Street Photography Etiquette
I acknowledge that the practice of street photography is a bit weird. I don’t think the end result is weird at all, though. When I see street photographs by great street photographers, I see beautiful works of art. It’s for this reason that I believe that street photography is ethical.
But I know that the act of doing street photography is a bit outside the norm. Not everyone goes around taking candid photos of people.
Regardless, I’ve decided that street photography has value and that the end result is worth any awkwardness experienced by subjects or the photographer. That said, when I’m out doing street photography, my intention is not to make anyone uncomfortable. I aim to act with etiquette and respect to anyone I interact with.
Confrontation in Street Photography
With the type of close-up street photography I do with wide-angle lenses. Confrontation here and there is inevitable. People have confronted me in the past, and I’m sure it’ll happen again. I have little control over whether someone confronts me on the street, but I do have control over the way I react. That is, if I can manage to control my emotions in the moment at least.
I think it’s a normal reaction for people to be bewildered when a street photographer takes their photo. It’s not every day that someone takes a candid photo of you, unless you’re a celebrity. So I understand if someone reacts to street photography with shock or curiosity.
My ideal response is to be calm about it, and clearly explain that I’m simply doing street photography, documenting the area, or doing a photography project. Those are my typical responses, and usually, that’s enough for most people. I will sometimes compliment someone’s outfit or look if I really mean it - that tends to disarm people, as everyone likes a compliment.
With all this being said, I don’t think any street photographer is under any obligation to sit there and take abuse if someone loses their cool on you. In some cases, the best course of action is to walk away from the interaction.
Showing Respect to People on the Streets, Whether They Confront You or Not
I ultimately think street photography etiquette is very simple. It comes down to respecting people.
I treat the people around me on the street as I would like to be treated. Simple as that.
Street Smarts
When it comes to street photography etiquette and how to act on the street, I think street photographers should exercise some street smarts. I think you learn things here and there over time from being on the streets. You pick up on certain things that maybe you should be more careful about.
You also have interactions that you learn from. For me, one thing that comes to mind is photographing street vendors, particularly in countries outside of my own. I had an incident where I was photographing a busy street market in Rio de Janeiro, and I was confronted (I’m putting it lightly here for brevity) by some street vendors who were not pleased with me. I now keep in mind that street vendors often sell goods that may be of questionable legality, so many of them do not appreciate being photographed.
Finding What Feels Right to You
I’m not here to preach. If you have an in-your-face style and personality, then there’s no sense in trying to be something you’re not.
Whatever your style is, I would put some thought into how you want to present yourself while out on the streets and stick with it. For me at least, I want to conduct myself with behavior that I can look back on and not cringe.
