My STREET PHOTOGRAPHY Workflow

When it comes to street photography gear, it's really NOT that complicated.

The Beauty and the Beast (EOS R and EOS M6)

I'm not a huge fan of talking about camera gear, or recommending one brand over another (I will if anyone is willing to sponsor me :). However, I feel that explaining part of my photographic workflow - including why I use some of the gear that I do - could help some of you get the most out of your existing setup.

And if nothing else, I hope that it allows you to see that what you already own is probably more than good enough. (see this blog to find out why)

This is by no means a comprehensive 'how-to' guide, nor will it be suitable for every genre of photography. But if you're a street photographer, urban photographer, or just enjoy a bit of candid photography and you're curious about the gear that other photographers use, then there may be something in here for you.

However, if you want something a bit more in-depth, I recommend starting here.

Gear, gear, and more GEAR!

The very sight of that word has the potential to awaken something primal inside the minds of many a photographer, especially if you're just starting out.

I will therefore try to appease this beast, by saying that while you definitely don't need the latest and greatest cameras or lenses, the simple truth is that without something to shoot with, you simply cannot go out and take photographs (duh).

Be aware, however, that anyone who tries to tell you otherwise, is most likely an influencer attempting to sell you stuff through their affiliate links ;)

The Brains of the Operation

Laptop

My most important piece of kit isn't my camera. It's actually my trusty laptop, without which I could not edit, or save any of my photos.

Brands don't matter, but I personally like the frictionless workflow of the Apple ecosystem.

I had used a mid-2014 MacBook Air for almost seven years before recently upgrading to an M1 version, as the old one was starting to get a little sluggish.

I know a few fantastic photographers who don't even use a laptop, opting to do all of their edits on an iPad instead. This is definitely a great option, and one which can be a lot cheaper as well.

Editing Software

My editing software of choice is Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.

As above, loyalty to a brand is irrelevant. However, as I have used Adobe products since 1997, my muscle memory favours it.

The Cameras

My primary street photography camera varies between a 7 year-old Canon M6, an EOS R, and an EOS R5.

I love my old M6 for its size and weight, and for its fantastic image quality. I can also guarantee that you would not be able to tell which of my Instagram photos were captured with it, even when compared to either of the bigger boys on the block.

I would also like to point out that I am by no means a Canon fanboy.

As with Adobe, and Apple, I have used Canon cameras since the mid 90s and I have always been happy with them. So please - you do you, but don't try to convince me why you think your Sony is better. I am impervious to this ;)

The Glass

Regarding my favourite street photography lens, I am drawn to my 35mm pancake (22mm equivalent on a crop sensor). See my other blog, where I go into a lot more detail as to why I love this focal length.

My other favourite lens is my workhorse 24-105mm f4L, which basically does everything more-than-well-enough in most situations.

I will occasionally use a 16-35mm f4 when I'm feeling a little bit more creative, or for architecture photography, but otherwise that's pretty much it.

On occasion, I have gone out with a 50mm f1.2 prime, as well as a 70-200mm zoom. I love them both to death, and I use them almost exclusively when I shoot portraits or products. However, for street photography they are simply too much glass for my needs.

Miscellaneous Accessories

Although it spends most of its time in my bag, I do occasionally use my little travel tripod, on the off-chance that I may want to do a bit of long exposure photography with it.

I realise this is no longer within the realm of street photography, but once it gets a bit too dark to shoot handheld, I sometimes like to relax with a bit of long exposure streak therapy before calling it a day.

Less Is More

The simple fact is that the lighter your load, the happier and more creative you will be as a street photographer. There is beauty in restricting what you are able to use. Also, small and light setups are always better for capturing completely candid moments.

Having to take off your backpack to change lenses or unpack your tripod, always takes you out of the moment and draws way too much attention to whatever you're doing. If you need to carry anything in your backpack, make it a couple of bottles of water instead.

You may therefore ask why don't I just use my phone camera?

I can answer that question in this blog.

However, the tl/dr version is that I enjoy the entire process of photography, not just the moment the shutter is pressed. I want to experience the weight of holding the camera in my hand; my fingers poised over the shutter speed dial, aperture dial, and the shutter button. There is nothing like it, and no amount of AI automation will ever be able to replace it.

So there you have it. My Street photography workflow - demystified.

Now get out there and shoot something awesome!

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Happy shooting!