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?
I use a white van with the words “Free Candy” on the side, works every time. HA! j/k.
I’d say this is one area where certain gear sticks out and people kinda recognize it and think ‘oh yeah, he’s a professional’ which helps tremendously. I was in the SW corner of Colorado back in 2004 and these two young kids (under 10) kept calling me “The Photographer”… when you show up with multiple cameras and big white lenses and yeah, you can’t live it down really. I was enjoying DSLRs as they were new/fresh on the scene still and it didn’t matter where I went people begged me to take their picture. Don’t come off as creepy (no white vans, no free candy), just be polite and professional at all times. And NEVER think that because you’re the photographer that that gives you privileges. I remember ducking out from in front of a couple at a hockey game and they were shocked. No other photographers ever apologized or got out of their way or view of the game. What we do is a privilege not a right.