Approaching Strangers or Taking Photos of a Subject Unaware

[colinisawesome11]

My favorite types of photos are people in their daily lives working or doing a task unaware that a photo is being taken of them. My grandfather pulls this off very well but he is very socialy awkward. But ive run into a lot of situations where people gave me bad looks or asked what i was doing and then asked to delete the photo.

Dose anyone have good advice of how to take photos of strangers?

Sorry if this should be in a diffrent thread. But i am new to this site and still figuring things out.

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[Rekd]

Shoot first, ask questions later or you won't get the shot you're looking for. And you don't have to delete pictures.

Once in a while I'll keep the wide angle lens on and shoot from the hip, so to speak. Point and shoot with camera hanging around my neck. That way most people don't even know you're taking the pictures. (Some have noticed my finger on the shutter, so it's not foolproof.)

[skieur]

Shoot first, as mentioned, otherwise you do not get the shot you want.

skieur

[burgo]

I agree that getting the shot when it is there is important. But if you want to sell those images then you need a model release form. So the best idea is to take a few blanks ones with you when you go out shooting. Ask the person if you can shoot them and get them to sign the form. Same for buildings too. You cannot publish a picture or sell a picture of a persons house for example, without a release form.

Stock photo sellers wont accept your work without them. Selling such images or publishing images without approval from the person can get you sued for loads of money.

[bushpig]

...asked to delete the photo.

Shoot with film.

Dose anyone have good advice of how to take photos of strangers?

1. Ask your grandpa. Seriously. If he's doing what you like, then talk to him. You're probably not going to get better advice.
2. Just shoot. Don't be afraid. Know your limits.
3. Research local laws in your area and know your rights.

[skieur]

I agree that getting the shot when it is there is important. But if you want to sell those images then you need a model release form. So the best idea is to take a few blanks ones with you when you go out shooting. Ask the person if you can shoot them and get them to sign the form. Same for buildings too. You cannot publish a picture or sell a picture of a persons house for example, without a release form.

Stock photo sellers wont accept your work without them. Selling such images or publishing images without approval from the person can get you sued for loads of money.

That is not true legally in Canada and the United States.

skieur

[colinisawesome11]

...
Stock photo sellers wont accept your work without them. Selling such images or publishing images without approval from the person can get you sued for loads of money.

That is not true legally in Canada and the United States.

skieur

So as long as my intentions are not commercial i am fine legally? I don't want to profit are sell photos, this is just my interest that i am appriciating more and more.

And to Bushpig my only camera is digital but the LCD screen is cracked so i don't know how the photo turned out until i upload them, And yes i will go talk to him thank you for the great advice

[gsgary]

Shoot and carry a big stick

[Josh220]

Get a long telephoto lens and never let them know you took it. Easiest way IMO.

[skieur]

...
Stock photo sellers wont accept your work without them. Selling such images or publishing images without approval from the person can get you sued for loads of money.

That is not true legally in Canada and the United States.

skieur

So as long as my intentions are not commercial i am fine legally? I don't want to profit are sell photos, this is just my interest that i am appriciating more and more.

And to Bushpig my only camera is digital but the LCD screen is cracked so i don't know how the photo turned out until i upload them, And yes i will go talk to him thank you for the great advice

As long as your intentions are not ADVERTISING, you are fine legally. Commercial MEANS advertising only in the law.

skieur

[bushpig]

Shoot and carry a big stick

If Teddy Roosevelt was a photographer?

[Linkovicha]

This is something that absolutely terrifies me...I guess I imagine the person freaking out, come running up to me in public, smash my camera while the whole population stares on.... probably not going to happen, but it still scares me.

I've heard some advice though, to build a connection with your subject. If you're in a new country or such, strike up a conversation with someone doing something interesting, and if the person is willing to have their photos taken. This doesn't necissarily mean posed, you can get their permission and tell them you'll be back in a few minutes, so you can get a less posed shot. And show them the photos after, so they maybe feel more comfortable with what it looks like!

Big events are a lot easier, as there are a lot of people taking photos, no one seems to notice anyways. If you're on a abandoned street and want to take a picture of the girl on the bench, it might be a little more noticed...

[CWyatt]

I've been asked this before, here are my own thoughts:

- I think using long focal lengths is generally a mistake, separating you from the scene
- There's a good reason street photographers usually use wide to standard focal lengths
- Some photographers prefer hiding gear, i prefer not being obvious, i.e. being unobtrusive
- Big, loud DSLR's and big lenses are not the best tools.
- SPEED is the big deal. Having the camera to your eye for a split second compared to a second can be a difference between a great candid and junk
- Shooting from the hip is not my preference
- The moment matters. Just being a candid doesn't make a shot good.
- Geometry/composition still matters
- Speed also means knowing all your settings and not looking at your camera much or fiddling around
- Try finding an interesting scene and waiting for someone interesting or someone to do something interesting in it. Or try the opposite, looking for snatched moments without forethought.
- Do whatever works for you

[colinisawesome11]

thanks for all the advice everyone! I've been trying to practice speed but my camera is quite slow.

So far ive gotten a couple decent photos of strangers. they didn't turn out well but if i wanted too i could edit the lighting...

Ill definitly look for a spot that has a good scene to it and wait for someone to walk by, ive never thought of waiting haha it seems so simple but i've always thought of candid shots as the photographer running around and not there annonmous subjects.

[JacobGriz]

It can get kinda creepy taking pics of other people. My family and I were walking around in Durham NC and a guy came up, snapped a pic, and ran off smiling. Make it look like you're taking a landscape photo or something. Like, point the camera in that direction, but look at the window of a building, so it looks like you're taking a pic of that. Make sure it's in the general direction, so it doesn't look like you're creeping but trying to hide your face. Kinda hard to understand.