Tips for Shooting Street Style Editorial Photography

When I talk about street style photography, I’m not referring to the original concept of photographing strangers on the street during fashion week, as pioneered by Bill Cunningham. Instead, I mean carefully planned editorial images of a client that mimic the spontaneous look of being captured by a street style photographer. If you're new to this style or unsure about the best camera settings and techniques, here’s how I approach it.

Camera Settings

The right camera settings are key to achieving the polished yet spontaneous look of street style photography. These settings help you adapt quickly to changing light and movement, ensuring your images look both sharp and dynamic.

1. ISO Settings

I always start by setting the ISO, and this setting often stays consistent throughout the shoot depending on the lighting conditions:

• Sunny days: ISO 200

• Cloudy days: ISO 800

Keeping the ISO within this range ensures that I capture sharp, high-quality images without introducing too much noise, even in variable lighting.

2. Aperture Settings

• I prefer an aperture of f/2.8 when there is only one subject.

• This wide aperture allows more light into the lens and creates the blurred background (bokeh) effect that I love for editorial shots.

The shallow depth of field also keeps the subject sharply in focus while softening any distractions in the background, which helps maintain the polished aesthetic of planned street style photography.

3. Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is the setting I adjust most often during a shoot. I monitor it constantly, guided by my camera's light meter.

• I typically keep it above 1/125 to ensure sharp images, especially with moving subjects.

• If my light meter suggests going lower than 1/125, I increase the ISO to compensate and maintain proper exposure.

Fast shutter speeds also help capture motion, like a subject walking confidently across the street or interacting with their surroundings.

Focus Settings

• Drive Mode: I set my camera’s drive mode to low speed continuous in order to capture movement effectively without overwhelming myself with thousands of similar images to sort through later. Low speed still provides enough frames to catch the perfect moment without producing unnecessary duplicates.

• Eye Detection Autofocus: My Canon EOS R5 has an eye-tracking autofocus feature, which I always turn on to ensure the subject's eyes stay sharp.

• Servo Mode (Continuous AF): I use this mode to track my subject's movements seamlessly. This is crucial for dynamic shots, like walking or twirling moments, that make street style imagery feel spontaneous and alive.

Metering and White Balance

• Light Metering: I set my light metering mode to evaluative metering, which considers the entire frame to determine the best exposure.

• White Balance: I leave this on auto white balance to adapt to changing light temperatures. This is especially useful for outdoor shoots where the light can shift rapidly due to clouds or reflections.

Lens Choice

I primarily shoot with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens because it offers versatility:

• I can zoom in to capture close details like accessories, shoes, or jewelry.

• I can zoom out for wide-angle shots that include architectural elements, street signs, or cityscapes as part of the story.

This flexibility makes it easy to create variety within a single shoot, keeping the results dynamic and engaging.

For photographers who might not have access to a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, there are excellent alternatives. A 50mm f/1.8 (nifty fifty) is affordable, lightweight, and great for capturing crisp portraits with beautiful bokeh. A 35mm f/1.8 is another solid choice for wider shots while maintaining excellent sharpness and depth of field control. These lenses work well for creating high-quality editorial images without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts

I remember one particular shoot where my client wanted a series of photos that felt effortlessly candid but still polished. We started with her walking across a crosswalk, and thanks to the fast shutter speed and eye-tracking autofocus, I captured sharp, dynamic shots as she moved naturally through the scene. Later, we shifted to tighter shots, highlighting accessories and textures, which the 24-70mm lens handled beautifully.

These camera settings and techniques have consistently delivered results that my clients love, creating editorial images with a polished yet candid feel. Street style photography involves a lot of movement and quick adjustments, so don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt as you shoot.

If you have any tips or techniques that have worked for your street style shoots, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!