Street Photography: Why Every Photographer Should Try It

The art of capturing authentic moments extends far beyond the work I do for clients. As a birth and family photographer who focuses on lifestyle and documentary style portraits, street photography has become one of my favorite ways to practice and expand my creativity. Hitting the streets with my camera never fails to stretch me as an artist in so many ways.

For lifestyle, portrait and wedding photographers, street photography offers an opportunity to hone important skills on a dynamic and unscripted stage where real-life narratives unfold spontaneously. Engaging in street photography as a cross-training exercise can profoundly enhance observation skills, storytelling techniques, and the ability to seize fleeting moments. If you’re reading this as a photographer, I encourage you to consider venturing into the streets for a transformative creative experience. Let’s break down why you should try it.

Develop a Keen Eye for Candid Moments

Street photography is the epitome of capturing candid, unposed moments. In the fluidity of the streets, photographers must be adept at recognizing and seizing fleeting expressions, gestures, and interactions. This heightened awareness of candid moments is directly transferable to lifestyle and wedding photography, enriching the ability to capture authentic emotions and telling moments that unfold naturally.

Master the Art of Composition

Street photography challenges photographers to compose compelling narratives within the constraints of everyday scenes. The practice hones the skill of framing, utilizing leading lines, and finding interesting perspectives amidst the urban chaos. These compositional techniques directly benefit portrait and wedding photographers, enabling them to elevate their work by incorporating innovative framing, balanced compositions, and a keen understanding of spatial relationships.

Enhance Storytelling Abilities

Every street holds a multitude of stories, waiting to be discovered and narrated through the lens. Engaging in street photography fosters a deeper appreciation for storytelling. The ability to weave a narrative around seemingly ordinary scenes, characters, or interactions is a skill that translates seamlessly to portrait and wedding photography. By infusing storytelling elements into their work, photographers can create more immersive and emotionally resonant visual narratives.

Adapt to Varied Lighting Conditions

Street photography often unfolds under unpredictable lighting conditions, challenging photographers to adapt swiftly. Whether it's the interplay of shadows and light in narrow alleys or the dappled sunlight filtering through city trees, street photographers become adept at making quick decisions about exposure and utilizing available light creatively. This adaptability is invaluable for portrait and wedding photographers who often work in diverse lighting environments, from the controlled conditions of a studio to the ever-changing light of an outdoor wedding venue.

Build Confidence in Approaching Strangers

Engaging with strangers is an inherent aspect of street photography. The practice instills confidence in approaching people, initiating conversations, and capturing their stories respectfully. For portrait photographers who work closely with individuals or couples, and wedding photographers who navigate diverse social settings, this ability to connect with strangers becomes an invaluable asset. It fosters a sense of ease and natural interaction that reflects in the authenticity of the captured moments.

Explore Creativity Beyond Poses

Street photography encourages photographers to think beyond traditional poses and staged settings. It encourages a more spontaneous and explorative approach to creativity. This newfound perspective can infuse portrait and wedding photography with a refreshing spontaneity, allowing photographers to break free from conventional norms and capture moments that reflect the genuine essence of their subjects.

The photos I’ve shared here were all taken in just a few minutes with a street artist I stumbled across in New Orleans. He wrote me a poem and I documented the experience. The street was crowded and full of distracting elements, the midday light was harsh and unforgiving. I less than three minutes to document while his fingers flew across his typewriter. And I still turned out photos that tell a pretty compelling story of this character and his craft.

My formula for telling a story in just a few frames? Wide shot + medium shot + close up shot + 2 detail shots

In the dynamic world of visual storytelling, the streets beckon as a rich and uncharted territory for portrait and wedding photographers seeking to elevate their art. Street photography as a cross-training exercise offers a unique blend of challenges and rewards, cultivating observation skills, storytelling prowess, and a deeper appreciation for the authentic, unscripted moments that define the human experience. As photographers venture beyond the familiar confines of their studios and wedding venues, the streets become a training ground where creativity flourishes, and the boundaries of visual storytelling are pushed to new and exciting horizons.

Are you keen to give street photography a try?