

Wait until you find them doing interesting things or in the right place and then go to take a portrait. The key is to not force these portraits too much. The people you are around the most, the people you know the best, are the ones who can give you the best opportunities and be the most comfortable around you, so keep an eye out for them. Neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and family can make for fantastic subjects. Family, friends, and neighborsĭon’t only rely on strangers. The people in your photographs should be a broad representation of the place or story you are trying to tell. Look for ordinary everyday-looking people, people with interesting emotions on their faces, or people who just look open to having a connection. Over time, you will be able to figure out what that is and who has it. Many of these people you will certainly want to photograph, but they are only a portion of the people out there and you will be missing out on everyone else. One mistake that is commonly made is that photographers only look for the flashiest people – the people who want to stand out when walking around. Not just the flashy – Look for people with a special quality to them So force yourself to do them, and you will quickly find it to become both easy and exciting to do. Other people are looking for a connection just as you are. You will have the ability to make peoples’ days with your camera, to flatter them, to break their routine. You will find that you will have many more wonderful encounters than rejections, and even the rejections won’t be so bad. The goal is to create a connection with someone and the other people will feel that as well. However, this will quickly fade the more you do it. Rejection can be tough and it can feel a little creepy at first. Especially when you are beginning, it can be very nerve-wracking to stop a stranger outside and suddenly ask for their portrait. This may seem like such a simple tip, but it’s so important. Here are some tips to take you to the next level with your portraits. Street portraits can be the best way to describe a person, to share the psyche of an area.Īnd depending on where you live, particularly in quieter and more suburban areas, it can be very tough to take candid photographs, so street photography portraits can be your best bet. Sometimes candids are preferable but often they’re not. If you look through the many greats of street photography books and projects, you will see that portraits take on a huge piece of telling a story of a place or an idea. But street portraits are a huge aspect of the genre. When many think of street photography, they typically think about traditional candid photography. Mastering the Art of Street Portraits When done best, street portraits will often feel like candid moments, where you can feel a connection to what a person might be feeling or thinking.
