The 3 Most Important Things for Great Street Photography

1. Luck

Some of my favorite photos from the entire trip were completely by luck. Standing in the right spot. Then something unreal walks into frame.

A guy on a horse.
On a highway.
Covered in tattoos.

Everyone around me was losing their minds.

I just had my camera up.

Luck isn’t passive.

You don’t wait for it - you position yourself for it. Right place, right time isn’t a cliché. It’s a strategy.

2. Friendliness

You’d be surprised how far a smile gets you.

I was walking into people’s homes. Photographing strangers. Sharing moments without speaking the same language.

Just curiosity and a good energy.

“Permiso.”

That’s all it takes sometimes.

Approachability is a superpower. The camera becomes invisible when the person behind it feels human. Not speaking the same language? Doesn’t matter. Sometimes it actually helps.

3. Story

This is the one. A mechanic invited us into his workshop. 82 years old.

Everything in that space told a story. Tools stacked on tools. Years of work layered into every corner.
He was talking, pointing, proud. We didn’t understand the words - but we understood everything.

That’s the difference. A good photo looks nice. A great photo makes you stop.

It makes you ask:
What’s going on here? If it feels like something happened before the frame - and something will happen after - you’ve got it.

4. (An extra tip..) Always Have Your Camera

This one’s not a tip. It’s a rule.

Luck. Friendliness. Story.

None of it matters if your camera is back at the hotel. We stumbled on a group of horsemen moving up the road. We had maybe 30 seconds. The photo exists because the camera was already out.

Always be strapped.

The Kit

All of these were shot on film.

• Mamiya 6x7
• Kodak Portra 400
• Kodak Portra 800
• CineStill film

The grain. The color. The weight of the negative. It adds to the story before you even touch the edit.

If you keep these in mind, your photos will change. Not overnight. But permanently.