Street photography is one of the most accessible and interesting genres to get into for both hobbyists and professionals alike. However, any street photographer will tell you that creating a poignant photo — and avoiding visual cliches and overdone subjects — is actually more challenging than it seems. As such, it’s always a good idea to get advice from the pros to help take our craft to the next level.
For today, we have five must-try tips from Sean Gallagher, a professional photojournalist and filmmaker with over 15 years of experience, and esteemed clients that include National Geographic, The Guardian, and Pulitzer Center. In the video above, he shares some of the things that he picked up throughout his fruitful career, so budding street photographers can improve their work.
First, he describes what street photography is: candid or impromptu, nothing staged, and essentially reacting to what is happening before us. To make the most out of what the streets throw at you, he suggests keeping an eye out for unexpected moments, experimenting with compositions, being a “fly on the wall,” among a few other things. As a photojournalist and documentary photographer, Gallagher practices street photography on most of his assignments, using these tips and key learnings to come up with impactful images.
However, if you’re a little further along in your street photography, are there any useful tips you can add to Gallagher’s list? Share them with us in the comments below!
