Street Photography Tips

Are you unhappy with the pictures from your last trip that you brought home? Admittedly, I used to feel the same way. Then I started to delve into photography. In the end, I made it my profession.

I have been traveling the world for over 15 years now. I find my subjects in street photography, with or without people, as well as in outdoor and sports photography, and in landscape photography.

That's why today I've summarized some of my tips for street photography for you. This way, capturing street scenes should be easier for you in the future.

More tips on travel photography

My first tip is simple: Set achievable goals. Don't just shoot randomly when you arrive at a place that takes your breath away. Often, those photos turn out to be nothing. Think about a theme or a composition.

Do you want to shoot in black and white? Only during the day or also night shots? Long exposure, street art, or signs are also interesting themes.

Neon signs are perfect in New York or Las Vegas.

Once you've set your goals, you can capture great moments with the right instinct.

Street photographers often find their subjects spontaneously and unpredictably. Walk through cities and streets with open eyes. You will soon discover one or two exciting subjects. The shots thrive on their authenticity and spontaneity.

Interesting places in cities are often far apart. When you travel by subway, metro, bus, or taxi, you see less. You miss the most beautiful subjects because you can't easily stop.

That's why we often walk 15 - 20 km or more a day while city traveling.

In addition to the usual attractions in a city, photograph architecture, nature, and street life. Capture everything that appears interesting and worth photographing. Perhaps a special event takes place during your stay? Record it photographically!

You like a clear sky and bright sun, right? We photographers get totally bored when it's just sunny. There's no variety or drama.

As soon as it rains, I'm jumping for joy. Your task: Go puddle hunting! Photograph reflections in puddles.

Note that all the subjects are reflections in puddles:

Especially in cities like New York, tourists line up when it comes to famous attractions. It's frustrating when 200 other tourists want to take a photo around you.

Have you ever been on the Brooklyn Bridge during the day? Since the Instagram hype and the increasing number of photos, the bridge gets more and more crowded.

My tip: Go early in the morning. Take advantage of your jet lag at the beginning of your trip and wake up at 5 AM. That's when you get the best photos.

Limit your interference in scenes. When people realize they are being photographed, they often change their behavior. But remember, don't publish any images without asking the people for their consent! Show them the picture and delete it immediately from the camera if someone disagrees.

I like to use the example of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. On the Brooklyn side, there is a great spot from which you can photograph the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge beautifully at sunset.

The problem is that often 60 people with tripods (or more) have the same idea. My tip: Wait a few minutes after the sun has set. After 15 minutes, only a third of the people will be there; after another 30 minutes, only five others.

Observe the colors of the sky after sunset. The changing light offers more exciting subjects for us to photograph.

Take your time, and you will be amazed at how quickly the crowds dissipate.

Another tip for those who don't have their tripod with them. Long exposure handheld? It's possible. Set your camera to a continuous shutter. Then just shoot away. The first shot will be blurry. The second and third will be too. However, in the middle of the series, you will generally find at least one sharp image. Give it a try.

This way, you can easily achieve a longer exposure of up to 1/2 second. It works even better with mirrorless cameras as there is no mirror vibration.

These tips originally came up during a presentation at the Photokina fair in Cologne.

You can watch the presentation again here:

I admit I'm not a fan of just taking one lens. However, these photos were all taken with just one ultra-telephoto travel zoom: 18-400 mm, f3.5-6.3 from Tamron.

Lens 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony E-MountLens with Nikon MountLens with Canon Mount

I never would have thought it myself. If you had to settle on one lens during a trip, I would recommend this one. In street photography, you often have to shoot spontaneously when a subject suddenly appears.

It can be very close or far away. With this lens, you are very flexible!

I would love to hear a comment at the end of the article.

More tips on travel photography

Do you want to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my Newsletter to receive regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you enjoy using my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️ My articles are the result of extensive research, personal experiences, and honest recommendations - completely without AI. I write them so you can plan your trips stress-free and with real, tested tips. If you like my work and just want to say thank you, I would appreciate a small tip in my virtual Travel Fund. Every contribution helps me continue to create high-quality content passionately and independently for you. Thank you!

Trust is important: In some of my articles, you will find affiliate links. If you book or buy something through one of these links, it costs you nothing extra - but I receive a small commission. This way, you can support me effortlessly and help keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!