StreetSnappers - The Street Photography Podcast

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

PLEASE NOTE: There was an error on the original recording (I omitted the clip of Adam's question). It's now corrected. Apologies!

Well, I managed to skip an episode but I'm now back with my fortnightly cycle of episodes of the Street Photography Podcast!

I come back from a run of trips feeling oddly refreshed and it is not because I bought new camera gear. It is because I did the opposite. I take only my iPhone to northern Italy and find it genuinely liberating to walk without a bag, without the weight of expectations and without the constant need to “prove” anything with every frame. From Lecco and Bergamo to a quick hop over to Dublin, we talk about what travel does to your eye, why some places are better for photography than street photography, and how a warm city can still kick your motivation back into life.

Then I share some personal news: after more than 11 years of building Street Snappers into a well known street photography workshop brand in the UK and beyond, I am seriously considering selling the business. If you have ever thought about running workshops, there may be a real opportunity here, and it sparks a wider conversation about what it takes to teach well, build trust and keep standards high in an industry with very low barriers to entry.

Listener questions take us into the practical stuff: using images in an online book review, whether buying a Leica or Hasselblad can help you out of a creative rut, and what actually works when your photography feels stale. I share a clear checklist for choosing a street photography workshop, from group size and coaching time to specialism, track record and a proper itinerary. We also touch on the Ricoh GRiv monochrome temptation, my decision to abandon a black and white only challenge, and a simple anticipation technique for better street shots using the British Army's '5s and 20s' rule.

Finally, I suggest some of my favourite YouTube channels for street photography.

If you enjoy thoughtful street photography talk, real world workshop advice and honest gear chat, subscribe, share the show with a friend and leave a review. What is the one change that most improved your street photography?

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LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:

My book: Street Photography Manifesto  Buy the e-book here!

StreetSnappers workshops

Brian's email: [email protected]

Support the show

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

We start with a relatable photographer’s dilemma: packing for a proper holiday in Italy and choosing between cameras when street photography is not meant to be the main agenda. That leads into the bigger question underneath it all: how do we shoot with less pressure, especially when we feel anxious about direction, creativity, or what our YouTube channel is meant to become?

We introduce a new listener slot, 'In the Frame', starting with Hugh Rawson, a primary school head teacher who explains why street photography keeps pulling him back: the tiny, fleeting moments most people miss.

From there we tackle the hot potato of flash street photography. A burst of flash can turn a dull street into something sharp, strange, and impossible to ignore and it can also make you very visible, very quickly.  We weigh the pros and cons honestly, then get practical: why hard direct on-camera flash can be better than “nice” light, how underexposing the background creates punchy separation, and the simple rule to remember when you mix flash with ambient light. We also share usable starting points for night street settings and why manual flash often beats TTL for consistency.

The second half shifts to gear and inspiration without the hype. We answer a listener question about Leica vs Fujifilm with clear reasons that matter in real shooting, including ergonomics, lens sharing and zone focusing. We also review Letizia Battaglia’s astonishing Sicily photobook, there's a shout-out for a listener’s London project, and we revisit a classic film camera you can still pick up for sensible money: the Olympus OM-1.

If you enjoy thoughtful street photography chat with actionable tips, subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave us a review if you want more listeners to find the show.

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LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:

Hugh Rawson's YouTube channel 

Latizia Battaglia book: here

John Hartley's website

StreetSnappers workshops

Brian's email: [email protected]

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

Most street photographers don’t need more courage, more kit, or a more exotic destination. We need a smarter way to grow on purpose. I take the comfort stretch panic model (a simple framework used in training environments) and translate it into street photography you can actually do next time you head out. The goal is not to feel fearless. It’s to aim for mild discomfort, stay functional, and let that stretch become your new normal.

From there we get practical: changing focal lengths for a month, moving closer without tipping into confrontation, choosing unfamiliar locations, working a single spot for two hours, or committing to a small documentary project instead of hunting for random singles. I also share a simple self-check: rate your anxiety from 1 to 10 and aim for the learning zone around 4 to 6. It keeps you honest, and it keeps you safe.

A listener question shifts us into the business side of street photography. I break down where the money can come from workshops, book royalties, talks, occasional commercial commissions and why print sales are often the toughest route without reach or representation. We also tackle smart glasses and what they mean for candid photography, plus a book recommendation (Fred Herzog’s Black and White) and a Shoreditch field guide covering Brick Lane, Columbia Road Flower Market, layering with a wide lens, and how to avoid the easy clichés.

If you enjoyed this, subscribe, share it with a photographer friend, and leave a review so more street shooters can find the show.

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

One tiny choice can change your entire street photography: which focal length you commit to when you walk out the door. I tackle a listener’s question about 35mm, 50mm and 85mm (plus where 28mm and 90mm fit in), and I explain why I usually reach for wider lenses. We talk about getting close enough for real emotion, using zone focusing to react quickly, and the discipline of picking one lens and sticking with it long enough that you stop guessing and start seeing.

Then I let off a bit of steam. I’ve been watching the current wave of street photography on YouTube, and I’m worried about where it’s heading: safe shots, bland scenes, and creators teaching workshops while modelling work that never pushes for meaning, tension, or story. It isn’t that great work doesn’t exist online, it does, but you often have to dig to find it. I share why this “anything goes” approach risks diluting what good street photography looks like for newcomers.

We also shift into street portraits, where comfort zones and anxiety can get in the way. I break down how to direct strangers quickly and naturally using simple conversation, confident prompts, and preparation so you’re not fiddling with settings. I cover my biggest do-nots, from asking for a fake smile to ignoring background clutter or shooting in harsh midday sun. Along the way I share news about my new book “52 Assignments Night Street Photography”, a Venice lagoon workshop concept beyond the tourist core, and a camera you must try at least once: the Rolleiflex TLR.

If you enjoy thoughtful, practical street photography advice with strong opinions, subscribe, share the show with a mate, and leave a review. What focal length do you swear by, and what are you tired of seeing online?

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

Street photography can feel like a never-ending hunt for isolated 'keepers' until you put your images next to each other and realise what they are actually saying. That’s where zines come in, and we make a direct, practical case for why every street photographer should be creating them.

We break down what a street photography zine is (from a folded sheet to a beautifully printed booklet) and why it matters more than another Instagram post: a zine is curated, sequenced, and permanent. We talk about how making one forces you to edit properly, build flow and pacing, and shape a narrative arc. Most importantly, it helps you find your voice, because you stop asking “is this a good picture?” and start asking “does this belong in the story I’m telling?” That single change is often the moment street photography turns into a coherent body of work.

From there we pivot to the first pick in a new 'street photography cameras you should try before you die' series: the Nikon F2. We unpack the appeal of a tough, mostly mechanical film camera, why reliability and feel matter, and how great older Nikkor lenses can be without Leica-level pricing. There’s also a no-nonsense guide to buying used cameras from Japan on eBay, including what to watch for and why import duties can still leave you with a great deal. We finish with a listener question on post-processing ethics, keeping street photography authentic, and a simple darkroom-style rule for edits that still respects reality.

If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a photographer friend, and leave a review. What’s the one zine you wish you had made, and what would you call it?

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LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:

Brian's new zine - 'Reality Czech'

StreetSnappers workshops

Klick Magazine: https://www.klickmagazine.com

Brian's email: [email protected]

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

Street photography is meant to feel alive, but online it can turn into constant arguments about who’s doing it “properly”. Think of the StreetSnappers podcast as a virtual pub instead: honest chat, no sniping, and enough practical detail that you can actually improve your work. That starts with a listener question that every zine-maker has faced sooner or later: why do my black and white images lose their punch in CMYK printing? We dig into rich black on uncoated paper, why screens lie, and how better tonal separation, proper greyscale conversion, and smart curve work in Lightroom, Photoshop, or Capture One can lift your pages from grey salad to crisp blacks and clean whites.

Then we go deeper on a creative problem that sits behind most ‘stuck’ portfolios: comfort zones. Using the comfort-stretch-panic model (borrowed from military training), we break down what each zone looks like for street photographers, why growth happens near the top of stretch, and why panic is not brave, it is counterproductive. If your work feels empty or predictable, the answer is not a reckless leap, it is a controlled push with repeatable challenges you can sustain.

Along the way there’s a quick beer review, a grounded take on The Art of Street Photography by Josh Jackson and Sean Tucker, and a personal update on shooting high contrast monochrome JPEGs on the Leica M11 after a week in Prague. We also answer a question about having a co-host, and I finish by lobbing an ex-Army hand grenade at a stubborn myth: expensive gear will not make you a better street photographer. If you’ve got thoughts, record a short voice note and send it over, then subscribe, share the show with a mate, and leave a review so more street shooters can find us.

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LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:

StreetSnappers workshops

Klick Magazine: https://www.klickmagazine.com

Brian's email: [email protected]

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

Prague is calling, my bag is getting packed, and I’m thinking about the kind of street photography that actually says something about modern cities. Over-tourism is one of those subjects that’s both visually rich and slightly grim: tacky souvenir shops, tourist menus, crowded streets, and a place that starts to feel like a theme park for weekenders. It’s great for photographs, but it raises bigger questions about what gets lost when a city becomes a product. 

Before I hit the road, I sit down with Neil Johansson, a street photographer I’ve watched grow for over a decade. Neil is a passionate amateur with a seriously distinctive eye: conceptual, often abstract, and strongly rooted in black and white. We talk about how his work took shape, from early photography at school through a key Royal Photographic Society competition result and the Goldsmiths International Urban Photography Summer School. We also get into influences done properly: taking inspiration from photographers like Saul Leiter and Daido Moriyama, plus cinema and art, while still making images that feel like yours rather than a tribute act. 

You’ll hear practical, grounded ideas on finding your voice, shooting without an agenda, and why long-term projects can be the difference between coming home empty-handed and building real bodies of work. Neil shares what he’s working on now, how he thinks about zines and books, why competitions can be a numbers game, and how printing changes your relationship with your own photographs. We even detour into camera collecting, Ricoh GR love, and the pull of monochrome. Subscribe, share the show with a photographer friend, and leave a review telling us what you’re shooting next.

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LINKS FROM TODAY'S SHOW:

Neil's Instagram

Neil's website

StreetSnappers workshops

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

London can make you feel like you have lost your eye. You walk for days, you chase the same old 'street moments', and somehow the city gives you nothing back. We talk candidly about that exact feeling and why it is not just a bad patch, it can be a sign that your work needs a real change. The big question I keep returning to is simple: if you do what you have always done, will you get what you've always got?

To jolt the creativity back into motion, Imake a serious commitment: from 1 July I am shooting black and white only, on a 28mm lens only, for at least six months. No colour. No swapping focal lengths. Just one tight creative constraint designed to change how I really notice light, shape, gesture and composition. If you have been stuck with street photography, documentary photography, or your personal projects, this is a practical experiment you can borrow.

I also answer listener questions with a no-nonsense post-shoot workflow: importing and culling fast in Photo Mechanic, embedding copyright and keyword metadata for archiving and SEO, then doing only basic darkroom-style edits in Adobe Camera Raw or Photoshop.

From there we jump into one of my favourite photo books, Sergio Larrain’s 'London 1959', I share thoughts on cropping and aspect ratios  and I have a big rant about empty street portraits made without purpose. Finally, we head to Lisbon with a detailed street photography guide covering light, neighbourhoods and how to get around.

Thanks for tuning into the StreetSnappers Street Photography Podcast. Do subscribe for the next show, share this with a photographer who feels stuck, and, if it resonates, leave a review so more people can find the podcast.

LINKS:

Sergio Larrain's book 'London 1959' - here

Subscribe to Brian's street photography newsletter - here

Book a street photography workshop with Brian - www.streetsnappers.com

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

The camera that improves your street photography might not be the newest, fastest, or most expensive, it is the one you cannot stop picking up. We dig into what makes certain cameras feel 'alive' in the hand, why that emotional pull leads to more shooting, and how early experiences with classics like the Zorki 4, Rolleiflex, and old-school rangefinders can shape the way we see. If you have ever wondered why a Leica or a Fujifilm X100 feels different, we get into the real reason without drowning in tech.

From there, we tackle a question that keeps coming up for UK photographers: is the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) worth it for street photography? We share a straw poll of member experiences, including distinctions like LRPS and ARPS, the value of groups and days out, and the frustrations that can come with cost, access, and judging. The takeaway is practical: match your membership to your goals, and be clear whether you want structured progression or freedom to build your own projects.

We also get hands-on with the everyday kit that keeps you moving: wrist straps versus neck straps, what to prioritise for comfort and speed, and a useful London stop for coffee when you need to reset mid-shoot. Then comes a frank rant about street photography Facebook groups, why low standards get rewarded, and why smaller, critique-led communities often produce better work.

Finally, we make a strong case for shooting square. The 1:1 format changes pacing, simplifies clutter, makes the centre powerful, and can shift the emotional tone of your images. Try a square project on your next walk, then subscribe, share, and leave a review if it helps. What camera, group, or format has genuinely made your street photography better?

SHOW LINKS:

Wotancraft straps & bags  www.wotancraft.tw

Check out my workshops  www.streetsnappers.com

Watch my YouTube videos www.youtube.com/streetsnappers

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/streetsnappers

Join the Facebook Community - www.facebook.com/groups/streetsnappersworldwide

Support the show

Click here to EMAIL BRIAN with your questions, comments and suggestions for the show!

Street photography ethics

Street photography is supposed to be about real life, but the moment you point a camera at a stranger, you step onto an ethical fault line. We wanted to tackle the questions that make people defensive, angry, or quietly unsure: when is candid photography fair, when is it intrusive, and when does a “great shot” come at someone else’s expense?

We dig into consent as the core dilemma and break it into something more usable: implicit consent in public space, post-shoot consent through engagement, and explicit consent when you ask up front. We also talk about the gap between what’s legal in the UK and what feels right, especially when a photograph removes someone’s agency even if the law allows it. From there, we take listener questions and get frank about exploitation: photographing homelessness, distress, or vulnerability can either serve a genuine documentary purpose or slip into aestheticising hardship for attention.

Context is the hidden trap. A street photograph can be “true” and still misrepresent through framing, timing, cropping, sequencing, and captions, and once an image is online you lose control over how it is read. We also look at cultural sensitivity when travelling, the risks of 'othering', and why photographing children demands a higher standard because safeguarding and downstream use matter as much as the click itself. We wrap with the point that keeps resurfacing: intent matters, but impact is what the subject lives with.

If you’ve ever hesitated before taking a shot or second-guessed one afterwards, you’ll find practical ways to think it through. Subscribe, share the episode with a photographer friend, and leave a review, then tell us where your own ethical line sits.

Check out my workshops  www.streetsnappers.com

Watch my YouTube videos www.youtube.com/streetsnappers

Follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/streetsnappers

Join the Facebook Community - www.facebook.com/groups/streetsnappersworldwide

Support the show