‘I’m A Street Style Photographer And This Is Why I’ll Stop Someone To Take A Picture’

I think people are interested in street style because it’s people wearing the trends their own way. Our subjects take inspiration from what they’ve seen on the catwalk and add their own twist, or wear it in a way that suits their body shape. I think street shots have become a phenomenon because it is more relatable than seeing a model on the catwalk

I began shooting street style in 2005 – 15 years, would you believe it! I still stop people to take a photograph for the same reasons. It’s because they have great style, or show a great use of colour, texture or print. Sometimes it’s a person’s attention to detail, or how they have chosen to wear a trend that grabs me. Of course, I’m also on the lookout for established names from the industry, but that’s a given as they are established because they’re highly creative.

But, a great shot isn’t dependent on the outfit you’re shooting. I have to have good light. Light is always a photographer’s biggest ally. Great light makes a great image and poor light can be tricky even if you’re a really good photographer. I also need a good choice of background and the models have to have a natural pose.

I try not to overshoot because you can lose the moment a bit and it should always be about capturing the moment. If the person has time then I’ll shoot between 30 and 40 frames and edit it down to about five. But, in a full day, I can take up to 3000 frames and submit 600 pictures to Getty.

The pictures you see aren’t the ones I took, I edit each one down, crop them and colour adjust them and I’d remove anything that I don’t like in the shot, for example, a cigarette on the floor. I don’t tend to change the actual shot itself because that changes the fundamental elements of the person and their look.

See: The Best LFW Street Style

Influencers have changed the street style scene. When brands first became aware of their reach, they would dress the girls head-to-toe. Now that people are beginning to understand this new wave of street style and its influence brands are becoming smarter and that they’re realising that the way forward is for these influencers not to wear head to toe a single brand but to choose pieces that actually relate to their own style and they wear in their own way. It shows this industry is still evolving.

The industry is still changing. In the same way that the models coming down the catwalk are much more diverse, I think it’s something that is breaking through to street style too. Some photographers, though, are held back from showing this by the brief a magazine that may have commissioned them to shoot too. But, personally, I try and shoot a diverse cross-section because I think it’s a lot more interesting and it’s going to appeal to a wider audience. In my opinion it’s important to include everybody