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.
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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