5 Tips To Begin Shooting Street Photography
Shooting street photography is by all means not the easiest.
Especially coming from me since I never had an intention to get into it.
By all means there is no real way to begin shooting street photography.
However, you can benefit from these 5 tips from my own experience.
Phone Camera
A phone can get you started with street photography.
Dynamic range isn’t really an issue, unless you are shooting during the night.
You can great photos from sunrise to sunset with your phone in the city.
Just find your composition and you’ll be off to a great start.
DSLR & Mirrorless Camera’s
If you are out and about in the city, you probably don’t want to carry much gear.
It can strain your neck and back and as well make you a target for robbery.
DSLR cameras tend to be pretty heavy, but you work with what you got.
As I am typing up this blog, I shoot on a Canon 6D and Tamron 24-70 2.8 G2.
It’s not the most ideal set up for me, but it will do, for now
Most people out there in the street photography world recommend a small and compact camera.
This is where mirrorless cameras come into hand, quite literally.
Don’t forget the prime lenses: 35mm and 50mm.
Now I’m not saying to go and get these lenses, but they are the standard.
We can always break the rules.
City
Now this is something that most people complain about.
Not having a photogenic city to capture street photos.
This is where perspective plays a big part.
Yeah, New York and Chicago sound great to explore and shoot, but curious to see what your town has to offer.
Tacoma, Washington isn’t that big in terms of downtown, but it sure has it’s spots.
Stay local and learn from your community.
It’s always great to show off photos, especially to those that love their city.
You never know who is out there looking for photography prints from your local town.
Editing
This is another no brainer.
If you want to edit your photos, but can’t afford Lightroom and Photoshop, there are free apps on your phone.
Most notably VSCO and Snapseed are great starting apps to edit your photos.
Don’t let something you don’t have from taking photos.
Practice
Yes, I do have to mention this.
Practice as often as you can.
Train your eye to see things differently in your city.
Something that is seen everyday by thousands of people can look different in your eyes.
Go out and shoot during sunny days for shadows and light.
Head out on light rainy days to capture some mood in your photos.
Additional Tip
If you don’t feel comfortable pointing a camera at a person, try shooting cityscapes or famous landmarks around your town.
Focus on materials, capture depth or buildings.
Best focal lengths for these type of photos are 24mm and 35mm.
In Conclusion
I’m no expert in street photography, but I do know what basics you need to start off with.
Everyone starts off small.
Climb the ladder and learn about it everyday.
Hopefully these tips can get you out the door.
For more of my work: @r4s & @erickramirezportraits.
