Topic: Need advice on people photography.....

[gary m]

I'm looking for your personal tips on how to ask strangers if you can photograph them?  I recently got back from a trip to Bermuda where I ran across several people that would have made for some great journalistic style photos. I didnt have the nerve to ask them for their photos, and didnt want to try and sneak when they werent looking. Tips? Experiences?

[chricela]

Hi Gary,
In my experience, I've always taken the photo first. Ask questions later. & this would be , if you're trying to capture that spur of the moment , un-posed image. If you ask first , you may have lost the very thing you saw to begin with. Does this make sense?

However , if you are working a a particular story. You can use this story subject , to approach the candidates with. & know, sometimes they will not choose to participate. But don't let that stop you. You will get many that will enjoy being photographed.
This photo was taken for the newspaper. Had I said something before I took it, I would have ruined the  moment 

http://flickr.com/photos/chriceleportela/37191223/in/set-810214/

Chricel

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[eddie]

Gary

I dont  ask till later, but what i generally do is hold the camera close to my face in my right hand and raise my left hand in a gesture to the subject as if to say is it ok. More often than not they nod in approval, and away i go, moving closer and shooting away. After i take the shot i  always thank them and maybe have a quick chat.

Here is one i took last Sunday where i did not ask permission or get the nod, what attracted me to the shot was the dog but the guy on the right is staring through me and is not pleased i am pointing the camera at him. Big mistake not to have got the nod, felt bad about it each time i looked at neg. With permission i could have got closer and got a tighter crop. 



http://eddiemallin.my-expressions.com/

[Susan B.]

I'm looking for your personal tips on how to ask strangers if you can photograph them?  I recently got back from a trip to Bermuda where I ran across several people that would have made for some great journalistic style photos. I didnt have the nerve to ask them for their photos, and didnt want to try and sneak when they werent looking. Tips? Experiences?

Shoot first, ask later. That's my motto.
If I see something that captures my attention, I shoot.
I find people don't care when they see the ridiculous contraption I'm shooting with.
They usually smile or give me some strange look and ask "what the hell is that?" rather than caring about the picture I just snapped.
When shooting with glass, I still shoot first, ask later. But it's not as easy to get away with all the time.

BUT if I want a portrait or close up, I ask first. Sometimes I'm successful. Sometimes not.

[david b]

I wouldn't generally ask ... but I would say that it's best not to be too sneaky - people notice really quickly if you look shifty or like you're trying to get something over on them.  If you project the attitude that you know what you're doing and you're meant to be there it's possible to do almost anything.

[Skorj]

The other comments here are very valid if you're looking for that spontaneous photograph. I often use the drive-by shooting technique to get that unposed look. Get in there though, so they can see you regardless. Act like you belong there. Do not skulk about. After you've done it a few times, you can discard your 50mm and get right in there with a 20mm...

But seeing as you asked about asking people, that is exactly what I do; ask them.

As soon as you see an interesting subject, do not hestitate, walk straight up to them and ask. I do this regularly. If they ask why, you say, 'I am a photographer'. 99% of people say yes to me. I also have a business card to give them before/after to cement the sale.

Sometimes it works, other times they go all stiff and you can see the business card you gave them, or their cat will not sit still... But when it comes off, you can get some great work.

Like Susan says, ask first if you want a street portrait. They are often worth the effort. This is of course what sets apart a photographer from a tourist with a lazy long lens, which generally pisses people off as it is obvious you're a gutless sneaky type.





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