Street Photography: Practical Advice for a Good Mentality 

Photography should always be for yourself.... Never for the masses!

Visually exercise without a camera together with a friend , discussing possible subjects and exchanging points of view is just brilliant! Sean adds a new perspective even on the most over done subjects. It's crazy how many similar videos I've watched but this is the only one that gave me so much ! This man has a gift ! 🙏

I used to work in the Food Photography, Martial Arts photography & Real Estate industries & found working for clients became really mentally exhausting, so I quit. I now do photography for me only. I share stuff on Instagram but don't do it for likes or follows or comparing to others. And now my mental health has hugely improved.

Excellent. Love the example with the two images. Completely get that. And: you're never lost when it doesn't matter where you are. :-)

This is a spectacular take on not only photography, but some approaches on how to approach curiosity, discipline, persistence, learning and art. I’ll be sharing this with friends and family. Appreciate the work Sean. Love your perspective and advice.

00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Travel Light And Wear Good Shoes 04:02 - Try A Different Focal Length 05:42 - Stop Worrying About Your 'Hit Rate' 07:49 - Walk More And Visually Exercise 09:23 - Get Lost 10:44 - Block Out The Responses To Your Work 13:14 - Cultivate Curiosity 14:25 - Conclusion 15:06 - [SPONSOR] Squarespace

Such good tips. Especially the "hit rate". I grew up and started my interest in photography before digital cameras. I took a long break and am now getting back into it. The "hit rate" mentality is a hard habit to break because it meant a lot more when shooting film and going through the development process. It felt wasteful to me if i didn't produce sufficient quality to justify that.

This could just as easily be called Photography: Practical Advice for a Good Mentality. Love this video.

Another great video Sean. Really great points that you make. I especially enjoyed the photo with your iPhone, not only a great image, but also goes to prove that camera gear is always secondary to the art form of photography.

Thank you for being you, Sean.

Sean, I certainly agree with you in getting the practical side of photography sorted out first, good fitting footwear, comfortable clothes, lightweight carry bag, the minimal set up to get the job done, a camera you are totally familiar with. Secondly to be clear about our own motivation which hopefully develops through our inner creative process and not dependant on likes from the internet. That rather ties in with the Marc Riboud quote. "Taking pictures is savoring life intensely every hundredth of a second." I interpret that as simply being there, being in the moment, observing life as it happens. That is reward enough, one does not need Instagram for that experience. Perhaps that might be a starting point for a future video, now the practical stuff is out the way??

These are some great tips! I started doing street photography not just for the pictures but also because of the level of exercise it also provides. Shot light and you will shoot better!

Just the thought of leaving my favorite lens at home gives me anxiety lol. You're right though, every time I go out and decide to throw the 50mm on, I revert back to my 21mm within 10 minutes. I've never grown with the 50mm range because of that.

When I saw the grasping hand mural I immediately thought of it as another cliche photo like when somebody paints angel wings on the wall. However, the mother and son photo grabbed me. The angularity of the boy's hand in the centre was such a contrast to the softness of the overall shot, I was hooked.

I am so happy to know your channel, always inspired by you...

Even your practical is philosophical. 👍🏽

Your videos are always so insightful and very unique!

Great suggestions and advice, as always! I especially like the "get lost" suggestion. I live in Canada and Canadian cities are all about function. Very few people walk and transit is only for those who have no transportation choice so there are relatively few people to view in public. This video inspires me to get back out there in that I will revel in the journey, not the resulting photographs. We'll see what happens but I'm sure I'll be a better photographer for it. Thanks for taking the time to produce this video, Sean Tucker!

Yes, definitely the shot on the right 😊

Thank you Jean, for a while I was so disappointed and frustrated with the work i shot that it made me to put my camera away for a while. Now i know this is an essential phase to become better and improve. Thanks for your inspirational work!

Lots of ideas here - not just for the street genre.

Sean, great job on all these topics. So many resonate with me. “Hit piece” was right up my alley. I can’t just go out and start snapping pics hoping I get something. I know it when I see it. And when you put up the hand reaching out to the man and the mom and the son on the tube. I gravitated towards the mom n son. To me? It had more feeling/emotion and had a story. Thanks again Sean. Keep up the good work.

Great advice. On a recent trip to Warsaw I only took my Ricoh GRIII. It forced me to really look for creative shots at 28mm. And by not worrying about getting shots that require a telephoto I actually started to look more intently at including interesting elements in my compositions. I highly recommend your video from a few years ago "My Minimalist Street Photography Setup (feat. Ricoh GR3)".

Great practical tips! And I love what you're saying about backing oneself when one knows which photos represent visual growth, no matter the response of the internet. I think we all know deep down. And also that one of the few ways of becoming a better photographer is to develop as a human being, as well as developing one's eye. That's so much harder than getting better gear or going to more exotic places. But it's the truth and every serious photographer knows this deep down.

Yeah, thanks for sharing those thoughts and insights Sean. Really appreciated. There's something about that second didn't get as much attention image that I really connected with. The shared exhaustion with a child feels. . . Thanks for noticing that moment and sharing the reality of life when it feels hard.

Great tips! I love that you actually talked about shoes. I always wear comfortable shoes when I can, no matter when/where I shoot. I've even bought myself a foam pad for when I have to kneel a lot in my shoots. I love the part you mentioned about other photographers from other locations reaching out to say thank you for your take on their city. I'm going to Perdido Key in Florida this coming week and can't wait to do some random walks/shoots.

Superbbb sean!

Dear Sean. This is one of the reasons why i loved your book and your work in general. Thanks so much for sharing.

Great video, Shaun; it complies with my vision and thinking about photography. This advices is so helpful and valuable, not only for beginners but also for advanced photographer. I enjoy watching it for these minutes. 👌👌👌

Great stuff. Just talking about the thought process creates its own within us all I think. This is such a great way to express ourselves to ourselves. I love to find something new in what I'm sure I took for granted, with my eyes and in my head. The opener was brilliant and I confess I've never made a black and white video. Inspiring as ever Sean.

This is really something a lot more beginner photographers should be listening to. Thanks Sean. Very insightful

Cheers Sean another great video. Keep it up.

wonderful video as always. always good to hear these words from someone you know where they actually stand and are. good man.

It's always a pleasure listening to you talk about photography and all of the other incidental topics that go with it. I'd like to reiterate one of your points. The most important thing about photography... Footwear! 🤣 I also learned the hard way!

Wonderful. I really love iPhone image of the mother and son as well, so beautiful. Loving the feelings in your images at the end of this video.

PS I'm currently having a break from photography to explore my past and present. I can sense that this will change how I take pictures and the kind of pictures that I take. Thank you for saying that one doesn't need to be taking photos all the time in order to grow as a photographer. I really needed to hear that today. So thank you.

Beautiful video... Your insights are always inspiring..🙏🏽

Sean - Your communication style is so good and healthy!!!!! When I watch a video and feel like I need to leave a comment I how I ask myself why ........ the process of clarifying my thoughts helps me understand what I learned, liked or need to understand better. I am a very enthusiastic amateur wildlife photographer (birds) who continues to work at learning by "watching" the best. People may wonder why a wildlife photographer would be watching a street photographer (?) I have learned so much from your perspective, your approach, how you view the world and your style. Your example of the two pictures and the "feedback" on instagram was fascinating. I am still not sure how or why it struck a nerve in me. Thank you for making me wrestling with ideas, concepts and new approaches. You have made me better!

Thank you for this video, Sean. I am grateful for it.

Thank you again Sean.

Thanks for all the tips. I find that I do pretty much the same, good shoes, carry light, be curious, use my visual eye, get lost & explore, don't care about my hit rate, etc. But I'm still learning and still got a long way to go.

Useful and meaningful. As always

Super video Sean. Thank you. Could I add another practical tip which is to know where toilets and coffee stops are located. It can be very distracting no to 😂 I have one smaller camera with a fixed 28mm lens but have recently been enjoying using a bigger mirrorless camera and the flexibility of a 24-70 lens. And the larger camera has changed something for me. I get easier acceptance when I ask to take a portrait but I actually have (especially the TikTok generation) people approach me to take their photos. That was unheard of until recently! Final thought : The Tiktok generation are not only more open to being photographed but oh boy are they naturals at posing for the camera. I’m 68 yo and have great interactions with youngsters young enough to be my grandchildren! Maybe the varying generational attitudes to street photography would be something worth exploring in another video? Meanwhile, keep up the good work! And thanks again

What a Great Video! Thank You for making this available to us!!!

Great advice, and I love how Sean takes such a kind and thoughtful approach.

You’re a gem Tucker!

Yet another vlog that got me thinking. Leaving my favourite lens at home, is something i want to try more.

A very well put together video with lots of wisdom. The wisdom of photography is the wisdom of creativity.

Wonderful video as usual Sean. Every single piece of advice is meaningful and it applies to all creativity-driven photography genres. Not only street photography. The mom and son photo in the subway is excellent! Thanks for sharing.

Great advice. Couldn’t agree more about keeping gear light. After buying a Fujifilm X100T many, many years ago, I found that my FfF DSLR just sat in the dry cabinet. I took the light-weight camera with me everywhere and was rewarded with so many images that otherwise would never have been created. Consequently I sold all my heavier gear in favour of much lighter kit.

Great video, great advice Sean! Your thought process & techniques are so practical & make shooting fun, as it should be, which helps us grow & get better! I started photography many times, but always stopped in frustration or disappointment. I recently started again & threw away all expectations & only focused on shooting anything that interests me, not expecting perfection. The results have been very satifying!

Fantastic video, Sean. Thank you. Many of the points you make occurred to me over the last couple of weeks/months. It’s great to hear themvocabularised so thoughtfully. It’s like a note to myself with the benefit of knowing I’m not alone with these thoughts because it comes from you. Thank you for sharing this. :)

Sean I watch your videos for quite a long, I think since the very first ones. Your ideas on photography are still the ones that I take in account to change the way I do my photos and actually the ones with positive results (at least for me...). Iam grateful to you for this. Unhappily, your recommendation on "getting lost" is good and correct formost places, it is not practical in my country. I did this while travelling abroad, what means not often. And enven though Iealized as you mention. Wish I could do it in my hometown. Once again, thank you for the always good lessons.

All true! Thank you that you share your thoughts and experience

Great overview of points. Totally agree with the tips and personal lessons.

Your approach to discussing these matters and the words you use are revelatory. Well done. And thanks.

Great advice Sean, I’m actually about to go out of my hotel for my first of 3 days stay in London. I had several places on my list but I’m actually going to try just wandering instead with just my iPhone 15. Just got to decide on my starting point. This is going to be interesting, thank you.

I really enjoyed and appreciate this video, thank you.

Great advice as always. TFS your wise and useful experience. ❤❤❤

Thank you for another meaningful video.

Very well said Sean!

Thank you Sean - really insightful video - very much appreciated.

Your style is so inspiring.

Friar Tuck with the good stuff.

Outstanding!

Thanks for the advice!

Love your videos

I really agree about beginners photographers comments, thanks for let them know Sean how respond their comments 🙂

Very helpful as always.

Thanks a lot for this video. It's been really helpful

so inspiring👌, thank you so much🙏

Excellent and knowledgeable - I love your content! Thank you so much - you’re inspiring and humble! 😊

Love it dude... no more needed said \ well, apart from yes, less judgement upon cliches and going with out flow... but absolutely yes when it comes to not being so inspired to shoot but investing in what does fire us, thanks man

Was awesome as always to bump into you in Oslo. I hope you enjoyed exploring 😊

Awesome tips, Sean -- and I think they apply to photography in general - not just street photography. Thanks mate!

Great Sean. Thank you 🙏

Muchas gracias for you video. This is food for my photographer soul. 😊

Very interesting perspective! Terrific images at the end.

Super useful Sean. Thanks a lot!!!

Thanks for this, Sean

Excellent! ❤

Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👍

It was very useful info thanks for sharing with us.

Excellent!

Trying unfamiliar focal lengths is good advice. I own several old lenses that I'm slowly reviewing on my website and for that I need to spend some time shooting with them all. Sure it's frustrating when you don't get the images that you want but I learn something new with each lens.

Sean, you are one of my photography gurus. I have been taking developing and editing photographs for about 60 years and your thoughts capture many of my own conclusions that I have reached after these many years, but lack the eloquence to present them so clearly and thoughtfully as you did. I would, however, make one suggestion. While I realize it may be useful to put a label on a particular genre of photography for purposes of RU-vid, I think you are selling yourself short by doing so. Much of what you had to say is applicable to many other Forms or styles of photography and should be viewed by those who consider themselves landscape photographers, for example. After all, we all strive to create something approaching art in a visual medium, using a camera and photo editing. Our subjects may vary, but the core concepts of striving to create that art remain the same.

Curiousity and being able to see and respond are the keys, whether taking a pic or not. Thankyou Sean for your thoughts.

Great tips there Sean, Love the exercise that Joshua recommends.. Thank you

Super useful! 🙏

Hi Sean! A visual exercise I like to do is watching photo books. And of course, the famous ones are quite expensive, but there is a series of paperback books called ´Photofile´ by Thames&Hudson that seems to have all the greats covered: You can get a grip on the work of Ernst Haas, Saul Leiter, Harry Gruyaert, Gordon Parks, Helen Levitt, William Klein etc. ... About 13 quid each. Highly recommend these paperbacks!

Great job!

1 Camera, 1 Lens is all I carry on the street and the month of June is the Leica M10 and CV 50/1.5 Nokton II for the entire month. I feel if I carry other lenses and have to think about which I should use and make that change I already missed the moment. Another great video Sean, just love the content.

Of the two photographs which you posted on Instagram, I prefer the one taken on the underground of the mother and child. The cliché photo of the hand trying to grab the pedestrian; I know it would be difficult or have to be set up. But it would be more appealing to have a lone street photographer or a ‘No More Oil’ protester being grabbed. Another great vlog!!!

All good pieces of advice, but I especially like the idea of forcing online opinions out of your head when photographing. I love complex, richly detailed, textured scenes and photos, but they're not as popular as other images I've done (either online or amongst family and friends). Part of that is probably that those images are more relatable and achievable to (other) beginner photographers, which I count myself amongst. I think the other part of why simpler images are more popular online is that there's simply less space to view the photo when it's on a smartphone screen. I have an image on my wall that I love, but the 16x20" print on the wall is probably the smallest you could print it to really appreciate the layers and details. It looks terrible on a phone screen. But back to the point at hand, I really feel there's something to be said about making images that you enjoy, regardless of what other people think. There's something magical about the introspective process of finding out what you really care about in an image, and having the patience to go through that process (which is taking me, at least, many years!). I'm very slowly learning what photos I want to take, and it's a really special bit of self-realization. For me there's no timeframe on it, there's no pressure to start making "good" photos that I'm proud of - it takes time, and accepting that is almost as hard as figuring out what photos I want to take in the first place.

Sound advice, great video

Thank you!🍻

excellent. thanks for sharing

For "zero-drop" shoes (flat profile) try Waldviertler, hand-made here in Austria.

Thank you

Linking back to you of course.