11 Mistakes Ruining Your Street Photos (& How to Fix Them)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I’d love to know your opinions on the mistakes in this video, so drop a comment below! As always, thanks so much for watching🙏🏻

[@thereapersperch]

I love street photos but the very thought of pointing my camera at people and having them see me taking their photo with the very real possibility of them being pissed off and confronting me about it is something I simply hate.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah that’s a common problem! But will be doing a video on this soon to hopefully help folks with confidence a bit

[@Fred-Wilbury]

I’d be the same my problem is actually getting out of the house 😢

[@cortanathelawless1848]

That's why I seperate those two, like either I'm taking pictures of a street, then I try to avoid having people in my frame, or I'm making a portrait and have expressed consent from the subject

[@ElementaryWatson-123]

Then don't stick camera into people's faces. There is something unhealthy wanting to take strangers' pictures and everybody feels it. I want my pictures to remind me about the time I was with my family, my friends, my pets, places and events, not the strangers who mean nothing to me.

[@cortanathelawless1848]

@@ElementaryWatson-123 I mean there's a difference between someone who occasionally takes pictures and doing photography as an art. Two very different things. Like even when I take photos of friends the way I approach it is very different

[@gabrielleholt1863]

I finally started street photography about a month ago and I absolutely love it. I struggle a lot with social anxiety and depression, but it's given me more reason to explore the city on the days I don't have much energy to socialize with others. I actually PREFER street scenes because I rarely have to interact with anyone directly. I walk fast naturally too which helps me dodge any lingering stares, haha. As for the "back of the head" mistake, I totally agree with this. But as a beginner, if you DO find yourself taking those shots, then look for people with really cool hair or outfits. That way even if the environment is boring or bland, or you don't feel comfy enough catching their face, you can still get a portrait of sorts with the details of their aestheic from behind. Heck, you could even make that your INTENTION to only seek out the backs of people's heads for a specific series or project idea. That could be really creative and fun!

[@Anthony_Urzua]

Wow. As someone who’s new to street photography this really hit hard. Definitely a reality check but much needed for the future. Great video, dude!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you mate! We all have stuff to work on but that’s what makes street photography fun :)

[@lindakantes873]

Just found you! inspiring to say the least . For me the reason for trying a bit harder in street photography, is breaking my telephoto rx10 .... left with a7c and prime lenses ..... Thank you for giving me a free lesson ... keep 'em comin'

[@timjamiesonphotos]

So happy to hear that! Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed 🙏🏻

[@frankmenkel8329]

Jim, thank you for the advice. I agree with all of your "mistakes". I am fairly new to street photography, and one mistake I am guilty of is moving around too much. I have to force myself to find a location, sit down or stand still and wait for people to come by. Much better than running around frantically to find a shot.

[@KellySedinger]

Nice video! I'm new to street photography as a dedicated genre--I've always done it a bit, here and there, but I never realized until recently how it's a respected and old genre of photography--so this is helpful. I struggle with the "all hours" advice, not because it's wrong, but because the vagaries of life and requirements of families and dogs and other pursuits do tend to cut down the opportunities to go make streetscape photographs at all hours. That's a me problem, though...along with the fact that we live in the farther suburbs of a city that's on the small side and doesn't always have a vibrant street scene anyway. Those are just the specific hurdles I face...along with the fact that the camera I am using now does not have good weather-sealing, so I'm shopping for rain-covers now before winter hits.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks for the comment! Welcome to the street photography club 👌🏻🙏🏻

[@RichardNZ68]

Great advice. Much appreciated!

[@nymmit]

What a great video. Thank you for pointing out for the mistakes. 🎉

[@EliseoMartelli]

Hey Tim! Great video as always. I surely do recognize myself in some of these mistakes

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you mate, really appreciate it. And me too man, I thought, I do all of these mistakes so maybe other people do too and might want to improve them. So hopefully helps some folks ha!

[@garyives1218]

Your background needs a Telecaster, or perhaps a Jazzmaster :) 7:33 love this shot; the lady's glasses and bag, the Mobile Order graphic tucked perfectly head and shoulder, and the ice cream cones defiant against the humongous sandwich and 700 calorie $7 "coffee" concoction "perfect" lunch, eyes fixed upon something interesting instead of obsessing over whether their lunch is in fact perfect or not.......yeah, poignant.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha, I’m a drummer actually so no guitars for me! Thanks for the comment, glad you appreciate that photo 🙏🏻

[@bettinavandam689]

Thank you for sharing your tips. I really like the way you advise.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you found the video useful :)

[@LouisPhilippeTessier]

Thanks for the recommendations and good job for the simple, yet useful video !

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed 🙏🏻

[@aloadinn]

Love your videos Tim, your passionate for photography is beautiful.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you so much! Glad you think so 🙏🏻

[@michaeljin5241]

Great experience sharing. Bravo and thanks.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful :)

[@christophertan3707]

Thanks. This was extremely useful!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Great! Happy to hear that 🙏🏻

[@TryingtoLearntheuke]

Great video Tim. I definitely see myself making several of these mistakes.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks, Pam! Hopefully it was a bit useful 😁

[@MikeZett-b2n]

Another inspiring video even for those who are not a beginner photographer. Be aware that you are already making an impact with your first point, summing up in a few sentences the message of at least ten videos on KZbin that try to explain how to be more creative. And this (#1) matches with mistake #9. I have found these two most useful for me. But honestly I am guilty for all of the mentioned mistakes. So thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts. Can't wait for lots of your videos to come.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Hey Mike! Thanks so much for the lovely comment, really happy to hear the video has been useful to you 🙏🏻 - happening shooting 📸

[@Glennsphotography1968]

Brilliant video and well said. I am going London again this weekend, I find it helps my mental health, as it seems that all my problems are put on hold while I am out shooting. I am following you on Instagram, mine is same name as this. Take care and stay safe.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed it. Same here, street photography is like my therapy 🙏🏻

[@erick-gd7wo]

Carrying smartphone with me offers good deal of chances of taking snapshot. Once i just snap based on gut feeling and try to care about the result later, and got quite few interresting shots.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah that’s the way to do it! Nice one ☝️

[@stillkim17]

Top notch video. I think this will be your most succesfull video so far.🙌✨

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks so much dude! Means a lot. I certainly hope so haha 🙏🏻

[@TDtog2112]

Great video again Tim with some really good advice. I have been guilty of a few of these myself so will pay more attention 🤣🤣

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks Tony!

[@paulm8157]

Solid points, well explained, Tim. 11, one more than “top ten” and 1 less than “dirty dozen” - nice. Talking head perspective differences (like focus breathing) among segments a bit distracting - (Picky, picky😊.) Sometimes I cringe at “back of the head” images, yet some make a point of never having identifiable people as street photography subjects. Chimping not an issue for film😊. Ever read the Instagram terms of service? I avoid the platform because there’s a provision that enables Instagram to use any uploaded image, in whole or in part, any way they please, without creator compensation or attribution. IMO, that’s bad enough, as is, but think what they can do with AI. Cheers!

[@sebby4457]

thanks bro - very good stuff! subscribed

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed 🙏🏻

[@JustJustyna76]

Great tips,thank you!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure! Glad you found it useful 🙏🏻

[@marcelocampbell1679]

Very high quality videos 👌🏻. Pretty sure your channel will grow very fast.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you so much! I hope so 🙏🏻

[@louixhunter4023]

Wicked advice thanks Tim !

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you, Louix! Much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@NDakota79]

I don't chimp but my biggest mistake is not taking the time to working the scene. Every time I try to, I feel like I'm spoiling the scene with my presence. People are making an afford to walk around me or to wait for me to finish a shot before entering the scene. I quickly become the center of the scene and everyone is aware of me photographing, which completely ruins my chances for a candid street shot. I'm not sure how to fix this yet.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yes tricky! Sometimes if you stay in a place long enough you no longer bruise it as people stop noticing that you’re there. Another way is to pretend you don’t know how your camera works properly or pretend you’re a tourist then people often notice you far less. Can also try and shoot from the hip a bit more in those kind situations, but yeah it’s definitely tricky to do!

[@RolandKaufmann]

I was going through the video like “yup, done that, oh yeah, guilty” hahah. I agree that the biggest mistake is comparing ourselves to others. I do it far too often (comparing my channel growth, Instagram following). No good comes from it!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah 100%! Me too to be fair, but the occasional reminder I finds really helps next time I got out and shoot and aim to be better 🙏🏻

[@scotskinner4350]

In an attempt to improve my street photography I've been checking out books from the library on the subject.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Good idea :)

[@arnoldpodcast3614]

Great video man! Skill over gear! Noted.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏻

[@emmanuelpower2439]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure!

[@key_ekaterina]

Haha, I am a serial “chimper”))) regarding the editing I would not 100% agree, although in general very true, but there are some photographers who created their own style with rather strong color-correction, many might not like it, but there are many outstanding shots of sunsets, for examples, and famous buildings that were achieved by strong editing.

[@janwinter.mp4]

Great video. It’s really helpful that you pinpoint the mistakes clearly, so that I can avoid them or at least be aware of them the next time I’m shooting. Although the editing is cool, you could improve the talking head setup. It looks relatively flat and maybe you could bring the camera down a bit. I like to have the eyes on at least 2/3rd height of the frame :)

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Glad you enjoyed the video 😁

[@TheUrbandilema]

Awesome tips tim I used to take lots of back photos 😅 I also love the choosing of time and weather I have been so tru recently been after by light and especially weather ...will be remembering these tips..I broke out of chimping way early I usually take the screen off or close my screen and to depend on the evf..have swell day we need more povs plz especially in Brighton love street photos from there

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thanks a lot! Glad you found it useful 😁 - new Brighton POV coming up next weekend actually! 🙏🏻

[@AMillion-o9i]

thank you!

[@timjamiesonphotos]

My pleasure!

[@CourtneyG.]

Very interesting tips, Tim! Particularly the first tip about broadening creativity.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Thank you kindly, Courts! Hopefully it helps a few folks out on their photography journey! 🙏🏻

[@timblass4811]

Great video. Pretty certain I saw you on the tube last Saturday pm scrolling through your images with go pro in situ! Might be wrong, but street photographers notice these small details 😂

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Hey! You shoulda said hi haha. Was in the capital with a mate all day, video dropping soon 😉 Great name by the way

[@timblass4811]

@timjamiesonphotos Haha, yeah should have. Sure there'll be another opportunity. Look forward to seeing the next video too. After all, street photography...it's a Tim thing... 😁

[@TheSadButMadLad]

I admit to repeating the same topic over and over. But they are because I'm doing projects. But I counter it by doing all the projects at the same time. So I'm doing numbers and fire escape and rubbish bins and air conditioners and bollards and tables & chairs. So over each day out I cover a variety of subjects.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s a great way of approaching it for sure! I think if you do that with intention and in projects then perfect, from a mistake perspective I mean more just taking the same photo over and over, like a person walking past a wall, it definitely make sense to experiment a bit in my opinion!

[@ReadIcculus93]

I've figured out the chimping game. I only chimp on my first 3 images. I take a shot of a brightly lit are, one of a shadow area, and one that's more evenly lit (if i can find all 3), then i chimp to make sure I know what my histogram is on each image so i can adapt to the day's natural light. Then I might chimp again at the very end to check if one of my shots was as good as i remember them. But I hate chimping mainly due to how fast it drains the battery. I bring 2 batteries and the only time ive ever had to change batteries was while i was chimping lol

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah solid plan, deffo want to check images from time to time that your settings are correct but the rest of the time it pays not to check the back of the camera!

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Chiming is also a massive give away to the subject you just photographed I try to keep the camera to my eye aiming in the same direction long after the subject has moved on they’ll think I’m shooting something else and they probably just photo bombed my shot 😅

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Exactly! Great tip

[@BudoReflex]

I can’t say I ever cared about photography as an adult , but I used to love it as a kid when only film was available. It’s drawing me in at the moment, I am not sure why. Maybe I just love cool gear and want an excuse to ride my motorcycle.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Cool gear and an excuse to ride your motorcycle is as good a reason as any! 👌🏻

[@BudoReflex]

@@timjamiesonphotos sold!

[@CesarLeite]

Great vid, great tips 😍 If I've related with more than three, does that mean I'm a bad photographer?"???????? #joke Love your photos \o/

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha we all make all the mistakes at some point! Helps us learn. Glad you enjoyed! 🙏🏻

[@bcegerton]

My biggest mistake that, even after over 10 years shooting Street, I can still be found doing is “Over Editing” without a shadow of a doubt.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

So easy to do! But editing is subjective as well to be fair

[@doge394]

As a beginner photographer I find that video really useful. Thanks a lot, Tim! ❤

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Great! So happy to hear that 🙏🏻

[@markwalch702]

Yeah chimping is something I do like today when I went out shooting in Liverpool. So what I do now Tim is sit down somewhere to rest my feet and have a quick look at my images. As we all know by now that we may get one or two rubbish shots. That needs deleting.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah exactly, spot on! I’ve started trying to do that more too 🙏🏻

[@memusetoo]

Great tips Tim! I recognize myself in several of these mistakes. The most obvious are chimping and impatience. Maybe some over editing, it's a matter of taste I suppose.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Absolutely, I think we all do some of that stuff and a reminder sometimes to tighten up a bit can get us being a bit more productive. Editing is definitely a matter of taste for sure! Thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

[@kaazd]

thanks for tip #10. but if the camera that I have is not enough for me. my level has increased a little. I want to switch from a one-inch canon g7x III to a new aps-c Sony a6700. photos I could take I can't because of the technical capabilities of the old camera

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah, the tip is about not getting unnecessary gear, if you need a new camera then get a new camera :)

[@konnorlowrance8352]

If you're struggling with anxiety when shooting street I recommend Trevor Wisecup, he's a street photographer in NYC that uses a flash. He got me over my fear of confrontation when it comes to street photography.🙌

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yeah he’s not what you’d call shy 😆

[@d.h.5281]

For me the biggest mistake is, to miss the one moment because of thinking about mistakes...

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yes very true, just need to focus on the moment in the street :)

[@TheSadButMadLad]

I admit to chimping. But I explain it away by saying that I'm practising a new way of holding my camera and need to get immediate feedback as to whether or not I'm aiming the camera right. It will take lots of practise.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

We all do it! I think it’s fine to do if you find some quiet time to look through or if you want immediate feedback to not take your eye off your current surroundings too much ☺️

[@bosiefoobar]

Two massive advantages of shooting people from behind are: - privacy is still there and legally sound - you won't risk falling into some weird social porn photo

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Haha I’m not sure I understand your comment there. But fair point on legality which differs depending on the country you’re in

[@bosiefoobar]

@@timjamiesonphotos I find that a lot of street photos that are just showing the face/body of some random.bloke to be a bit awkward and depending who is shown (people looking wasted, down on their luck, ungroomed etc) just lazy and for the sake of embarrassing someone

[@frcproductions9089]

this guy deserves more subs

[@timjamiesonphotos]

That’s a very kind comment thank you 🙏🏻

[@ded-_-pihto]

It is difficult to constantly go outside and try to find something interesting to photograph when you live surrounded by the architecture of Eastern Europe, where the vast majority of houses are multi-storey panel houses. And to get to at least some beautiful place, you have to spend at least an hour driving

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Yes of course, street photography is hard and you will never get something great each time you go out, in fact it’s rare to get a great shot, you just need to keep trying. Perhaps watch my video on street photography in a Boring place for some ideas :)

[@ded-_-pihto]

@@timjamiesonphotos tnx! Today I will go with a friend to the city center to look for interesting photos

[@rb.arindam]

Bro's face looks like clarity slider pushed to the left edge. (not an personal attack) Wondering why. Skin quality/smoothness? If yes, you can start a channel for taking care of skins. Or the eyebrows maybe a reason? I'm sure you've come across this question before, if you found the answer, please reply 😬😬

[@timjamiesonphotos]

It’s when I just started making KZbin videos really, bought a new camera and it had a filter on it that I didn’t realise about. Check my latest videos to see the set up without the filter on 👍🏻

[@MykeHawke-r9r]

Oddly, this is a lot like sales coaching

[@evi9929]

What’s not cliche then ?

[@timjamiesonphotos]

A photograph that doesn’t rely on old tropes to make it interesting. Street photos with a twist, or a moment, or an emotion, or incredible composition or a mixture of all those things. It’s subjective

[@tomfenn7149]

Lesson number 12, stop using the term 'street photographer', and just be a photographer.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Calling yourself a street photographer isn’t a mistake so hasn’t really got anything to do with the video 🤭

[@tomfenn7149]

@@timjamiesonphotos with all due respect, I disagree. As soon as you categorise yourself as one thing and one thing only, then you confined yourself to a particular genre. This most certainly is a mistake.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

​@@tomfenn7149 It's not a mistake, because street photography means different things to different people. It can actually be useful and helpful to categorise or identify yourself to one genre of photography, such as street photography, to give a direction to your work, which you can always change at a later date anyway. So I respectfully disagree with you :)

[@marcgriffin6908]

Isn't it "cliche" to get shots of people on their cell phones?? Like shooting fish in a barrel? A lot of your shots are of people on the phone

[@timjamiesonphotos]

I don’t think any photos in this video show someone on their phone from memory, not sure where you are getting ‘a lot’ of my shots are of people on their phone from? Have you seen the work on my Instagram or my website? Again not a single phone. Also people on their phone isn’t inherently cliche anyway :)

[@green856w]

Street Photography seems a bit of a con. "It's different things to different people." So those supposedly taking street photographs cannot explain. They don't know, which explains the con. The so-called street photographers seem to want to give the pasttime an air of mystique, when all it amounts to is snapping people and vehicles in the streets with little or no regard to composition.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

Bit of an unnecessary comment! All art is subjective, great street photography is wonderful but it’s very hard to do well. It’s also a lot of fun. If you don’t like it or appreciate it, that’s fine but I don’t understand why you feel the need to vocalise that. If you don’t like the genre just ignore it and go look at photos of ducks instead

[@streetwalkerphoto]

That’s because you’re looking at KZbin street photographers, many of whom are suffering from Dunning Kruger and have no desire to develop as artists or reflect on their work. I’m not into a gatekeeping - I don’t think composition has to be at the forefront of a decent street picture - but I know what isn’t street photography and there’s a lot of it on here. You can usually tell who these people are because they chimp every picture they take of a parked car and call it “sick”. They also obsess about the speed of their lenses and encouraging their idiot followers to interact with their facile attempts at photography on as many platforms as possible. I think I need to lie down now.😂

[@andrewc5286]

@green856w you sound generally unhappy. Hope that changes for you.

[@fintonmainz7845]

It's a genre not suited to the OCD amongst us.

[@BudoReflex]

Nothing about this comment makes any sense. It’s really funny to read a troll on such a small channel and such a niche past time. I guess trolling has its lean times too.

[@LICATAC]

the fact that you do street only because you like it is just one of the motivations, the pleasure of sharing them and having "approval" from others is, however, the engine that pushes you to do more. there is no point in hiding behind false modesty.

[@timjamiesonphotos]

If you say so