Street photography isn’t much of a career. But there are some ways to make it work - it’s just extremely difficult.

I’ve seen people express misconceptions about street photography from photographers and non-photographers alike. For street photographers, I think it’s important not to let myths or misconceptions hold you back from the practice.

These are what I consider mistakes for my street photography. I think every street photographer would benefit from determining what they consider a mistake to avoid making it.

Street photography requires you to be out in public places surrounded by people. Taking candid photos of people can be nerve-racking. These are my thoughts on what has helped me to deal with it.

Over the years, I’ve made some excuses for not doing street photography. I’m not going to make these excuses anymore, as that keep me from create the body of work I intend to achieve.

As with anything, my motivation to do street photography comes and goes. Usually, I’m very motivated to get out and do street photography. But when I’m not, I have a few things I do to get my motivation back.

One of the beautiful things about street photography is it improves your ability to visually take in the things around you. It makes you more appreciative.

Putting some thought into how you want to respond if someone notices you doing street photography helps to make sure you react that way in the real world. These are some ways that I deal with when people notice me taking photos on the street.

For me, street photography etiquette is simply about being respectful to those around me. I aim to treat others as I would like to be treated. Ultimately, I think it’s up to the photographer to think about how they want to present themselves and then act accordingly.

Some people call the ethics of street photography into question. I firmly believe that not only is street photography ethical, it also provides value to society.

It’s great to be able to have street photography cross your mind and then go out and do it on a spontaneous whim. It’s not always possible for me to do, though, and I find that it’s easier for me to be present in the moment when I’ve set aside time for street photography.

There has been a lot of talk about AI recently. It’s hard to escape. On the one hand, it has useful purposes. On the other hand, it essentially steals photos and other content in order to do so. The images it creates are bland, lifeless, and fake. Very cookie cutter. Also it’s just not real. These AI images make me appreciate the realness and authenticity of street photography more than ever before.

Street photography is unique in that it’s made up of moments that won’t happen again and can’t be replicated, particularly when people are in the photo. I find it fascinating that I can freeze a moment in time with the press of a shutter button. This is one of the many things I love about street photography.

There are many reasons to do street photography and I’m sure every street photographer has their own personal reasons. For me, it’s a combination of creating art and a body of work I can be proud of, to document people and history, it’s a fun challenge, to get outside and be active, and for the adventure.

I love street photography, but over time, there have been some things that have held me back from doing it. That’s a shame, because I want to build a body of street photography work that I can look back on and be proud of. By addressing the things that have held me back that are within my control, I’ll be better able to not allow it to be a barrier to reaching my goals.

When I learned about street photography, it was magnetic for me. I immediately wanted to learn everything there was to know about it. What hooked me in was the photos, the street photographers, the authenticity, the adventure required to make street photographs, and how it makes you live in the moment.