Overcoming fear - 100 stranger's project

Hi all. i am a massive fan of this type of photography and always wanted to try it myself!

Well today i tried and failed to even ask a single person! i was out in the nice warm weather today around brick lane in london and failed to even attempt to ask anyone due to fear

How can i overcome this fear? how did you in effect break that mold and ask your very first person if you can take their picture?

Just do it. You'll be surprised at just how accommodating people really are. Have an air of confidence, tell them what you're doing and offer to email them a photo.

Worst they can say is no

jonneymendoza wrote in post #14477906
Hi all. i am a massive fan of this type of photography and always wanted to try it myself!

Well today i tried and failed to even ask a single person! i was out in the nice warm weather today around brick lane in london and failed to even attempt to ask anyone due to fear

How can i overcome this fear? how did you in effect break that mold and ask your very first person if you can take their picture?

I did a blog post on just this! Check it out: http://blog.paulfreder​iksen.com/2012/04/25/j​ust-ask/

frederiksenp wrote in post #14479075
I did a blog post on just this! Check it out: http://blog.paulfreder​iksen.com/2012/04/25/j​ust-ask/

I read your blog. But it left me with a question. How do you frame your request? What exactly do you say to the victim....,er, subject?

bpiper7 wrote in post #14479243
I read your blog. But it left me with a question. How do you frame your request? What exactly do you say to the victim....,er, subject?

"Mind if I take your photo?" Then I usually give them a card. Say that they had an interesting look...etc. People are usually flattered.

frederiksenp wrote in post #14479393
"Mind if I take your photo?" Then I usually give them a card. Say that they had an interesting look...etc. People are usually flattered.

Thanks.

quality thanks! its teh fear factor i must get over!

jonneymendoza wrote in post #14479466
quality thanks! its teh fear factor i must get over!

Once you do it once, it'll be easy.

frederiksenp wrote in post #14479492
Once you do it once, it'll be easy.

i just need to print some business cards of some sort. Is it a requirement or do you just write down your details on paper or something?

jonneymendoza wrote in post #14479809
i just need to print some business cards of some sort. Is it a requirement or do you just write down your details on paper or something?

Nothing is a requirement. I have business cards because I photograph for a living, but I'm sure if you just write down some info you'll be golden.

What exactly are you afraid of?.....

I take different approaches, depending...!

I do a lot of "street candid" photography if I'm in a street/urban setting, in which case I'm after unposed shots like these:

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I even cannot shot cars when drivers see me I see the irritated looks on their faces I'm sneaking a little and take my shots from a distance...

Its no different than asking a girl to dance when you were a kid. If they say no you just move on to the next one. No harm done.

The law of averages will eventually be in your favor and you'll get a yes. After a few yesses your confidence goes up and it will show, and benefit you when you approach more people.

After a while you'll start asking people that you think might be a challenge, just for sport.

Good Luck!