5 Reasons to Get Engaged (In Photography)
“I don’t take pictures of people in the streets, it’s like stealing from them…” a photographer in Berlin told me last week. What? Stealing from somebody when you make a picture? I don’t agree at all. First of all photos without people usually suck, and second it’s so easy to avoid this bad feeling you get when you take those sneaky shots with your telelens. Don’t worry, you can do better. Check out these five reasons why it’s worth the trouble.
1. The pictures are more intensive
If you talk to the person before talking their picture you build a relationship, you build up a little trust. Once you have this your subject is more willing to look into the camera.
2. It’s more fun
You’re right. It does take some courage to talk to a stranger. But once you get out of your comfort zone, that’s where the fun starts. Talking to locals can change your whole trip. You can exchange stories, get to know a little bit about each other lives, etc…
3. You can tell your story
This one might not be so obvious. You have picked your target. Maybe she/he has an interesting face, the clothes are unique, the work that the person is doing has caught your eye, etc. Once you talk to the person, you can ask the person to pose/repose the way that first attracted you to them. This way you are enable to tell the story. And a picture without a story is worthless.
4. You learn new things
I took the shot below in a market an Andean village in Colombia. Having talked to the vendors before taking this photo allowed me learn how her children went to school, how far they had to come to the village in order to be able to sell their products, how their products are cooked, etc.. If I didn’t leave my comfort zone, I wouldn’t have learned these things.
5. You can share your work
This is the most rewarding part of asking for a picture. You can share the work with the portrayed persons. And even offer to send them by email. People are delighted to see good photographs of themselves and will be very gracious.
Perhaps you have a different view on picture taking? Check out this article by viventura employee, Rachel Robar.