How to Capture Striking Portraits of Strangers on the Street

Approaching people on the street and asking for a portrait can feel uncomfortable — both for you as a photographer and for the person you’d like to photograph. Watch how one street photographer uses his experience to get some fantastic images.

Zeno Watson has been photographing on the streets of Glasgow for well over a decade, not just documenting the city as it happens in front of his lens, but also capturing portraits of many of its more distinctive characters. In this short video, Watson offers us some insights into how he works: first is his decision to switch from his beloved Ricoh GR III that’s his camera of choice for his usual street imagery and then a few demonstrations showing how he goes about approaching people — all of whom are then more than keen to pose for his lens.

My takeaway isn’t about his choice of camera, lens, aperture, or shutter speed, but about how Watson interacts with people from his hometown, approaching them on their level, as someone from their city, and creating an immediate connection despite remaining strangers.

Do you find the prospect of street portraiture intimidating? What questions would you have for Watson? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.