I like your face
July 1, 2013 2:59 PM Subscribe
What's the best way to ask someone if you can take their photograph on the street? Also where's a good place to discreetly watch people?
As a wannabe casting director/street scout I'd like to start a blog featuring my street photography of cool looking people. I just bought a camera. Now I'm trying to figure out where to people watch and how to approach people. I'm a 29-year-old non-threatening looking woman for what it's worth.
Basically I want to take photos of interesting people that I see around Boston, so that when I move to NYC in a few months I will have visual proof that I have a good eye for casting. I'm collaborating with a local photographer friend who would like me to invite some of my better "finds" to his studio. He's a professional, experienced photographer whose work has been featured in national publications and advertising campaigns. He has a nice studio and a professional looking website.
I often see people around that I think would look great in advertisements or on film. They aren't necessarily attractive but they have faces with distinct character. I feel weird saying to people, "you have an interesting look." It just sounds sketchy. Is there a better way of phrasing this?
Here's an example of how I'd be asking people to pose for me, although this is for a fashion-oriented blog.
I would also like to ask people for their email in case my photographer friend wants to get in touch with them. What's the least creepy way of doing this?
Advice on where to go and how to approach? Also how should I dress to minimize creepiness? Casual, hip, formal?
As a wannabe casting director/street scout I'd like to start a blog featuring my street photography of cool looking people. I just bought a camera. Now I'm trying to figure out where to people watch and how to approach people. I'm a 29-year-old non-threatening looking woman for what it's worth.
Basically I want to take photos of interesting people that I see around Boston, so that when I move to NYC in a few months I will have visual proof that I have a good eye for casting. I'm collaborating with a local photographer friend who would like me to invite some of my better "finds" to his studio. He's a professional, experienced photographer whose work has been featured in national publications and advertising campaigns. He has a nice studio and a professional looking website.
I often see people around that I think would look great in advertisements or on film. They aren't necessarily attractive but they have faces with distinct character. I feel weird saying to people, "you have an interesting look." It just sounds sketchy. Is there a better way of phrasing this?
Here's an example of how I'd be asking people to pose for me, although this is for a fashion-oriented blog.
I would also like to ask people for their email in case my photographer friend wants to get in touch with them. What's the least creepy way of doing this?
Advice on where to go and how to approach? Also how should I dress to minimize creepiness? Casual, hip, formal?
I've done this for photography class.
Have a business card on you or contact email so they may be able to get a copy of their photograph. I would say don't ask for their email directly, as people won't probably give it to you. Ask them instead to email you if they are interested in getting in touch.
That's incentive for them to want their photo taken if you are willing to send them a copy with a watermark or something, along with them not just giving their email address to a stranger on the street.
Your card should include what you would like to communicate with them about, with a contact email address and maybe a phone if you want.
Your probably want to go somewhere downtown/shopping/busy where there will be a good amount of people so you are safe and they feel safe. Dress casual/professional. Think maybe some dark jeans and a nice t-shirt or button up.
Then, just ask people politely. Say "I'm working on a project and I love your _____ Can I take your photo?" If they say no, leave them alone. If they are unsure you can explain your project and hand them a card. If they say Yes, take some pictures and give them your card.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:10 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Have a business card on you or contact email so they may be able to get a copy of their photograph. I would say don't ask for their email directly, as people won't probably give it to you. Ask them instead to email you if they are interested in getting in touch.
That's incentive for them to want their photo taken if you are willing to send them a copy with a watermark or something, along with them not just giving their email address to a stranger on the street.
Your card should include what you would like to communicate with them about, with a contact email address and maybe a phone if you want.
Your probably want to go somewhere downtown/shopping/busy where there will be a good amount of people so you are safe and they feel safe. Dress casual/professional. Think maybe some dark jeans and a nice t-shirt or button up.
Then, just ask people politely. Say "I'm working on a project and I love your _____ Can I take your photo?" If they say no, leave them alone. If they are unsure you can explain your project and hand them a card. If they say Yes, take some pictures and give them your card.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:10 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Here is an AskMe from a while back specifically addressing the "how to not be creepy" aspect. The OP of that thread is male, so some of it might not apply, but some should be useful.
posted by jessamyn at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
There are model release apps that make it simple to get their email and other info and associate it with a picture.
posted by Sophont at 3:13 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophont at 3:13 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: @Crystalline --
I'm considering the business card but I don't yet have a website and there's little about me online. Concerned this may be a problem.
posted by timsneezed at 3:14 PM on July 1, 2013
I'm considering the business card but I don't yet have a website and there's little about me online. Concerned this may be a problem.
posted by timsneezed at 3:14 PM on July 1, 2013
Response by poster: @Sophont -- Can you elaborate on this? Not sure what a model release app is.
posted by timsneezed at 3:15 PM on July 1, 2013
posted by timsneezed at 3:15 PM on July 1, 2013
You don't need a website for the card, just a contact email and info about the project so they can contact you for the photo and you can capture their email for correspondence. Just make a Gmail address.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:17 PM on July 1, 2013
posted by Crystalinne at 3:17 PM on July 1, 2013
I'm a 29-year-old non-threatening looking woman for what it's worth.
This is a major hurdle to not have to clear. I have several friends who have done this sort of thing. All the ladies never, ever mentioned any weird negative/angry/etc responses. A lot of the guys got those. I've also been approached several times by people doing this near my office who wanted a quick photo.
I'd definitely dress somewhere on the casual to hip spectrum for this.
Pretty much just go "excuse me, can i take your picture real quick? I'm working on bla bla bla project" and hand them the card afterwards and note that they should email you if they're interested in doing more.
Most of the people you'd want to take a picture of will probably be flattered. Don't let the odd negative person here and there knock you out of your groove. I've watched people do this outside my office all day and they looked like they were having fun.
posted by emptythought at 3:41 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
This is a major hurdle to not have to clear. I have several friends who have done this sort of thing. All the ladies never, ever mentioned any weird negative/angry/etc responses. A lot of the guys got those. I've also been approached several times by people doing this near my office who wanted a quick photo.
I'd definitely dress somewhere on the casual to hip spectrum for this.
Pretty much just go "excuse me, can i take your picture real quick? I'm working on bla bla bla project" and hand them the card afterwards and note that they should email you if they're interested in doing more.
Most of the people you'd want to take a picture of will probably be flattered. Don't let the odd negative person here and there knock you out of your groove. I've watched people do this outside my office all day and they looked like they were having fun.
posted by emptythought at 3:41 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
You'll need a business card to give to them so that they can contact your photographer friend - asking random people for their details is a no-no.
If you could get your photographer friend to include information about you on their website that would give you more legitimacy. Ask him if you can include his website on your business card.
If this is an arrangement between the two of you, you need to be clear about that to the people you're approaching, what both of your roles are, and that this is a professional thing.
And I would look hip.
posted by heyjude at 3:49 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
If you could get your photographer friend to include information about you on their website that would give you more legitimacy. Ask him if you can include his website on your business card.
If this is an arrangement between the two of you, you need to be clear about that to the people you're approaching, what both of your roles are, and that this is a professional thing.
And I would look hip.
posted by heyjude at 3:49 PM on July 1, 2013 [2 favorites]
Can you elaborate on this? Not sure what a model release app is.
I'm assuming this is just an app for your phone or whatever that lets you easily fill out a model release.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:50 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm assuming this is just an app for your phone or whatever that lets you easily fill out a model release.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 3:50 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I used to dress a lot weirder (HI EVERYONE WHO REMEMBERS THAT TIME A PHOTO OF ME WAS POSTED ON METATALK TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT A HIPSTER IS) and I used to get approached for this a lot.
Good things:
Have a business card and a blog address, don't just say you're gonna email me and then never do
Compliment something about how I'm put together; mentioning anything about my body screams "PORN CASTING DIRECTOR" or "SKEEZY" to me (this is actually my advice to dudes looking to hit on girls, too, compliment a choice they made like a pattern on a dress or an awesome backpack and not just the face or body they were born with)
People who dress weird and go to street festivals/conventions and stuff have a lot of RANDOM people asking to take their photo and will quickly start telling people to fuck off
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:42 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Good things:
Have a business card and a blog address, don't just say you're gonna email me and then never do
Compliment something about how I'm put together; mentioning anything about my body screams "PORN CASTING DIRECTOR" or "SKEEZY" to me (this is actually my advice to dudes looking to hit on girls, too, compliment a choice they made like a pattern on a dress or an awesome backpack and not just the face or body they were born with)
People who dress weird and go to street festivals/conventions and stuff have a lot of RANDOM people asking to take their photo and will quickly start telling people to fuck off
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:42 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
NAID is correct, if you just google "model release app" you'll see a lot of them, including free ones. If you do want to contact them in the future, sure give them a card, but also get their contact info.
posted by Sophont at 4:42 PM on July 1, 2013
posted by Sophont at 4:42 PM on July 1, 2013
Whenever anyone has asked me they've just gone "can I take your picture" and that was that. No exchange of info. If the photo had been going anywhere publicly/non-subscription viewable Such as a blog, I'd have welcomed a card with that info.
posted by tel3path at 5:42 PM on July 1, 2013
posted by tel3path at 5:42 PM on July 1, 2013
crystalinne's advice was great especially about the business card. you don't need a website, just have your email on the b.c.
you probably already know this but just in case you don't: when it comes to photographing homeless-looking people always ask first and it's customary to give them some money to be photographed. some lady didn't do that in hollywood last week and the homeless person, who was mentally ill, stabbed and killed the woman.
posted by wildflower at 6:47 PM on July 1, 2013
you probably already know this but just in case you don't: when it comes to photographing homeless-looking people always ask first and it's customary to give them some money to be photographed. some lady didn't do that in hollywood last week and the homeless person, who was mentally ill, stabbed and killed the woman.
posted by wildflower at 6:47 PM on July 1, 2013
people will feel at ease with you if you seem comfortable and at ease, like you know what you're doing. i never try to act sneaky or shy about taking a picture. i'm usually really matter of fact--fire off a few frames, then walk up with a big smile and say, "hey! i'm shooting this for [____] and i noticed how much fun you're having. do you mind if i get your name so i'll have it for caption info?" maybe this is where you could ask for their email, or give them a card with your info, right after you've explained your project.
the key to not seeming creepy is to act like what you're doing is the most natural, matter-of-fact thing you could be doing.
no one has ever really given me crap for this. maybe once i've had someone say they didn't want to be in a video i was making and i told them, sure, and that was that.
as far as where to go--if you're nervous about cold approaching people, fairs, flea markets, food truck rodeos, things that are already big public gatherings...you've got a lot of people who already expect this whole thing to be an Event, so hardly anyone will even notice that you're taking pictures.
posted by iahtl at 11:04 PM on July 1, 2013
the key to not seeming creepy is to act like what you're doing is the most natural, matter-of-fact thing you could be doing.
no one has ever really given me crap for this. maybe once i've had someone say they didn't want to be in a video i was making and i told them, sure, and that was that.
as far as where to go--if you're nervous about cold approaching people, fairs, flea markets, food truck rodeos, things that are already big public gatherings...you've got a lot of people who already expect this whole thing to be an Event, so hardly anyone will even notice that you're taking pictures.
posted by iahtl at 11:04 PM on July 1, 2013
I just announce to the person that I would like them to be my next blip.
posted by Doohickie at 7:46 PM on July 2, 2013
posted by Doohickie at 7:46 PM on July 2, 2013
Photographer David duChemin wrote a fantastic book titled Within the Frame. Chapter 5 is about photographing people, and its first subsection is, "Approaching People" (page 98). For what it's worth, the first sentence is, "This just never gets easy."
posted by cribcage at 12:45 PM on July 10, 2013
posted by cribcage at 12:45 PM on July 10, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
I have tried this a couple of times and it does work. You can take candids this way fairly nicely.
I have also screwed up my courage to walk up to people and say, "I love your outfit, may I take a photograph of you" and to be perfectly happy if they say no. I make sure to say "Thank you" and if they decline to say "That's cool, I understand" and smile nicely.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:08 PM on July 1, 2013 [1 favorite]