How to Street Photography

ERIC KIM Cuba street photography

A strong and solid primer to street photography [if I started all over again]:

1. Equipment

The Best Settings for RICOH GR III in Street Photography // STARTING STREETTOGS GUIDE

The best equipment for street photography is RICOH GR III. The 28mm lens (if you shoot with it with an LCD screen), is ideal.

If you want a camera with an interchangeable lens, get a Fujifilm X-Pro 3 and Fujifilm 23mm f/2 lens.

2. How to do street photography?

You must learn how to ‘work the scene‘ in street photography. This means,

If you see something interesting, shoot *MANY* photos of the scene in order to get the one ‘decisive moment‘.

All great photos require *MANY* photos of the same scene being shot. Why is this?

You never know what the ‘best’ photo will be until you shoot it.

3. How to conquer the fears of shooting street photography

99.9% of the difficulty of street photography is conquering the fear of photographing strangers (with or without permission).

Typically the easiest when asking for permission is:

Compliment them, and ask if you can make a portrait of them.

Without permission (candid street photography), you can–

  1. When shooting, pretend like you photographed something *BEHIND* them.
  2. Photograph them, make eye contact, smile and say ‘thank you’.

4. Color or black and white?

I say:

Monochrome is better for street photography than color.

I am not trying to dissuade you from shooting color street photography. In fact, some of my favorite street photographs are color.

  • downtown la ERIC KIM
  • Downtown LA, 2019 street portrait

However this is why I encourage monochrome:

It offers you more street photography ‘optionality’.

For example, not everything looks good in color (color street photography is more challenging and difficult than monochrome street photography):

If you’re starting off, I recommend monochrome. Also JPEG high contrast black and white preset on your camera (for example, on RICOH GR III). I don’t recommend RAW, it is too slow and will prevent you from creatively iterating on your photos.

5. What makes a ‘good’ street photograph?

If you’re not sure, upload your street photos to arsbeta.com. To get honest feedback on your photos is essential.

  • side composition ERIC KIM
  • composition Mexico City critique composition
  • composition Chicago Screen Shot 2021-05-23 at 12.23.52 PM
  • Head on street photography ERIC KIM composition
  • Head on street photography ERIC KIM composition
  • Triangle composition

Also with composition, draw and sketch on top of your photos to better understand what makes a ‘good’ street photograph.

Typically speaking, the lower the photograph (perspective) and the closer you get– the better. The more dynamic your street photos, the better.

6. How to best share your street photos

Make your own self-hosted blog. Make a domain on bluehost.com and install WordPress.org. Photography blogs are the future for street photography.

7. Never stop

The goal:

Stay inspired to shoot street photography until you’re 120 years old.

I say:

  1. Share your wisdom knowledge and experiences in street photography with others (on YouTube, your own blog)
  2. Keep alive your child-like curiosity in street photography.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MOTIVATION

walking woman umbrella crimson red
  1. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OPTIONALITY.
  2. 10 Street Photography Tips
  3. The Street Photographer as the Apex Photographer
  4. Street Photography & Adrenaline
  5. STREETTOGS STARTING GUIDE
  6. 50 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM
  7. What I Wish I Knew If I Started Street Photography All Over Again
  8. Photograph like it’s not a big deal
  9. Suburb Street Photography
  10. What is Our Personal Motivation Behind Street Photography?
  11. WHY I’M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  12. Personal Street Photography
  13. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PRACTICE.
  14. Pandemic Street Photography
  15. AIRPORT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  16. How to Shoot Street Photography Right Now
  17. Towards a More Independent Street Photography Approach
  18. How Street Photography Improves Your Life
  19. How to Tell Stories in Your Street Photos
  20. Face Street Photography
  21. How to Start Shooting Street Photography
  22. How to Shoot Street Photography During a Pandemic
  23. 7 Street Photography Assignment Ideas

Only in America

Downtown LA in COLOR

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT

street photography starter kit by ERIC KIM

Master street photography with STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT.


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Hearts. Hollywood, 2011 #flash

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MOTIVATION

walking woman umbrella crimson red
  1. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OPTIONALITY.
  2. 10 Street Photography Tips
  3. The Street Photographer as the Apex Photographer
  4. Street Photography & Adrenaline
  5. STREETTOGS STARTING GUIDE
  6. 50 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM
  7. What I Wish I Knew If I Started Street Photography All Over Again
  8. Photograph like it’s not a big deal
  9. Suburb Street Photography
  10. What is Our Personal Motivation Behind Street Photography?
  11. WHY I’M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  12. Personal Street Photography
  13. STREET PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PRACTICE.
  14. Pandemic Street Photography
  15. AIRPORT STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  16. How to Shoot Street Photography Right Now
  17. Towards a More Independent Street Photography Approach
  18. How Street Photography Improves Your Life
  19. How to Tell Stories in Your Street Photos
  20. Face Street Photography
  21. How to Start Shooting Street Photography
  22. How to Shoot Street Photography During a Pandemic
  23. 7 Street Photography Assignment Ideas

Only in America

Downtown LA in COLOR

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT

street photography starter kit by ERIC KIM

Master street photography with STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STARTER KIT.


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Hearts. Hollywood, 2011 #flash

If you’re new to street photography, start here:


Brave New Street Photography

running through the swings kid street photography ERIC KIM

Street Photographs

ERIC KIM layers hong kong

  1. How to Shoot Street Photography with Dads and Kids
  2. HOW I BECAME SUCH A GREAT STREET PHOTOGRAPHER
  3. Use Quarantine as an Opportunity to Pick up Film Photography
  4. Hong Kong Street Photography by ERIC KIM

Street Photography Philosophy

Street Photography Articles


Street Photography Techniques


JUST SHOOT IT. HENRI NECK STRAP by ERIC KIM

See HENRI NECK STRAP on AMAZON >


Street Photography Ideas


Street Photography Composition Techniques


STREET NOTES.

Push yourself out of your comfort zone with STREET NOTES: Mobile Edition.

STREET NOTES PAPER EDITION ON AMAZON >


LEARN FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Timeless wisdom from the masters of street photography.

Learn more about MASTERS >

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FUNDAMENTALS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

Street Photography Inspiration


Beginner Street Photography Articles

Get started in street photography:

Definitions in Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

Street Photography Equipment

See all equipment articles >

How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

See all articles to conquer your fears >


Intermediate Street Photography Articles

Take your street photography to the next level:


Advanced Street Photography Articles

Find deeper meaning in your street photography:


Street Photography Tips & Technique

Learn how to shoot on the streets:

See all street photography tips and techniques >

Street Photography Guides

In-depth guides on street photography:

Street Photography Equipment

The best equipment for street photography:

See all equipment articles >

Street Photography Editing and Workflow

How to Start a Street Photography Project


Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

  1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?
  2. Great Female Master Photographers
  3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography
  4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography
  6. Download All Articles >

The Masters of Photography

Classics never die:


Free Downloads

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Free Street Photography Books

Distilled information on street photography:

For more resources on photography, Start Here >