How to take Street Portraits

This is really interesting! I've been searching for help and inspiration in this genre. Especially because I started a project a few years ago about street portraits that I post on Facebook and Instagram AND further more, I plan to publish a book with the best portraits. That makes it a bit more complicated. I then need a photo consent. To ask for all this have made me nervous and I often back out before I even approach a person on the street. So far I've only made 6 in all! The advice with a business card is good AND the planned presentation speech. Thanks a lot 🙂

Subscribed immediately when I heard that last bit about not asking homeless people. Loved the whole vid though.

While I understand your reservations about taking photo’s of homeless people and you are generally correct.

However, like any folk, if you treat them with respect, and your desire is to show their inherent dignity, then asking them for their portrait and in turn respecting their response, it is ok to do this.

I have had some wonderful encounters with homeless people. We are all the same after all.

true wisdom 👍

I just recently started doing street photography. I bought the 40mm f/2 lens for my z6 II. It's a good compromise between the 35mn and 50mm. And it's a sharp lens. Last week I was visiting my mom. She lives 2 states away from me here in the U.S. I went into town to do some street photography. There was a dress shop that had a mannequin with a wedding dress on it in the window. I thought it would be cool to find someone to take a picture of at the window. Finally a young girl (22) and her mom came up looking for the door. I asked the girl if she would pose for me and she agreed. I had her stand in front of the dress with her hand on the glass looking at the dress as if she was dreaming of her wedding day. It turned out really well. I sent her a copy of the picture. It was the first time I've asked someone to do something like that. One other tip I can give. Have your camera settings already set. You're already holding this person up and they are graciously showing you to take their picture. Don't waste time having to stop and change everything. Have your camera ready to go so you can take their picture.

The last tip is the most helpful one to be honest, I wish I heard it when I started doing street portraits, one time I asked a homeless man for a photograph, he started shouting and telling me some really weird stuff and he kept asking me for money, since then I never asked a homeless for picture.

Hi Brian. I loved the video. Great tips for street portraits! You have inspired me to give street portraiture a try. I will let you know how it goes. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge and wisdom. Keep up the excellent content creation. Best wishes, Andy

Thank you for this very informative video! Your channel is great. I just have one question. If you take a portrait with f/1.2 or f/1.4, only the tip of the nose will be super sharp but not the eyelashes or vice versa. I'd suggest not going unter f.2.2 on a more close up Portrait so all of the face and maybe also some parts of their clothes are sharp. What do you think, what's your experience?

Thank you for the lovely tips and insights much appreciated 🙂

So happy I found you today! I love your humility, calm, relaxing demeanor, knowledge, and experience. SUBBED! :)

Great video! I definitely need to take more time to speak to my subjects after ive photographed them, I usually spend around a minute with someone before I say bye

Always shot street photography it’s always been my preferred style mostly in stealth mode get in get the shot get out unnoticed. I did get confronted once a couple of years ago the lad was aggressive as fek I explained what my game was offered him the photo the lot but he nutted off at me til I deleted it not long after I was shooting someone else when a local homeless bloke walked round a corner into the frame he did likewise nutted off big time at me I was pissed because I make a point of avoiding them and kids but it got me questioning why I bother these days everyone seems on edge and very protective of their privacy. I decided the other week to change tack approach strangers and ask permission I’m using and 40s 6x6 folder the subjects seem pretty happy to be photographed with this old thing I give them a card and send them their shot I get their ok to use their pic on my channel no one has said no to this yet I’m genuinely feeling happier doing this style at first it’s intimidating but so far not many knock backs. I’ve yet to decide which style photos I prefer tho at this point I’d go with the candid stuff I think. Great discussion enjoyed that cheers

"don't..., don't, don'ts.
Because perhaps you just aren't who You are supposed to be, but things, and expectations, are as they are expected to be. Don't You get it? You are suppsed to get it though. Conform !

In terms of lens choice, 50mm (or equivalent) I've found to be the sweet spot for street portraits. While I love the look of 85mm, I've found that it puts me slightly too far away from my subject and I lose a bit of connectivity with them. A wide maximum aperture is pretty essential for me too. Sometimes I spot a great subject somewhere where the background isn't that good. Being able to throw it out of focus helps.

Just come across your channel and really liking the tips, it’s so nice to find someone that explains things in easy to understand terms.

I am just starting out on my street photography course which is taking me out of my comfort zone. I usually take macro flowers, birds, insects… people I very really do. I have just purchased my 35mm lens for my Nikon also have a 50mm.

is it possible to take photos that look this good with a canon 90d and an rf 50mm 1.8?

Great information can't wait to start using my new canon 85mm lens on my film camera for Street portraits.

Thank you Sir, for past few days im watching all of your videos and I just wanted to say that they are very inspiring, motivating and a great learning experience! Thank you so much for doing this.

Thank you for the great tips!

I have a 18-135mm kit lens, would that work for street portraits, or would it look threatening?

I love your channel, and appreciate your work and clear and concise words. I was just wondering what your thoughts on shooting Buskers?

Discovered your channel today, and I love it. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Truly wonderful, and remarkably conscientious. 🙏🏼

What if I don't have any portfolio yet and people ask... Thanks for the video

Thank you for your great tips, Bryan. I (shy and living in Germany where most people hate photographers) just wonder how to start this when you (as I) have no projects to refer to because it is your first "official" project. "I would like to take a photo of you, I am a photographer, but you will not find anything online or in the bookstores" – does not sound too convincing, does it? Maybe I should start shooting different photos and show a portfolio online?

Thank you for mentioning the homelessness bit, not that there’s no room for photographing the homeless but it can very easily come off as exploitation.

beautiful lighting...

Awesome video, THANK YOU!

As a 6’4 bearded guy in Japan, approaching people in any manner seems to make them “run away” pretty quickly haha...useful tips nonetheless

Thanks so much Brian, this was very helpful to get to another level on my street photography!

Well explained! I like street portraits of people with interesting appearance. Just can't do by myself, due to been terrible with any sort of the portrait :) .

Thanks for an informative post! Just wondering what to do about creating a book of street portraits in terms of legality and fair compensation in the highly unlikely event the book became commercially successful.

thank you Brian.

Thank you Brian for this great, very helpful and encouraging video. Haven`t done any street portraits yet but now I feel alot more encouraged to give it a try. Great work. Greetings from Munich, Bernhard

Great one! I live in a small town and, at 79, I don;t get out much for genres that require a lot of stamina or travel. So, what to shoot? I finance my hobby with fine art prints of downtown Oxford, Mississippi and near by rural areas. But, after several years, I am running out of subjects. So, lately, despite my introverted personality, I am drawn to street portraiture...randomly done to date. Much of you philosophy is so sensible that I have fallen into it already. But, you have given me some really useful insights here and I think you for them. I appreciate your videos.

Thanks for sharing these gold nuggets for street photography. Looking to go out for my second attempt this weekend.

Thanks for sharing your experience here. I found your tips useful. As a fairly shy person I challenged myself to approach market vendors at counters and photograph them. I was amazed how easy and enjoyable this was. I called the series enCounters. You mention that you offer to send your subjects prints. Are people sensitive about giving their addresses? I ask for an email address and if they give it I send a digital image. And what about asking for permission to publish pictures on a web site or instagram or Flickr? How do you go about that?

very useful tips. I'm one who, out of nervousness, tends to rush. I will definitely make a point to slow myself down. Thank you.

All things considered, when doing a street portrait project, would you opt for a better camera/lens combination (better skin tones, microcontrast, background bokeh) that has just one card slot vs a lesser quality camera/lens combo that has two card slots?

Some great tips Brian. It’s interesting, but after our severe lockdown in Melbourne, my forays into the city have found largely empty streets. I am hoping that this will improve and people will return. I should also say that the long break has softened my skills more than somewhat, and I hope that I can get back into the groove again. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration.

Thanks... some interesting tips. With regards to amount of time spent and not rushing the shot, I have on occasions rushed it but it was because I sensed that the person being photographed didn't want to spend too much time.

Thank you for all these tips; I really appreciate your stance on homeless people. I really appreciate this.

Great content again 📸 thank you!

If you have your camera setup for zone focus shooting, how do you get to change your camera for portrait, especially as it can be a lot of settings change?

Another brilliant piece of advice Brian, many thanks. Will take a deep breath next time I come across someone interesting and see how I score. Also, great point about the homeless., very well said.
Thanks again
Caula

Rey good advice! I appreciate your sensitivity and your comments about the homeless!

I love to recognize Lisbon in your photos.

I just found your channel, and I have to say you have some great tips! Really enjoy your style of relaxed videos with lots of knowledge! If you would allow me to say one thing, I would try to get a better sound of your voice. Maybe a different mic, or moving it closer? It would really make your videos even more engaging. Either way, I am happy to have stumbled on your channel and look forward to more videos. Have a great day!

Excellent tips, Brian. I wish I would have had this advice 25 years ago when I first set out to do street portraits. I put a link to your video in the description of my video. And you're right, it's fun, and addictive, too! All the best...

Your videos are wonderful. Thank you.