The Importance of Planning
28th March 2026
Get to Grips with Street Photography
What is Street Photography?
Street photography is a broader genre than many assume. People don't have to be in the frame, and you don't have to be in a city. It could be a family gathering in a village or in the middle of a busy town.
So long as the moment is genuine and unstaged, it can be street photography.
Moreover, your goal is not technical perfection. A slightly grainy image, converging verticals, or even imperfect focusing can all add to the authenticity of a shot rather than detract from it.
The Moral Side to Street Photography
Street photography is intrusive. Photographing people candidly means you often don't have their permission beforehand, and it's important to be honest with yourself about that. Most street photographers do it out of a genuine love of people, culture, and exploration.
Street photography images have real value, both in the present and as historical records.
Photographs from decades that endure are almost always the ones that captured real people living real lives. That said, the moral cost is real, and it's something every street photographer must weigh for themselves.
Be empathic when photographing people who are vulnerable or visibly struggling.
Ask yourself what message your image will convey. Is it building awareness of a difficult situation, or is it simply exploitative? If you're not sure, it's usually better to put the camera down. Know the law wherever you shoot. What might be legal at home may land you in deep water overseas.
Choosing the Right Gear
When it comes to street photography, smaller is smarter. A compact, lightweight, interchangeable- or fixed-lens camera is discreet. Therefore, it is far less intimidating to people around you, and after a full day on your feet, you'll be grateful for the lighter load.
Consider a Micro Four Thirds camera. I find my OM System OM-5 Mark II with either the 17mm f/1.8 or 25mm f/1.8 lenses are great combinations for street photography.
A small prime lens is the street photographer's best friend. They are sharp, fast, and free of the temptation to zoom rather than move. Avoid the urge to reach for a long zoom lens; a large telephoto is conspicuous, forces you to point it directly at your subject, and keeps you at a distance from the scene. A compact prime, on the other hand, is unobtrusive and encourages you to get closer, which almost always makes
Sticking to one focal length for a period is also a great discipline. You'll start to see the world through that lens intuitively, anticipating how scenes will look before you even raise the camera.
There's More to it Than Your Camera
Street photography is a freestyle form. Although some insist it must be shot a certain way, there are no rules you must adhere to. However, the one thing you should insist on is honesty. It doesn't matter if your photo is grainy, wonky, or has motion blur; if you manipulate it, it is no longer a true record of what happened.
Furthermore, composition is less important than in, say, landscape photography.
It is important, however, to think about your subject matter. What you photograph now will become an historical record. That's important, but you must balance that with whether it is a compelling contemporary photo.
For example, people holding coffee cups and mobile phones are ubiquitous. Those might be significant features for the historians of the future to look back on. You could also argue that such subjects illustrate the monotony of the modern world.
But, those obvious pictures of people holding phones and coffee cups are more likely to say that the photographer could not see a more interesting story to put into their photo. I am not saying that people cannot be drinking coffee or texting someone, but a photographer can try to say more than just that withy their image.
If you want to join me on a street photography workshop, I have some planned during the Edinburgh Festival this year. If you can't make that, or have missed me, I have other workshops planned there as well as in Newcastle and other towns in Northumberland. Please get in touch for details.
