. Then you won't have to hunt for words on the spot.

A few you can use:

• "I'm photographing life on the street, and you fitted into the scene beautifully."
• "I really liked the light here, and then you walked into it."
• "Would you like to see it?" Then show them the photo on your screen. That often works better than any explanation.
• "I'm working on a series about this market."
• "It's for myself. I'm a photographer, and I like moments like this."

Only say what's true. If you're not working on a series, don't use that line. Being honest and friendly almost always works better on the street than a clever story.

If someone asks you to delete a photo, as far as I know you're under no legal obligation to do so on the street in the Netherlands. On a human level, it's often sensible.

I've written before about a man who demanded that a photo be deleted NOW. He even called 112, although he wasn't recognisable in the photo. If he'd asked politely, the photo would have been gone within a minute. A friendly request is different from a demand.

If someone does get angry, stay calm. Briefly explain what you were doing, offer to show them the photo and then move on. One unpleasant reaction says nothing about all the people who didn't notice or smiled back. An argument on the pavement never gets you anywhere.

Build up to it in steps

You don't have to photograph someone from a metre away on day one. You can build up to it gradually.

1. People as small figures in their surroundings. Photograph a square, a street or a bridge, with people as small figures in the scene. You get used to having people in your photos without anyone noticing.
2. People who already get looked at. Buskers, market traders, people behind stalls. They're used to attention and usually don't mind a camera.
3. Stay in one spot. Choose your setting and wait for someone to walk into it. You're visible, but you're not imposing.
4. Get closer. When the previous step feels comfortable, you can close the distance. A few steps closer will change your photo more than any new lens.

Take your time with each step. Going out a few times works better than trying to do everything in one afternoon.

That last step gets the nerves going. It's often where the photos get better too. Robert Capa put it like this:

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Robert Capa

Capa photographed wars, so that advice is a little easier to put into practice at a market. Being close doesn't mean getting in someone's face. It means your photo feels as though you were there. Not as though you were watching from across the street.

You'll find more practical advice like this in my street photography tips.

Give yourself an assignment

One of the best ways to forget your nerves is to focus on something else. If you head out with nothing more than the idea that you need to photograph people, you'll spend the whole time thinking about those people. And what they think of you.

In my workshops, I use a key word. You choose a word, such as Rhythm, Reflection or Solitude, and let it guide what you look for. Suddenly you're looking for repetition in building façades or someone sitting alone on a bench. You're busy looking. The nerves naturally fade into the background a little.

You can read more about this approach in the conceptual street photography workshop.

It's easier together

For many people, the hardest part is heading out alone with a camera. Having someone beside you immediately changes how that feels. You're no longer that one odd person with a camera. You're two people taking photos together.

A group can help too. My street photography workshops have a maximum of five participants. We get out onto the street quickly, and I explain things as we walk. So you don't have to sit in a room for an hour before the nerves kick in.

If you'd prefer to work one to one, there's a personal workshop. You choose the city. We start with coffee, then both take photos while we talk along the way. You're welcome to bring a friend for free. If you find the street daunting, that might be the most comfortable place to start.

In my workshops you can head out into the street with me.

That hesitation won't disappear by reading about it. It will by going out a few times. Browse the workshops, or book a personal workshop and bring someone along for free.