Overcoming Shyness

It is hard to go out and point your camera to the people in the street. Shyness is the problem for every photographer who is trying to take pictures of people in the street for the first time. Although i’m not taking street photographs often, i tried this category of photography several times. Going out and asking strangers that “May i take a picture of you?” was really hard for me.

To overcome shyness best way is trying once… After you trying it once, you’ll be more relaxed and probably won’t afraid to talk to people after a couple of tries. Smile and be kind when you are asking people for permission to take their pictures. Most of them won’t say no, but remember to talk with them in order to relax them (also see my last post about taking pictures of people in the street). Talking with people will help you increase your communication skills . When you approach people friendly you’ll get friendly responses.
Also remember there’s nothing to afraid of, in worst case scenerio they’ll say no, say “ok, thanks for your attention” and that’s it. No one will shoot you just becouse you asked for permisson to take his/her pictures.

If you are too shy, i mean really shy and there’s no way you’ll talk to the people than i suggest you to have a tele lens and take the shots from distance. If you cannot either point your camera to somebody even from a distance. Stand at a point in the street and wait for subject to walk in the frame. But again ask yourself how ethical it is to take pictures of people without their permission and what will you feel if you see somebody pointing his/her huge tele lens to you when you are walking in the street. I’m telling once more in my opinion best way to have street pictures (if you want to include people and if they are certainly recognisable) asking them for permission. (Unless there’s something that you cannot wait or shouldn’t miss).

Tomorrow; Street Photography Part 4; Being Invisible