I am a quite shy person ad often, when i find an interesting composition-subject (like a person doing something, a goup of people in a nice setting etc), i struggle to capture it because i feel like i’m being rude taking pictures without their approval, but at the same time i think that, by asking them, the spontaneity of the shot would be compromised. What’s your take about it?
Just do it a few times, and you’ll get used to it. Say something like; “Hi. Im a photographer and photographing the local street life, and was wondering if you would be ok with me taking a photo of you?”, maybe you can add something saying that they look cool, or you like their style etc. or just tell them that you are photographing stylish people on the streets and you want to take their photo etc. Little flattery can make people warm up nicely. I promise you will be surprised how many people are ok with this (as long as you dont target people who look pissed off or in a hurry), especially if you say that you can send them the photo afterwards.