Master great street photography and avoid these common mistakes! Use our essential tips, from composition tricks to respectful interactions to elevate your skills and create professional looking street photography!

What is street photography?

Street photography is a visual diary of our bustling urban landscapes. It offers a glimpse into everyday lives within the bustling streets, squares, and alleyways.

A brief history of street photography

Street photography emerged alongside the advent of portable cameras in the late 19th century. Early practitioners, armed with small and portable equipment, ventured into the streets to document the rapidly changing urban environments. Notable early examples include the works of Eugène Atget, whose haunting images of Parisian streets captured the city's essence in the early 20th century.

The genre became more popular during the mid-20th century, as 35mm cameras made photography more accessible. Famous street photographers like Henri Cartier-Bresson, often regarded as the father of modern street photography, embraced the concept of "the decisive moment." Cartier-Bresson's work, along with that of other famous street photographers like Robert Doisneau and Walker Evans, solidified urban photography as a respected and evocative art form.

More contemporary street photographers include Martin Parr and Stephen Shore. Both artists capture the banal ordinary in the every day in a diaristic style. Their images are impactful because of their ability to tell the story of the moment and create something relatable.

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How to take great street photography

Street photography mistake 1: Ignoring the background

One of the most common mistakes in street photography is just focusing on the subject and neglecting the background. A distracting background can detract from the main subject of your photo. Before pressing the shutter, always assess the entire frame and ensure that the background complements rather than competes with your subject.

Backgrounds in street photography are important for context and storytelling, providing a setting that enhances the narrative. They ensure visual clarity and contribute to aesthetic appeal, creating a balanced and good-looking street photo.

Practical tips for considering the background:

Use your depth of field to isolate subjects with a shallow background and experiment with angles and perspectives for complementary backgrounds.
Look for clean and unobtrusive backgrounds that emphasise your subject.
Incorporate elements like signs or people in the foreground to add interest and guide the viewer's eye.
Be patient and wait for the right moment when the background harmonizes with your subject.
Using creative framing with elements like doorways or windows for a natural frame creates a way to lead into the image and draw focus to your subject.
Check for distractions in the background, adjusting your composition or waiting for the right moment to minimize them.

Street photography mistake 2: Lack of interaction

Street photography often involves a connection between the photographer and the subject, even if it's just a fleeting moment. Don’t just be a passive observer; interact with the people you’re shooting and seek permission if necessary. This way, you’ll capture genuine emotions and expressions.

Human connection in street photography makes your photos more relatable. When you interact with your subject, it becomes a shared moment and far more genuine, adding life to your street photography. This also stresses the importance of respect and consent when making street photos. It’s important to keep in mind ethical and considerate street photography practices. Prioritize the dignity and privacy of individuals and avoid confrontation when you’re shooting.

Practical tips for interaction in street photography:

Approach people with kindness when taking street photos and introduce yourself as ‘a photographer.’
Ask for permission, especially when taking close-up pictures, using simple gestures or a quick chat.
If you keep a friendly and open attitude, you’ll capture real moments between people.

Consider building rapport over time if you’re a frequent visitor to a community and always respect personal boundaries, and if someone declines, move on.

You can also share your work with subjects as a thank you and to show your appreciation!
By approaching your subjects with respect, empathy, and a genuine interest in their stories, you can create great street photography that resonates on a deeper level.

Street photography mistake 3: Overlooking composition rules

grey cement wall of building and person in window street photo — Wellstudio on Unsplash

Want to go over the basics of composition?

Composition can either make it or break it when it comes to creating great street photography. Composition will tell a story, emphasise relationships between subjects, and create dynamics within an image, especially in lively urban environments. Attention to composition helps refine complex scenes into impactful images, giving beauty to the ordinary or mundane.

Simple composition tips in street photography:

Utilize the Rule of Thirds for balanced placements and guide the viewer's eye with leading lines, adding depth to your scenes.
Frame your main subject with elements like doorways or people to provide context and immersion in the environment.
You can enhance your photograph by balancing the foreground and background in busy scenes.
Look for symmetry or patterns or embrace negative space strategically for a more impactful street photo.
Experiment with various perspectives and angles to infuse your street photography with compelling compositions.

Experiment with these ideas and you'll develop an intuitive sense of composition in your street photography. Find out more about the rules of composition in photography with our beginner’s course.

Street photography mistake 4: Lack of technical skills

Street photography of doorman standing still. — Boris Stefanik on Unsplash

Mastering your camera settings is crucial in street photography. Fumbling with settings in that ‘blink and you miss it’ situation could mean a poorly exposed image or missing the shot altogether. Practice regularly, experiment with different settings, and become comfortable with your gear to ensure you can capture decisive moments swiftly.

Practical tips to level up your technical skills:

Get familiar with your camera and its settings!
Understand the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—to expose correctly in every situation.
Ditch auto mode and switch to a manual mode. This will enable you to have control in rapidly changing street photography conditions.
Use spot or zone focusing – Learn how to focus properly here.
Learn to adapt quickly, learning from mistakes after each shoot for continuous improvement.

Improve your technical ability in photography with our beginner’s course.

Street photography mistake 5: Over-relying on your gear

flat lay of a micky mouse shaped analogue camera — Mick-A-Matic camera used by Stephen Shore

While having a high-quality camera is beneficial, remember that the best camera is the one you have with you when creating great street photography. Don't let the lack of expensive equipment with all the bells and whistles hinder your creativity. In the beginning, it’s better to focus on developing your skills rather than constantly upgrading your gear.

Why gear shouldn't be the sole focus:

In great street photography, creativity surpasses equipment. While quality gear contributes to better images, the real magic lies in your vision and ability to capture the moment. Iconic street photos can be taken with basic gear, proving that understanding composition, lighting, and storytelling is the focus – photographer Stephen Shore is famous for having taken images from his “All the Meat You Can Eat” series on a Mickey Mouse camera! Basic equipment doesn't limit creativity; it makes you push boundaries by working with what you’ve got.

Looking to find out what kit you need as a beginner? Read our recommendations.

Street photography mistake 6: Not being patient

man in blue jacket walking down a shady alleyway — Craig Whitehead on Unsplash

Street photography often requires patience to capture the perfect moment. Resist the urge to rush or force shots. Take your time, sometimes it’s best to stay in one place and wait for life to happen.

Embrace the idea of ‘The Decisive Moment’ and wait patiently for that time when everything in a scene aligns to create a compelling street photograph.

Remember to:

Spend time observing the scene before lifting the camera. Take notice of the details, notice the interaction and understand the flow of the environment.
Choose a focal point and try to anticipate potential moments that could unfold.
Stay present and be ready to capture unexpected moments.
Consider a prime lens with a fixed focal length. This limitation will make you think deliberately about your compositions and force you to physically move to find the right angles.
Stay committed to your chosen spot and avoid switching locations too much.

Remember that patience is a skill that develops over time. Learn from each time you go out and you’ll create some great street photography.

Street photography mistake 7: Neglecting post-processing

Once you’ve captured the photo, it doesn’t stop there. Post-processing will enhance visual appeal by adjusting contrast, brightness, and colour saturation. You can emphasize the mood of a street scene through techniques like desaturation for a vintage look or increased vibrancy for a lively atmosphere.

Considerations:

Neglecting this step can limit the potential of your images. Learn basic editing techniques to enhance your photos without overdoing it, maintaining the authenticity of the street scene.
Learn editing tools in software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, understanding adjustments to exposure, contrast, highlights, and shadows.
Avoid excessive manipulation, keep the authenticity of the scene!
Develop a consistent post-processing style that complements your street photography vision. You can also create a preset or action to speed up your process!
Use cropping carefully to enhance composition without compromising image quality.
Experiment with black-and-white editing, it usually works well to emphasize contrasts and textures.

Learn Photoshop here - Learn Lightroom here

Street photography mistake 8: Fearing confrontation

busking man with accordion sitting on a bench with his hat on the ground — Marcos Gallardo on Unsplash

Fear of confrontation can hold street photographers back from capturing powerful moments. While it's essential to respect people's privacy, don't let the fear of being questioned prevent you from pursuing your passion. Develop a respectful and confident approach when shooting in public spaces.

While street photography is generally legal in most countries, it's crucial to adhere to ethical guidelines:

Respect people's privacy and dignity, and if a person requests not to be photographed, don’t photograph them.
Avoid capturing images that may be considered harassment or invasion of privacy.
Always be aware of local laws and regulations, as they can vary, and seek legal advice if you have specific concerns or questions.

Street photography of old couple walking using shadows and contrast — Rene Bohmer on Unsplash

Street photography mistake 9: Ignoring light and shadow

Light is everything in photography, and some of the best street photos show this. Experiment with different times of day, shadows, and low light to add depth and mood to your images.

Practical tips for leveraging light and shadow:

Understand natural light. Do you know about colour temperature, hard and soft light, etc? If not, click here.
Experiment with different times of day, for varied lighting effects.
Use shadows to enhance your composition.
Use reflections on surfaces for dynamic compositions in urban environments.
Utilize artificial light sources at night for unique effects.
Create silhouettes against bright backgrounds.
When editing, selectively enhancing light and shadow will emphasize areas and create specific moods.

Street photography mistake 10: Copying rather than creating

street photography of big belly bin with "don't be afraid" poster on the side. — Jon Tyson on Unsplash

While it's natural to draw inspiration from other photographers, try to avoid copying their style. Develop your unique style and perspective. Capture scenes that resonate with you personally and let your passion and individuality shine through and you’ll create great street photography.

Practical tips to foster originality:

Experiment with styles to discover your own authentic approach.
Tell your unique stories through street photography, consider the narratives and emotions you want to convey.
Focus on personal projects. Delve deeper into specific themes important to you. This will help you develop a distinct body of work.
Take risks. If you’re in your comfort zone you’re in the wrong place.
Develop a consistent visual language with recurring themes, compositions, or editing styles.
Be patient in finding your voice. Understand that it's a gradual process involving exploration, experimentation, and making plenty of mistakes, Cartier Bresson famously once said, “Your first 10,000 photos are your worst.”

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Conclusion:

By avoiding common mistakes and taking on these tips to make great street photography, aspiring street photographers can enhance their skills and create compelling and authentic images that truly capture the streets. Remember, each mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow as a photographer. Embrace the challenges, stay curious, and keep refining your craft to become a better street photographer.

Happy shooting!

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Street Photography - 10 Mistakes to Avoid!