How do YOU ask a subject if you can take a picture of them?

[cole_cyccone]

If you ask your subjects if you can take a picture of them in public, how do you usually ask?

 

my answer is either strike up a conversation then ask if i can take a picture of them to remember them, or im a photographer, do you

mind?

[Spearhead]

"Hey, can I take your photo?" Or every now and then, "Great ink, where did you get it done?"

[Spearhead]

Or most of the time, I just wave the camera at them and wait for them to ignore me.

[Spearhead]

"Hey, can I take your photo?":

 

http://www.spirer.com/images/brits1.jpg

 

"Great ink, where did you get it done?":

 

http://www.spirer.com/images/newtattoo.jpg

 

Wave the camera and wait:

 

http://www.spirer.com/People/slides/hoodminna.jpg

[Damon DAmato]

I point my camera at them.

[Damon DAmato]

Here's a yes<br><br>

 

<a href=" title="DSC_7053 by NoHoDamon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2774338961_c686a85a9e.jpg" width="500" height="390" alt="DSC_7053" /></a>

 

<br><br>

And a half-hearted no

<br><br>

<a href=" title="Greetings from Santa Monica 07-19-08-6 by NoHoDamon, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2707355534_9c9ec82a64.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="Greetings from Santa Monica 07-19-08-6" /></a>

[Brad_]

Just ask. <P>

 

It's rare when No is the answer. I enjoy <a href= "http://www.citysnaps.net/blog/?p=73">engaging interesting

people.</a>

[mharris]

I don't ask, they never see me;

 

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f158/mharris660/6659247-lg.jpg">

 

<img src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f158/mharris660/6812918-lg.jpg">

[fullmetalphotograper]

I talk to them. I let them know, who I am and why I am there. Then I just become a fly on the wall. I want them feel

comfortable with me shooting. I am not into invading privacy. The whole sneaking around to get a photo never worked for

me.<div></div>

[Uhooru]

Sometimes I just ask them, and while I keep them occupied, my accomplice sneaks up and gets her purse...

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/2237889479_d4eab8fe26.jpg?v=1202033046">

[Brad_]

>>> The whole sneaking around to get a photo never worked for me.

 

Same here. Seems those that sneak are so preoccupied about not being caught there's little attention paid to creating an

interesting image.

[frank uhlig]

It helps if you open your mouth and speak a modern language, usually. And if that does not work, pass on and try again.

[pierre_c1]

Japanese girls need to have their photo taken at least every day.

Note that I know about 50 words of japanese, including "can I take your picture, you're pretty", of course.<div></div>

[pierre_c1]

Pointing a camera caused this reaction in Danshui, Taipei, Taiwan. But then again, this is Taiwan, one of the friendliest places you can visit. The only word of Chinese I know is "Thank you".<div></div>

[pierre_c1]

Those very funny communists were too busy indoctrinating a passersby to notice me. This one was taken in my home town. This protest was quite ridiculously entertaining, as all French protests always are.<div></div>

[john_elder1]

I don't think I have ever asked a subject to take a street photo. It doesn't produce the type image I'm looking for. That is not to say that people who ask for permission don't get good photos, they do. I also don't sneak around, I couldn't if I wanted to since I'm 6-4. Frequently, but not all the time, the subject(s) of my photos aren't aware that I took their photo. When they are aware, I have usually waited for the subject to make eye contact with me having an already focused, composed image.Different photographers have different techniques for getting candid shots. Jeff's technique of advertising that he has a camera and then letting the subject forget about him is one very good technique. There are probably as many techniques as there are photographers. Bruce Gilden is a great example of NOT sneaking around, yet he has been criticized by many, calling his street technique abusive. My advice is to hit the street and shoot what interests you without worrying about subject reaction.

[ronald_moravec1]

I love your shirt-hat whatever. May I have a photo?

[cmitchell]

It helps if they're in a drug-induced state...they don't know you're photographing them at all! But really, I've never asked. I just snap the picture, unobtrusively.<div></div>

[john_elder1]

Reading , Pa, is the one place I don't do street photography. It is too dangerous. For real! My life has been threatened once to many times to shoot there. Hats off to you Christine!

[cole_cyccone]

How, john? i love to read stories! tell...

[Brad_]

Getting back to the OP's question... Just ask. It is so simple...

[joe_gallo]

How did Oscar Wilde put it? "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission..."<div></div>

[pierre_c1]

To get back on the topic a little ;)

 

Saw this girl in a NY street. I told her out of the blue that I really liked her hair, then took the photo. Actually, I think she's irresistibly pretty, but couldn't say that, cause my gf (who was there) would have kicked my butt, lol.<div></div>

[pierre_c1]

Saw this guy in front of me in a train in Japan, in that pose. As I framed the shot, he opened an eye, looked at me, we both smiled, and he resumed his meditation. So, you can say in this case I asked for permission and he granted it, although it was non-verbal.<div></div>

[pierre_c1]

Simply asking "I dig the glasses man, can I take a picture ?"<div></div>