Street Photography: Tips to Get Started

Street photography is undoubtedly one of the most popular genres of photography, mostly because you don’t have to go very far to find subjects. However, don’t make the mistake of believing street photography is simply photographing people on the street—the genre is much deeper than that. If you’re looking to getting started with street photography, the following video by photographer Jonathan Paragas is a must-watch. He shares tips and tricks for street photography that are equally useful for beginner and advanced street photographers:

A great thing about street photography is that you don’t need a lot of gear. Just a camera body and lens, or even a smartphone will suffice. Don’t let heavy gear drag you down; remember, you’ll be walking quite a lot when taking street photos. And instead of spending too much money on gear, invest it in traveling. You’ll get to shoot in new locations, photograph different people and achieve a greater variety in your portfolio.

“No matter what lens or camera combination you’re shooting, when it comes to street photography, you have to remember that less is more.”

It’s not easy going out with a camera and photographing strangers. You need to be confident. Otherwise, you’ll be shying away from a lot of photo opportunities. For beginner street photographers, Paragas suggests going out with other photographer friends. This way you will also be mistaken for tourists, which will make taking photos much easier.

Finally, go through street photography books and the works of other street photographers. You’ll get a sense of what subjects to look out for and how to shoot them. Their work will also help you develop a vision and an eye for street photography.

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