These days, becoming a street fashion photographer is no sweat. All it takes is an Android or iPhone, Instagram and a few friends who know how to spiffy up and pose. Even professional photographers admit to snapping with their camera phone quite often, since carrying heavy–duty equipment around all the time can be such a drag.
So that makes the only separation between an amateur and an expert the knowledge of theory and practice, which nowadays can also be self-taught (thank you, Internet). While an eye for good style and fashion is something that can only come naturally, you can learn the basics of photography from a lot of research and practice. To help you on your way, we’ve put together a few tips to help you take better smartphone photos. Just thank us later when your street fashion blog becomes famous!• Take your photos in an app. As it turns out, you can get improved photo quality from snapping in an app as opposed to directly with the camera or Instagram. Chances are photos will not only be clearer, but the settings can also help adjust the lighting. Camera+ or ProCamera for iPhone or PicsArt and Pro HDR Camera for Android come well recommended by photography experts.
• Give’r an edit. While the professionals use Photoshop, giving images a quick dust-up with a smartphone is really not so difficult and can go a long way. A lot of people simply use Instagram filters, but for a more unique and eye-catching finish, Camera+ and PicsArt are great tools.
• Location, location. The background in a street fashion photo is both important and not so important at the same time. What’s cool about this style is that these photos can be taken just about anywhere with very little set-up – from the sidewalk to a park bench. However, you can up your game by putting a little extra time creating a background with nice depth of field. It’s a piece of cake with a DSLR camera, but can also be slightly jigged up by smartphone too. Keep the foreground less busy and use lots of lines and unusual angles. Instagram’s “Tiltshift” feature can also help with visual pop.
• Lights. Controlling the lighting, like the background, is another instance where some extra prep time can make a big difference. Choose a location with warm natural lighting that creates highlights and shadows without covering up facial features. Camera+ or PicsArt can also help to control the light on the other side, too.
• The Square/Border debate. Here’s something the professionals can’t seem agree to on: whether the square function or borders in Instagram are aesthetically pleasing or not.Cutting a photo into a box or adding some neat edges certainly adds flavour to an image and can even make it reminiscent of an old Polaroid. But honestly, we’ve all seen those instances where a thick black border really loses on “wow factor”. The main idea here is to just go with your gut. After all, that’s what street photography is all about – trying new things and never getting too attached to any one method or style!
