Street Photographer Shares Tips to Present a Relaxed Demeanor

Photography Tips  •  Street Photography

Street photography isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many new and even experienced street photographers worry about being confronted by passersby on the street. This fear can eventually act as a barrier between the photographer and their art. So how do you overcome this fear surrounding street photography? In today’s video, photographer Sean Tucker and his friend Joshua K. Jackson bring you some great advice on overcoming your fears when heading out for a street photography shoot.

In the video, Jackson emphasizes two aspects that can help you overcome your fears: body language and intention.

A brilliant insight he shares is how body language can tell you a lot about the people around you. How you, as a photographer, present and “behave” matters a lot. This is what dictates whether people take you as a threat or act like you don’t exist.

For instance, it’s best to keep moving, constantly studying your surroundings and anticipating interesting moments that could unfold. However, spending too much time around a particular spot will trigger a sense of consciousness to the people nearby.

“When you plant yourself in one particular location, you draw attention to yourself.”

Another interesting idea that Jackson shares is to think of yourself of as a tourist. Just think—do you ever get intimated by tourists taking photos? Rarely. You can use this idea to your advantage and act like you’re a tourist in a new place taking photos. This will give you a mental excuse to act freely.

There are various other psychological hacks that Jackson shares in the video. If you don’t have malicious intent, you have no reason to worry about being confronted.

If you love street photography but cannot gather the courage to get out there taking photos, we strongly urge you watch the complete video.  You’ll definitely find more than one tip to help you improve.

If you have other ideas to get rid of the fear that surrounds street photography, be sure to share them. We’d love to hear from you.