I just got back from a mini-vacation in Japan and to say that I left inspired is an understatement. I had always heard that Tokyo was an amazing city but to see it first hand was quite the experience. My sister and I decided on a more “organic” approach to tourism and did very little research before we left. We just hit the ground running and made every day an adventure. After 3 days, we pretty much had the place figured out and the locals were certainly a great help.
This trip to Tokyo also inspired me to dabble in a form of photography I had never tried before, known as “Street Style”. Popularized by Scott Schulman (aka “The Sartorialist”) and redefined by amazing street photogs, like William Yan, Fred Egan and others, Street photography has built a huge cult following. Even big name designers like Marc Jacobs and Dolce & Gabbana have been pulling inspiration from everyday stylish people for years.
It was a little nerve-wracking approaching total strangers and then throw in a HUGE language barrier — I was terrified. Luckily, my sister wasn’t shy at all and before I knew it we were stopping people left and right. We only shot for an hour in one location (OmoteSando) but these pics should give you a small inkling of the type of crazy styles we saw.
I live in New York (which is arguably the fashion capitol of the world) but I would honestly have to give the crown to Tokyo. Their fashion sense is so innate and their style has a voice that I have rarely seen in the states. Needless to say, I have taken a look at my own personal style and I’m a little less scared to try something new.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS:
1.) Get a Long Lens – A 70 -200mm lens is perfect for street style. Not only can you catch some amazing fashions from far away but you can also capture people in their natural element.
2.) Be fearless – The worst thing anyone can say to you is no, so why be scared? I certainly got rejected a few times initially but once I showed confidence people jumped at the chance to be in front of my camera.
3.) Be engaging – This is a no brainer, but a smile goes a long way especially when there is a language barrier. I used a lot of hand gestures but I made sure to compliment them before and after taking the picture. My background in sales didn’t hurt either.
4.) Mix it up – Remember to play with angles and composition. Great pictures should always tell a story.
5.) Dress the part – A successful street style photographer always looks pretty ‘stylish’ himself. One of the best style lessons I learned is to buy timeless pieces and mix them in with any trends that you may like at the time.
**NOTE: Every time they threw up the little Japanese “peace sign” my heart smiled.
My favorite outfit of the day. This dude owned his look and he even designed the shoes himself.
A nice stranger snapped this shot of my sister and I before we went off to lunch.
Another Tokyo post coming tomorrow!