How do you guys go about taking people's pictures

I always feel uncomfortable taking street view shots. Say 2 old men enjoying coffee. Do you guys ask? Use a telephoto lens?

Thanks

Depends on what effect you're after...

Distant Observer: Telephoto
Intimate Participant: Get in there and ask if they mind. Get their emails and offer to send them files. Or, better yet, get snail mail addresses and send them each a nice 8x10 print.

Sounds good! I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

I just take their picture. This is a picture someone took of me taking a picture

Get up relatively close and quickly click; that's about it. Before you get to the sight, you can use spot/partial metering to preset exposure accordingly. If shooting outdoors, this is usually just a matter of setting exposure for either sun or shade. Also, if using manual focus, you can preset that as well, if you know that you will be standing, for example, about ten feet from them.

Compose in your head, and by the time you reach the subject, you can swiftly lift the camera to the eye, take the shot, and then be on your way.

Some folks shoot from the hip or chest level.

If you want to talk to them before or after, that is certainly fine as well.

luckily for me i have live view, i kinda look like im fiddling with my camera like there is a problem with it, and then take the shot live view.

in 3rd world countries I always ask - with a BIG smile. NEVER fails.

Confidence and a smile... If you confidently and nonchalantly just shoot, smile and move on, looking for your next shot, I don't think most people mind. I think it is when you are hesitant and trying to hide the fact that you are pointing a camera at them that you come across as sneaky and it is more awkward.

Happybrandon wrote in post #8039695
Confidence and a smile... If you confidently and nonchalantly just shoot, smile and move on, looking for your next shot, I don't think most people mind. I think it is when you are hesitant and trying to hide the fact that you are pointing a camera at them that you come across as sneaky and it is more awkward.

+1

and if they ask, just bring a business card and have them email you if they are interested on getting their image

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7754428
Get in there and ask if they mind. Get their emails and offer to send them files.

+1
I always ask. The worst they can do is say no.

I've asked twice (in recent years) and have been turned down twice. I just take the shot.

A lot of people don't realize you've just photographed them. If I get an inquiring look I nod and smile an acknowledgment. That's been the end of it most times.

I also carry cards with my name, email, and URL to my pbase account printed on them. If it comes to conversation I give them a card. Sometimes I tell them to email me and I'll get a copy of the file or a print to them. I've never had a problem doing this.

I used to have no problem shooting candids around the city. I liked how the photo would grab them in the moment. I changed though a couple years ago in Washington Sq Park. I was in the dog run with my mutt and some guy asked if he could take my pic. Turned out, he was Steve McCurry - the National Geographic photographer. We ended up talking and he convinced me that interacting with the subject produced a more engaging photo.

Since then, I always ask. I get shot down a bunch, but I also get permission sometimes too

I usually go for a long lens and then just shoot from a distance. 85mm works for me. Sometimes I just pretend I am shooting something else, possibly just behind the subject but sometimes I get caught.

Sometimes it works in my favour

Essentially, three styles are emerging here: candid, posed, and documentary. Documentary loosely used here to refer to a situation where you get to know the subject, and then, with their consent, subsequently photographing them candidly. Within my definition, and others may disagree, street candids do not become invalid if the subject ends up looking at the camera.

All three styles have an almost inexhaustible catalog of engaging photos to support their worth, and it is up to the photographer as to how he or she wants to approach the matter.

I just say go for it, don't worry about what folks think. If you see the shot go for it. Photographer piss people off all the time, however they also make many folks happy so, you must deceide "do you care which way they think"