Best Tips for Amazing Street Portrait Photography

All you need is a street! Here is a comprehensive guide to capturing stunning street portraits, emphasizing the accessibility of street photography.

This excellent video from Jessica Kobeissi delves into the necessary techniques and equipment for street portraits, showcasing the versatility of a 24-70mm lens and a Canon 5D Mark I, coupled with a polarizer filter for optimal results. The importance of location scouting is emphasized, with a focus on vibrant colors and intriguing textures to enhance the visual appeal of the portraits.

Next, Jessica dives into the photography session, detailing her approach to composition, lighting, and posing. She emphasizes the significance of natural light in street photography, showcasing various techniques to maximize its impact on the portraits. The use of backlighting is demonstrated to create dramatic effects and the importance of finding good light to illuminate the subject effectively.

Throughout the session, Jessica engages with the model, providing direction and feedback to capture authentic and compelling portraits, highlighting the model's versatility and collaboration in achieving the desired aesthetic. Additionally, it offers insights into the photographer's thought process, including considerations for framing, angles, and environment.

This is a comprehensive resource for aspiring street photographers, offering practical tips and techniques to elevate their photography skills and emphasizing the creative possibilities inherent in street photography and encourages exploration of surroundings with a fresh perspective.

Kim Simpson's picture

Kim Simpson is a photographer based in the West of Scotland. Her photographic practice is an exploration of the human experience, with a particular emphasis on themes of identity and belonging.

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3 Comments

This is just an outdoor portrait session.

I take it they are professional models? My first thought was the "liability" for taking photos of people on the street. Would it be possible to have some guidelines in the future for us rank amateurs?

The specifics of rules would likely change country to country however as a general rule you are allowed to take photographs in public places