6 Tips for Photographing Subjects in Public

(Image above edited with Velvet Color from the Clean Edit Portrait Workflow)

6 Tips for Photographing Your Subjects in Public

If you prefer to shoot in natural light, you may not always have the luxury of photographing your clients in a private space.  If you are photographing them in public, though, this can pose its own set of challenges!  Here are a few tips on how to make photographing your clients in public a positive experience.

1. Get to Know Your Client

If they are really outgoing, then photographing them in a public area should be a breeze.  If they are at all shy or self-conscious in front of the camera, though, they may not enjoy having their photo made in a location with a lot of people around.  Personally, I’m fairly shy, and I get super-duper-self-conscious when someone is taking my picture, so I prefer to have as few people around as possible!

2. If You Have a Shy Client, Try Finding a Secluded Spot

For example, if you are in a park, try to get away from the areas that have a lot of pedestrian traffic.  Plus, if you get off the beaten path (literally) you may find areas that are more photogenic.

3. Try to Find a Location That's Familiar to Your Client

Maybe they have a favorite spot – like a park, or even a favorite neighborhood in their city.  Choosing a location that is familiar, or meaningful, to your client will help put them at ease in front of the camera. 

4. Be Considerate of People Who are Not in Your Photo

There are few things more annoying than a photographer who swoops in and completely dominates the area!  Be mindful of others who are nearby, and keep as low of a profile as you can.  Drawing as little attention to yourself as a photographer will help reduce the amount of attention on your client from bystanders.

5. Travel Light (If Possible)

Also, with the thought of being low-key, you may want to consider keeping your load light (in terms of equipment) when you are photographing in public.

Lugging around a lot of gear is not only difficult but having a huge photoshoot set-up can be a nuisance to people in the area who are not there to have their picture taken.

6. Permits

Last but not least, when you are photographing in public, make 100% sure that you do not need a permit to be photographing in your selected location.  It sounds wild, but a lot of public places, such as parks, do require professional photographers to obtain a license before their shoot.

I can’t think of anything more awkward than being asked to leave a location because you didn’t pick up a license beforehand, so doing some quick research on this before your shoot can save you time and embarrassment!

Do you have any questions or comments about our Tips for Taking Photos in Public?   Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you! And PLEASE SHARE this post using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!