Inconspicuous Photography - Lesson 1

Photography can be many things to many people. To some photography is an art, with the act serving a need from within to express oneself. Others find the tactic of photography one that is more of a leisure activity, done for the sheer joy of taking pictures. Still others make their living from the photograph and form a business model and a profession from the act. No matter the reason behind why you take pictures, taking inconspicuous pictures out in the public can be a tricky endeavour as it can be fraught with many complications and intrusions. Taking photos out in the world is hard, and I'll go over the reasons why that is and how you can ease your work.

Depending on how you go about your photography can impact your success or failure in the act. Going about your shoot in the wrong way can sabotage your efforts, however going about the shoot correctly can result in success.

Of course all of this doesn't mean anything if you follow the proper procedures and get a permit to go out and shoot. If that is the case you have the money and the acumen to go through the proper channels to make sure that everyone around the shoot cooperates with you and allows you to complete your shoot unabated. If that is who you are then you don't need my help. This article isn't meant to help those that don't need any help. Just go on doing what you are doing. If you are among the majority that don't have the ability, money or need to go this route then you are whom I am trying to help.

I am trying to help the independent photographer who is going out on his, or her, own to take pictures. Whether you are taking pictures of a model, a building or a landscape the tactic is the same. I am going to show you the ways to use inconspicuous photography and go about your shoot without intrusion or interruption.

Again none of these tips and tricks are foolproof and are not a guarantee of success. It is impossible to predict with utter certainty what will happen on a shoot. People are, by definition, unpredictable. These tips for inconspicuous photography are meant only as a guide on how to present yourself on the shoot and what to do so that you can have the best chance at success. Follow the below tactics, and you will stand a better chance at becoming successful.

1. Be Confident

Nothing stands out more to security or sends up a flag quicker to someone around than someone that doesn't look confident. Now confidence doesn't mean that you walk into the square with your chest puffed out with your arms at your sides strutting your stuff telling all the world that you are there and are supposed to be there. That's not the type of confidence that I'm referring to and this won't help you with your inconspicuous photography at all. I'm talking about a more understated confidence that shows anyone around, who may notice you and what you are doing, that you know what you're doing and are going about it. If you look unsure and uneasy about what you are doing that will glow from you like a bad aura. The people around you will start to feel uneasy about you being there as you look uneasy yourself. That is the quickest way to get security called on you, should you be in a private "public" place such as a shopping centre or stadium. That will put an end to your inconspicuous photography plans for the day.

With that being said, how do you convey that you are confident about your actions? Again you don't want to over do your actions or mannerisms. Faking your confidence can be just as detrimental to inconspicuous photography as looking uneasy, so be careful not to accidentally convey false confidence. Being confident has to start before you pack your camera and set out to to the shoot.

Take the time to think about the shoot and psych yourself up mentally. Tell yourself (and you have to believe it) that what you are doing is good and you have the right to be there. There is nothing wrong with inconspicuous photography so you have nothing to fear or be worried about. Your shoot will happen without incident, and should someone question what you are doing, they'll understand what you're doing and won't hassle you.

Understand that you have to believe this to naturally convey your confidence. Display to everyone that you are supposed to be there doing what you are doing and you will lessen your chances of being hassled.

2. Don't Look Suspicious

Inconspicuous photography is not so difficult, as long as you are conscious of your actions. Another mistake that is made when going out to do a shoot is looking suspicious. This mistake often occurs accidentally and without the realization that it is happening.

Take a moment now and think about all the things that could make you look suspicious. Picture that you have gone to your local shopping centre and you want to take some pictures of the architecture on the ceiling. The mall has very intricate tile work or something. Whatever it happens to be it strikes your fancy and you just have to take photos of it. Whatever your motive is in taking the photo, as I have heard many different reasons for taking pictures, if you look suspicious before you start shooting - big red flag.

You want your photography to remain inconspicuous. So what constitutes as looking suspicious? Several different factors can contribute to looking suspicious and all equally send the wrong message.

One of the biggest faux pas that looks suspicious is trying to not look suspicious. So what does that mean? Think back to a sitcom where a character has been spotted doing something they shouldn't be doing. What do they do? They look around the room aimlessly and whistle. Now I know that realistically no one would really do something so obviously suspicious, but smaller things can be just as suspicious as something obvious.

This goes part and parcel with the last tip of looking confident. If you look like you are there for a purpose and not don't seem unsure of what you are doing, you won't look suspicious. This includes things like looking around too much, standing around idle for too long, or being over cautious about being overheard. Of course you don't want to be too loud in your conversation, should you be with more than one person, but just the same as you don't want to draw attention to yourself you don't want to seem like you are hiding what you are talking about. Someone that whispers and seems secretive can draw just as much notice as someone jumping around like a chimpanzee chirping for all to hear.

So what have we learned from this first lesson of inconspicuous photography? Be confident in what you are doing and don't draw attention to yourself looking suspicious. Come back soon and I'll impart upon you more of my wisdom. I joke, of course. Bookmark the page, subscribe to the RSS and make your way back here soon and I'll give you a few more tips on how to be successful in your inconspicuous photography.