15 - Making money from street photography, shooting in Shoreditch, Meta specs and Pt 2 of comfort zones
Welcome to Episode 15 of The Street Photography Podcast!
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 street photography field guide covering Brick Lane, Columbia Road Flower Market, layering with a wide lens, and how to avoid the easy clichés.
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