Some outfits are simple, but the standout pieces make it spectacular. This young woman had the most amazing vintage accessories, each of which warranted its own close-up.
Try shooting upward for close-ups of items, since you rarely have the opportunity to use that upward camera angle. This unusual view will give variety the perspectives in your shots.
Having your subject cross their hands is an easy way to get all of their rings in one photo.
We’ll usually ask our subjects to kick one foot out so that we can photograph both angles of their shoes in one shot.
When photographing rings and watches, we’ll generally have the subject hold out their hand and shoot from the top.
We prefer to shoot shoes at their level—that is, get the camera down near the ground and have the lens pointed straight at the shoes, the same way you would hold the camera at eye level to photograph someone’s face. We recommend against pointing the camera straight down at someone’s shoes from your eye level. When you do this, you lose the dimensions of the shoe and have the disadvantage of shooting against a flat background. Getting up close to the shoes at ground level will capture more details and add a contextual background, which usually includes people and buildings. This makes a more dynamic photograph. The angle of the photo will better feature the shoes and the background will tell a story.
Environment
It’s street style, so you will be outdoors most of the time. That means that the weather will be your best friend and your worst enemy. You’ll face wind, rain, movement, and evening light.
Wind. Even the most pleasant days might have some degree of wind. This is not too much of a problem, since most cameras are fast enough to capture a good photo despite minor wind movement (as long as your model stands perfectly still). One problem you might encounter is wind blowing hair into your model’s face. When this happens, ask your subject to angle their face into the wind so that their hair blows back behind them. This will make your photo more dynamic. If the wind is too strong, try to find a wall or corner to duck behind. If it’s so strong that taking shelter does not help, it’s probably not a good time to be photographing at all.
Rain. Worse than wind is rain, since rain usually entails wind as well. The most important factor to remember is the danger the rain poses to your camera and equipment. I’m sure you know that moisture and electronics are NOT friends. We do not recommend risking your expensive gear by shooting in any situation that might expose your camera to water. However, if you insist on taking the plunge, at least get a protective cover designed for shooting in such conditions. At the very least, you’ll need something to cover your camera from the rain as much as possible and you’ll have to wipe off your camera’s lens area.
Movement. Street style photos look best when the subject is sharp and the details of their outfit can be clearly seen. This is achieved by having both the model and your camera as still as possible when you shoot. A good camera and lens can handle a small amount of movement provided that lighting conditions are ideal, but minimizing movement will improve your chances of getting a truly crisp, amazing shot.
At times you may be shooting on something unstable, such as a boat or subway train. Just remember that the model, not the background, has to keep still. If you and your model are on the same part of whatever is moving or vibrating, chances are you’ll both be shifting at exactly the same time. So it IS possible to get a decent photo, it just won’t be easy. Steady yourself and take as many photos as possible. Remember: The best photos are often taken under adverse conditions.
Evening light. Shooting at nighttime creates a whole slew of obstacles that you might not have previously encountered if you’ve only shot during the day. The most obvious is the absence of natural light. But there is also the factor that wandering the streets at night can be dangerous—both for yourself and others. Be extra careful when guarding your equipment. This element of hazard can also make potential subjects twice as wary of being stopped. Be sure not to “creep up” and startle your subject.