The Love of Black and White Street Portrait Photography

[@BrianKuhn-g4u]

I'm so happy that I have found your page! Last week, I was at a beach in California, and had an opportunity to take a portrait photo of a very interesting man, lots of "character" in his face. I was too nervous to ask his permission. I am still regretting not asking him, as I think he would have been a great subject. Thank you for explaining and giving me a sense of confidence in stepping forward and asking people, moving forward. I am very much looking forward to learning more from you!

[@paulreidphotography]

So pleased this has given you a push to ask people in future as the great characters don’t come along often enough

[@ElevatedThreat]

Most all KZbin videos about street photography are focused on the camera settings, the lens, or f8nding the light or leading lines, etc.... It is very nice to have your videos that address the mental conditioning of the photographer. Thank you!

[@bradleybeck-hill8742]

Great video and awesome portraits 👍🏻

[@JohnBlack-emc]

Just found you on KZbin. I love your delivery and your photography. I've got a bit too much going on at the moment but will certainly join one of your future workshops in Scotland.

[@andreaspretali]

Dear Paul, a really great and inspiring video. Thank you for the valuable tips! I'm really looking forward to the 'Photographing Strangers' workshop in London tomorrow!

[@paulreidphotography]

Hi mate, looking forward to this weeks workshop too!!!!

[@reinhartreuschel5499]

This is the right way making portraits of people and their environment. I do it in the same way - since about 1970, and never will skip it!

[@paulreidphotography]

Amazing! Thanks so much!

[@frankiacone6642]

Paul, this is great, but I would appreciate it if you shared your ideas and how you edit the portraits so we can oleanr and get better.

[@paulreidphotography]

If there’s a demand for that I will certainly do a video on editing

[@rg3412]

@@paulreidphotographywould love it too. A journey from raw to final image before printing say

[@Nonthanburi2]

New sub here, yes please do a ‘EDIT’ segment.

[@RikMaxSpeed]

Awesome set of photographs! I’d love to know about your editing technique too.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much I may do a video on the editing process soon

[@bernverified]

Hey, Paul. New subscriber and I’m binging your content. Love your perspective. Keep it coming. I would second the idea of a video about your post-production to print “process” for lack of a better word. Heck, I’d even pay for a mini-online workshop about that. The thing is, and maybe this is true for a lot of your followers; your images are so compelling and emotive that it makes one think that they MUST have a monochrome sensor to achieve that feeling… and maybe you do to an extent. Man, I just dig everything you’re squeezing out of your images - helping us aspiring B&W documentarians tease more emotion out of our already captured images would be brilliant. Cheers, friend.

[@paulreidphotography]

Hope you’ve joined the online membership and watched the post processing video. It’s free

[@stevebuxton8494]

Hi Paul i've recently found your channel and studied your work, I am particularly interested in street portraits. The main thing that I will take away is the preparation that you have gone to to select the background and use things to lead to or frame the subject, I saw one where a frame in the background was used. Seeing the right subject is one thing but the background is a big part of the photo, in future instead of wandering about for a subject I am going to work to find the right background and wait for a subject to come. Great videos.

[@russellsprout2223]

Only recently discovered your excellent channel, but gutted to learn that you've since moved from my native Carlisle. A workshop here would have been ideal.

[@tundrusphoto4312]

Hello, Paul: Thank you for the great videos. They are very much appreciated. If I may ask a few questions...Do you provide the subjects in your photographs with a copy? Do you keep track of their names and contact information? Lastly, do you give them a copy in some form? Thanks again.

[@paulreidphotography]

This is something I really need to work on! I do usually send them digital copies. But not always. I’ve lost peoples names sometimes

[@domannicette]

Your work is just astonishing!!! Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. It's very refreshing and above all inspiring! :)

[@jimtrull683]

You’ve got some wonderful portraits here Paul.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it

[@andrewwright9512]

Hey Paul. Love your work. I know you’ve been using the Q2 mono for quite a while. I was wondering which of the in-camera lens-length options you use. Cheers.

[@bryangideon5822]

Fantastic portraits Paul they are inspirational

[@eltinjones4542]

So natural so brilliant Paul 📷 👍

[@kpov44]

Thank you Paul - you do a great job with street portraits, and you are truly a motivator. Love the videos and photos - well done!!!

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it

[@RobertFrench-io9ou]

Thank you

[@naziraltamar]

Paul, thank you very much for your work!

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much for watching

[@SimonHoning]

Love this approach- gentle & constructive & producing some dead classy results.In the right groove, my man.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much

[@markielinhart]

Love your work as ever Paul! 👏👏👏🇦🇺✌️

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it as always

[@lumberjack3008]

Mindblowing. Great, great shots! Chapeau!

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much!!! Very kind of you!

[@alexfrederickson1540]

Fanatastic, Paul 😮 Are you shooting at 28mm here? I’ve always thought you’d get distortion so wide.

[@iaincphotography6051]

Great work as always Paul, another enjoyable episode.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I appreciate it

[@garymepsted9741]

Fabulous portraits Paul. Any further news as to when your book might be out?

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I don’t think it will be this year. It’s a very costly thing and I just don’t have enough to do it yet. It’s all ready to go too.

[@heinzhagenbucher4714]

Very beautiful work you made. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a lovely evening.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much for watching!! I really appreciate it

[@ablinder]

Hi Paul. Love this! Amazing work. What camera/lens do you use?

[@jorgenarnefurfjord]

Wonderful work 😎👍 Cant wait until next time watching You`r beautiful photos really likes You`r work.....Thank You!!!

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate your kind comment

[@angelaatkins9057]

Just wondering if you have any plans to run workshops in Birmingham.

[@technoalah]

Awesome pictures

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much!!

[@stefansipl6736]

Yes, fantastic portraits. Is there a tutorial where you show how you do you post production to achieve such beautiful black and white results? And: Did you use your Q2 Monochrome for all these pictures in this video? Thanks a lot!

[@paulreidphotography]

This is now on my members website. It’s free to join

[@sebastianop.3052]

I am not a professional photographer I like street photography and is common for me notice a person I would like to take a portrait but I don't have yet the courage to ask, and I always "kick my self" how you said. For you o for a professional is much easier because you can justify but as amateur people are suspicious, and I don't have confidence to convince them or discuss my reasons.

[@paulreidphotography]

So if I was you I would play on the fact you aren’t a professional. Tell them you are testing a camera. Tell them you have been given a task to take as many portraits as you can that day. Being a professional can be a hindrance. People think I will charge them for the portrait sometimes. It is a bit scary but after doing it a few times you will realise that people are nice in general and a compliment as well as taking their portrait will make their day. Everyone is a winner

[@sebastianop.3052]

@@paulreidphotography thank you so much for the advice, you are the best.

[@garymc8956]

You seem to use a low aperture and get great separation which is unique with a wide lens. Would be interested in n more about this, like focusing technique, f stop, etc.

[@paulreidphotography]

I shoot around 1.7 and focus on the eyes

[@shaddring]

Love your work. If you had to choice only one would you pick the Leica Q2 Monochrome or the Q3?

[@paulreidphotography]

For me the Q2 Monochrom.

[@Spearmanmark]

Hey Paul, do you ever use an ND filter to shoot wide-open in bright sun? I know the electronic shutter will go high enough to accommodate it, but I use a three stop ND filter on my Q3 so that I can actually get the feedback of hearing the shutter click. That’s a weird idiosyncrasy maybe, but I love using it.

[@RikMaxSpeed]

So you ask your random street strangers to pose? Look up? Look straight at you etc.?

[@paulreidphotography]

I do Rik, or whatever sometimes comes naturally without much guidance

[@Jake-g9l7i]

Neat . Regards Jake E.

[@paulreidphotography]

Thanks so much!

[@jorgschade8884]

So Schön

[@martingreenberg870]

“ I’ll pluck up the courage and actually ask them to if they would pose for me.” I am a street photographer and occasionally take street portraits. I sneak them. I don’t ask for permission. I don’t pose my subjects. I just take a candid portrait. Could you explain what you say to your subject to obtain their permission to photograph them. Also, how do you pose your subject? This sounds like a video. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

[@paulreidphotography]

Maybe I will record some footage of this next week. Thanks so much for watching the video

[@TeamHoff1]

Aha Manchester!!! I hope I can get to this workshop Paul. This is my stomping ground. Might try the "I'd love to take your portrait" and testing a new camera out routine.