8 Photo Tips for Busy Places

ft. Sarah Flint NYC

Anyone who lives in Los Angeles (or New York, or even small-town Montana for that matter) knows that beating the crowds to those insta-ready photo spots can be nearly impossible sometimes. This results in two, key by-products: onlookers and photo bombers.

Personally, I can see past the photo bombers when maximizing bokeh (see tip #4!) The more distracting matter actually becomes the onlookers.

So what do you do when you want to ace that photo sesh in a popular part of town?

  1. Shoot early in the morning • Not only is the lighting typically better, but you’ll beat some of the crowds! For this particular shoot, I found myself in one of the more touristy pockets of Los Angeles: Rodeo Drive. If the sun’s up, the tourists are out. But you’ll run into far fewer people at 7am than 11am.

  2. Focus on the camera • Duh, right? But no, in busy places people will stop and watch you, make comments, sneak pictures of you taking pictures —whatever. Smile it off & try to remember WHY you’re taking photos. For you. This comes with practice and gets easier over time.

  3. Plan your shoots in advance • Having a game plan is a game changer. I knew conceptually I wanted to have balloons and my Sarah Flint NYC pumps for these pics, so here we are. I came dressed an ready to go (thank goodness these heels are so comfy) with balloons inflated and hair styled. I even went as far as to look up pose and angle inspo on Pinterest the night before so I had a clear idea of the types of photos I wanted to achieve. Planned, and executed, and outta there.

  1. Maximize bokeh! • Bokeh refers to the soft, blurred backgrounds achieved by using certain lenses — like the 50mm one I used for these photos. This minimizes the random passersby caught in your pictures and keeps the focus on the subject.

  2. Come with a good attitude • TRUST. Not always easy. But makes everything easier. For me, this means coffee before/during/after shooting. Maybe also get coffee for the person taking your pictures while you’re at it. Then get yourself an extra one. You know the drill.

  3. Have your camera settings ready • If you’re using your own camera, tinker with the settings while you’re getting to the location. Once there, you can snap a test shot and go. The mission, again, is to get in and get out as smoothly as possible!

  4. Maximize on those detail shots • Check out the photo below. And then the photo below that one. You almost wouldn’t guess how busy the setting was.

Bonus tip: Wear comfortable shoes! If you’re shooting in an area with uneven footing (think grass, sand, cobblestone, etc.) pack a pair of slides or tennis shoes and switch into your “photo” shoes right before shooting. If the area is fairly level, i.e. a paved street like Rodeo Drive, you can forgo the extra footwear; however, opting for a cute and comfortable shoe like these 85mm pumps is still highly recommended.

Featured: Sarah Flint NYC Perfect Pump 85 in Taupe

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