Street Photography: How to Capture Candid Moments in Any City

A step-by-step street photography recipe with gear tips, camera settings, and candid strategies for capturing authentic city moments.

Street photography is one of those genres that feels intimidating until you actually give it a try. You’re out there, camera in hand, the city buzzing around you—and suddenly you realize that the most compelling images aren’t posed or staged, they just happen. The beauty of street photography lies in capturing candid slices of life: someone lost in thought on the subway, a couple laughing outside a café, or the geometry of shadows across an old brick wall.

In this article, I’ll give you a practical street photography recipe—a structured approach with gear recommendations, camera settings, and strategies for blending in. Think of it like cooking: once you understand the ingredients, you can improvise and create your own flavor.

The Gear: Small, Quiet, and Ready

You don’t need a full-frame beast with a 70–200mm lens to do street photography. In fact, that’s the opposite of what works. Street photography thrives on discretion, speed, and portability. That’s why the following cameras have become street legends:

Fujifilm X100VI: A true modern classic. Compact, silent, and armed with a 35mm-equivalent fixed lens that’s perfect for street work. The latest model has image stabilization and a stacked sensor, making it even more versatile.
Ricoh GR III / IV: If the X100VI is a Swiss Army knife, the Ricoh GR is a scalpel. The GR IV (building on the legendary GR III) is pocketable, has lightning-fast autofocus, and produces sharp images with minimal fuss. This is the camera for photographers who want to look like they’re not even carrying one.

Other Worthy Options: The Leica Q3 if your wallet allows it, or even a mirrorless with a pancake lens (like the Fujifilm X-E4 with a 27mm f/2.8) can work wonders. The goal: something small, quick, and unthreatening.

Pro tip: Don’t overpack. One camera, one lens. The more gear you carry, the less spontaneous you become.

Recipe Step 1: Setting the Stage

Street photography isn’t about hunting people like paparazzi—it’s about being open to the unexpected. To do that, you need to choose your environment wisely.

Pick busy places: Markets, train stations, busy intersections, plazas—these are goldmines.
Work the light: Early morning and late afternoon create long shadows and golden tones. Nighttime brings neon and reflections.
Find a stage: Look for a great background (a mural, interesting architecture, leading lines). Then wait for a character to walk through and complete the picture.

This technique—sometimes called “fishing”—is less stressful than chasing people around.

Recipe Step 2: Camera Settings That Work Everywhere

Here’s a street-friendly setup that works on almost any modern camera:

Mode: Aperture Priority (A/Av). You control depth of field; the camera handles exposure.
Aperture: f/8 is the street photographer’s friend. Deep enough for focus, sharp across the frame.
Shutter Speed: Minimum 1/250s to freeze people walking. Faster if the scene has action.
ISO: Auto ISO, max 3200 (modern cameras handle it well).
Focus: Zone focus or snap focus. On the Ricoh GR IV, snap focus at 2m is brilliant. On the X100VI, set manual focus to 2–3 meters and rely on depth of field.
Drive mode: Single shot. Don’t spray and pray. Anticipate.

This setup means your camera is always ready. No fiddling, no missed shots.

Recipe Step 3: Blending In

The biggest fear beginners have is that people will notice them. Truth is, most of the time they don’t care—or they don’t notice at all. Still, there are ways to stay discreet:

Act like you belong: Don’t sneak. Don’t crouch. Stand confidently, take the photo, and move on.
Shoot from the hip: With practice, you can frame pretty accurately without raising the camera to your eye. The Ricoh GR is perfect for this.
Be patient: Linger in one spot until people get used to you being there. After a few minutes, you become invisible.
Blend into the environment: Dress simply, avoid bright colors, and don’t look like a tourist.

Remember: confidence is contagious. If you don’t act like you’re doing something wrong, people won’t assume you are.

Recipe Step 4: Composing the Story

Street photography isn’t just about snapping random strangers—it’s about telling stories.

Look for gestures: A hand on a shoulder, someone lighting a cigarette, a laugh breaking out.
Use layers: Foreground, subject, and background add depth. Position yourself where multiple things are happening at once.
Play with light and shadow: Cities are full of contrast. A shaft of light on a single person can turn an ordinary scene into something cinematic.
Find humor: Street photography loves irony—billboards interacting with passersby, unexpected juxtapositions.

Think of yourself less as a photographer and more as a visual storyteller. Each frame should invite viewers to imagine what came before and after the click.

Recipe Step 5: Handling Reactions

Sometimes people notice. Sometimes they even ask. Here’s how to deal with it:

Smile: A smile disarms almost everyone.
Compliment: “You looked great with the light there, I couldn’t resist taking the shot.”
Offer to delete: If someone truly minds, respect their wish.
Show the photo: People are often flattered when they see how good they look.

In years of street photography, most photographers will tell you they’ve had very few negative encounters.

Editing: Finishing the Recipe

Street photos often come alive in post-processing. A few quick adjustments can turn a flat image into something evocative:

Black & White: Strips away distractions, focuses on form and emotion.
Contrast and clarity: A little boost makes shadows and details pop.
Crop with care: Tighten the story, but don’t overdo it. The environment matters.
Consistency: Apply a similar look to a series for a cohesive visual story.

Fujifilm users love the in-camera film simulations (like Classic Chrome or Acros). Ricoh shooters often lean into gritty, high-contrast black & white. Both approaches are timeless.

Advanced Tips: Taking It Further

Once you’re comfortable, push your boundaries a little:

Motion blur: Slow shutter speeds to capture the movement of crowds.
Reflections: Use puddles, mirrors, or bus windows.
Tilted perspectives: Break rules when it feels right.
Photo series: Instead of random one-offs, pick a theme (umbrellas, bikes, commuters) and build a visual collection.

Street photography rewards curiosity. The more you experiment, the more your style will emerge.

Why Street Photography Matters

At its core, street photography isn’t about perfect technical execution—it’s about documenting the world as it is, right now. The way a city feels in 2025 won’t be the same in ten years. The ads, the fashion, the architecture, the way people carry themselves—it’s all worth preserving.

And you don’t need to travel to New York, Tokyo, or Paris to find great scenes. Your own neighborhood is full of them. Street photography trains you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it: the street photography recipe.

Keep your gear small (Fujifilm X100VI, Ricoh GR IV, or anything discreet).
Use simple, reliable settings (f/8, auto ISO, fast shutter).
Blend in and act natural.
Look for light, gestures, and stories.
Edit with intention.

Street photography is both an art and a practice. The more you go out, the better you’ll get at noticing moments before they happen. At some point, you’ll stop thinking about settings and just feel when to hit the shutter.

Next time you’re walking through your city, don’t just commute. Bring your camera, follow this recipe, and cook up some images that tell the story of everyday life.

Now it’s your turn: what’s your favorite “recipe” for street photography? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear how you approach it.