Le puedo tomar una foto? – Can I take a picture of you? I can’t count how many times I have asked this question during my recent trip to South America… People often ask how I take street portraits, do I ask for permission? do I tip for posing? During the years I have established a set of my personal rules which I follow when I do Street Portrait Photography.
The first rule. I always consider myself on other side of a camera, picturing a stranger photographer who wants to take a picture of me. I act in a way that I would want to be treated in that kind of situation.
The rule number two, I respect the privacy. If I see that a person doesn’t want his/her photo taken, I stop, show that I understand/ apologize and move on, skipping the photo.
The rule number three. A friendly approach. When I ask for permission, I start with a smile, look at the eyes, and explain why I want to take the photo. In most cases I photograph a person because she/he looks beautiful or special to me – Te ves hermosa (“you look beautiful” in Spanish). After a few shots I show photos I took. This breaks the ice and gives me an opportunity for a new set. I say “Let me take these photos in a better way” and ask to change a pose, to smile, etc. On the markets I may buy a product first, take a photo of a product, and then ask for permission to take a photo of a seller. After a “photo session” I leave my business card and offer to email pictures if a person is interested in having them.
The rule number four. I am comfortable with tipping/paying people for modeling. When I travel I have coins or small bills in a pocket for tipping. A tip amount depends on the particular country. Normally, it is in a range of $1-$5 (USD). The highest tip I have ever paid on travel was 5 euros in Munich, Germany. The highest in Peru was 5 soles ($2).
The rule number five. If photographing children, I ask for permission from a parent if one is around. I tip a “child-model” with the same rate as an adult and, additionally, with a treat. I always travel with “little gifts for kids” – bubble gums, mints, and candies.
The rule number six. No Street Portraits of military and police men… just in case :)
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Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Thank you for sharing!!! As always, great pictures!
Thank you for stopping by!!! As always, glad to see you here!
Your pictures are beautiful. Planning to travel to Peru next year. I have started a travel Face Book page called TRAVEL JOANS. Could love to know what you think. Working on web/blog to extend and hopefully grow readers. Thanks for any advice.
Thank you, Jo Ann. You will enjoy Peru.
Your Facebook page looks good. You have nice photos posted, but I would post more. Just keep posting updates.
I particularly like the photo of Maori greeting by pressing noses together :)
Memographer recently posted..Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?
Beautiful portraits. Creates a wonderful travel ad. :-)
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Thanks, Maria. You are right, these look like “Travel to Peru” posters ;) So, when are you going?
These are stunning Alex, and I’m so glad you posted your thoughts on street portraits. Seeing people doing this badly or inconsiderately is so incredibly frustrating. The tipping thing is one I go back and forth on depending on the situation – but generally I don’t like encouraging that as a commerce. But I definitely agree on leaving your business card and emailing the photos. Although in Uzbekistan, a man misunderstood me and thought I was asking for his home address so I could visit him. Awkward.
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Thanks, Alli! Certainly, I tip depending on the situation. I work as a photographer and I have used to pay models for modeling. So on travel I pay/tip a person who “works for me” by following my directions (modeling). I appreciate their time and help by tipping. For example, I’ve asked a man playing a charango (photo above) to relocate to other side of a hill. So I would get Cusco city in background. The lady with a cria (baby llama) was working hard on posing a cria for me the way I wanted. The lady in a pink dress had an old Sony radio on her shoulder. I have asked her to sit down and display the radio in the way I wanted… All people from the photos above have modeled for me and have been tipped for that.
The Street Portrait Photography is different from street photography snapshots. You can see that type of photos in my next post about Santiago People where nobody had been tipped.
Memographer recently posted..Street Portraits of Peru: Le puedo tomar una foto?