Most people feel awkward about approaching people on the streets to photograph them.
Through experience, trial and error I have had the pleasure to understand the psychology of approaching perfect strangers to ask them for a pic and the wonderful joy we receive by pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone.
When we go up to a person and ask them whether we can take a photo of them, we are putting ourselves in a vulnerable situation and not many of us are comfortable with feeling vulnerable.
What do we risk? We risk someone say ‘no’, laughing at us, getting angry with us or dismissing us. These emotions can be devastating. So often to avoid these emotions we see people in beautiful situations that we would love to photograph but we don’t do anything about them.
I know there is a chance of a ‘no’ but I also know there is a big chance of a ‘yes’.
Going out of our comfort zones draws attention to ourselves and many of us don’t want to be seen. We would prefer to take photos of sunsets and empty landscapes to avoid confronting ourselves with strong emotions or a possible no. We decide the risk isn’t worth it but when we risk nothing that’s what we end up with.
One of the greatest things to overcome when wanting to take photos with emotions and a human component is to let go.
Letting go of what ‘others may think’ is the first step towards having the courage to step out of your comfort zone.
Often we are projecting our own thoughts on what the other person may be thinking and this blocks us from ever asking. So allow them the right to answer before we self-sabotage the situation with what we think they are going to say.
Most people feel like they are ‘taking’ when then they ask a stranger to pose for a photo but I have learnt we are also ‘giving’, often a gift so rare we couldn’t even imagine it.
From the years of putting myself in a vulnerable situation I have learnt that 95% of the time when I go out of my comfort zone I am rewarded not only with a beautiful pic but with human connection. The greatest gift of all.
I hope you will be able to join me in one of workshops for "Photographing Strangers" in either Glasgow ( my home city), London, Paris, Tuscany & Dundee
The workshop are open to a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 6 participants.
I look forward to meeting you........
Ewen Forsyth
