How doing what you fear can make you a better photographer.
By Jason S
3 Jun 2009
I have never been comfortable asking strangers if I can take their picture. I can talk to anyone without any problem, but if I want a photo, I freeze. This is a problem for me because I love shooting people. I only know at the most, a few hundred people. For me, that excludes a pretty significant chunk of the world's population. I did something this past weekend to expand the number of people that I can shoot.
My friend Rick is the person I shoot the most with. We are constantly pushing each other to evolve as photographers. Hopefully you have someone like this. If not, go make a friend and shoot like crazy with them. Rick and I were kicking around shooting on a great summer night near where I live. We were doing the usual street stuff. Long shadows, cool signs, ect. We worked up the nerve to ask a few strangers for a shot. It was hard for me. It makes me second guess myself as an artist. I hate that feeling, which is why I've avoided addressing this gap in my photography.
After shooting for a while, we grabbed a seat on a bench right on the sidewalk near some bars. A girl with a balloon tied to her finger stopped, and we asked her if it was ok to take her picture. She agreed. Rick held a flash and I shot. The result was a cool photo with crap light. Sitting back down on the bench, I was grumbling about how I missed a great shot. I realized that my fear was holding me back as a photographer, and the time had come to move forward. I grabbed a stand and a shoot through umbrella from my car and set it up next to the bench. I had Rick shoot me and I fiddled with the settings. Once I had the light dialed in, I put an X on the ground with gaffer tape. No more bullshit excuses. For the next 2 hours, Rick and I took turns shooting. We asked nearly everyone that walked by if we can interest them in a free portrait. At first I felt awkward and unsure of myself. But after a while it felt great. Liberating. The people we met and talked to were a bit wary at first. They wanted to know why we were doing this. I just told them that I loved taking pictures of people. I told them that I was a bit nervous. I laughed with them, and showed them some examples of what I had shot. Almost everyone got exited about it at that point. I loved how their personalities became tack sharp in my viewfinder. I have never had more fun with a camera in my hand in my life.
When it comes to overcoming fears as an artist, I'd say grab the bull by the horns. Everytime you miss shooting something out of fear is an opportunity that is gone forever. Act accordingly.
9 responses
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Victor Evertsson said (3 Jun 2009):
I very much recognize that. Very many opportunities has slipped my hands because of that fear. I feel that it's much easier to approach strangers when your with a friend or another country or town too. The worst thing that can happen is that your being denied. When you finally ask someone if you can take a picture it gets much easier. Wise ending words!
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John Edwin May said (4 Jun 2009):
Good Morning Jason,
I enjoyed reading the experiences you encountered while photographing people whom you do not know. I will share something with you I instill in my college students who enjoy making portraits in our community. This information will help you, not only in your photography but your writing as well. Choose your words carefully and refrain from using slang that is out of context with your subjects. Please note, this is NOT an attack by me, just an effort to inform you of the power of words, just like that of your photographs.
Are people you do not know strange? Then please do not call them strangers. You say you ask strangers if you can take their picture. You have just called them strange and using the word take implies ownership. The context is: You are strange and give me MY picture back! Simply ask, “Could I make your portrait?” Make implies just that…make, while portrait sounds valuable. Picture sounds like a common everyday snapshot that is not important. Telling this person whom you do not know, “ Could I make your portrait” is like asking this person, “Will you help me make something valuable using your likeness?” You must agree that this is a huge difference. You make the person feel important, you asked permission, you want to make something valuable, and you need them! How could they say no to this…?
Being a photographer, I understood your context and meaning throughout your article. The entire world is not all photographers though and may not understand. Some things to avoid in your writing and language:
I love shooting people, you sound like a terrorist. Chunk of the world, …the earth’s crust? Rick and I push each other…you mean inspire? Shoot like crazy? Kicking around shooting…sounds dangerous! Normal street stuff…I do not know what that is… You ask strangers for a shot…you mean a drink? Grabbed a bench near some bars…was it moving and were they rusty? Tied to her finger…like bondage or was she holding a balloon? Move forward…where? Crap light…what? Shoot through umbrella…that would put holes in it right…? Rick shot you and you are still friends? Oh…NEVER grab a bull! I hope you are smiling and all who read this! This advice is meant in a fun manner. You know my context…
If you are interested in my photographic opinion of your work, just drop me an email here and I would love to talk about shooting stuff and shooting people with you!
Ever mount a photo? : - )
My Best to You!
John -
arutha feldman said (5 Jun 2009):
While the concept of overcoming the fear of shooting strangers is valuable, I would have liked to see better photos accompanying the story. The portraits are all badly lit by a single, relatively harsh light source with over-dark shadows and almost no ambient light. Another bad choice, IMO, is the high camera angle that makes your subjects look like dwarfs. It's nice that you and your buddy are pushing each other, but you should make sure the push is in the right direction.
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Jason S said (5 Jun 2009):
Thank you for taking the time to look and comment. I think that different perspective will help me identify weaknesses and improve. Thank you again!
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Rey mos gave props (5 Jun 2009):
very honest story and of course very helpful comments. In my experience, it is really difficult to approach other people (even friends) to be photographed. If I found someone while visiting a mall or park, I politely approach them and tell them to take their pictures. I showed to them the outcome of the shot and told them that Im a photo hobbyist and happy to put the images to my personal blog site where they could see.
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Joe Caggiano said (25 Jun 2009):
I have the exact same fear. I'm not so afraid of talking to people, I'm more afraid of bothering them. If I take their time to take a picture, and it's not the best shot and could be changed, I won't bother them once more to take more shots. It feels terrible knowing that that moment passed and you could have kept it forever ='[
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Samantha Delcid said (14 Jul 2009):
I have that same fear as well.This article inspires me.
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Allen Butcher gave props (18 Jul 2009):
Great story. I always have a prolem just talking to people I don't know, much less asking them if i can snap a shot. Your story is inspiring and has given me a push towards opening up more. Thanks for the good work.
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Jenifer Gamelli said (1 Dec 2009):
Thats so me. Thats my one prob, talking to ppl. Im gonna do it ... Ima try it tomorrow.
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