9 street photography secrets to improve your shooting

Street photography is one of the simplest photographic pursuits to try, and one of the hardest to master. It’s also one with a long, illustrious history, from its birth in the late 19th century through its heyday in the ’50s and ’60s up to the present day. These days, the tools of the trade are as likely to be smartphones as cameras, but the same rules as ever apply. Here, acclaimed street snapper Nick Turpin gives us his tips and tricks for capturing that special moment in even the most unprepossessing of locations.

1) Embrace the mundane

Street photography is an approach, a way of seeing the everyday differently and realising that remarkable stories are being played out on every pavement all of the time.

2) Be ready

Always have your camera switched on with no lens cap and a shutter speed of 1/500s (use Shutter Priority or Manual mode) to freeze that moment when it arrives.

3) Don’t just look ahead

Look close by, across the street, even above you. You never know where that next shot is coming from. Visualise a frame. Look where the corners finish and, when the composition is nice, think about the optimum moment to release that shutter. You are editing time and space.

4) Don’t be timid

You are legally allowed to photograph anything you can see in a public place (in the UK at least), so shoot confident in that knowledge. There are some exceptions to this – mainly terrorism-related – so a quick read of the excellent Guide to Photographers’ Rights at Sirimo, or a good Google search for the absolute latest info, is advised

5) Be patient

This is the hardest challenge in photography, so be prepared to fail more than succeed. But capture your first great moment and you’ll be hooked.

6) Never be camera-less

The first rule of street photography is to always have your camera with you, because the street delivers amazing happenings even when you’re not looking for them.

7) Don’t intervene

Great street photographs work because they appear surreal or remarkable but are simultaneously documents of real life. So never set them up.

8) Employ charm

A quick smile is often enough to reassure people who spot you taking photos. Or you can offer a reason such as “I like your hat” or “lovely jacket”. If you want to photograph someone candidly, avoid facing them. Try standing sideways-on while you wait for your moment.

9) Use props

If you’re waiting for a scene to develop but are looking conspicuous, employ displacement behaviour. Look at a map, ‘fix’ your camera, pretend to be on the phone, etc.