The first time I picked up a camera, taking photos of strangers on the street was terrifying. I kept thinking, "What if they get mad at me?" I was so worried that I couldn't bring myself to point the camera at people.
Honestly, even now, I still feel scared when I photograph strangers. Plus, since I often use a flash, people almost always notice me.

However, after spending 6 years photographing strangers on the streets, I’ve developed my own way of doing things.

So, in this newsletter, I want to share how I approach taking photos of strangers, along with some shots from my newly released zine, 404 not found Issue 02. (If you haven’t picked up a copy yet, be sure to grab one before they sell out!)

Table of Contents

• 🚀 Introduction: The State of Street Photography i …

• 🍌 Point 01: Spend Time Together

• 🥑 Point 02: Give & Take

• 🍿 Point 03: Pretend to Photograph Something Else

• 🍄 Point 04: Compliment

• 💐 Point 05: Just Ask with a Smile

• 🕺 See You Again Next Tuesday

🚀 Introduction: The State of Street Photography in Japan

In some countries, street photography is illegal. How about in your country?

In Japan, street photography isn’t illegal. Even if you take photos of strangers and they call the police, the police won’t arrest you.
Once, while I was out with my friends, I candidly photographed a woman on the street, and a man with her (not her boyfriend) aggressively confronted us. It was so intense that we ended up calling the police ourselves.

The police calmed the guy down and politely told us, "You’re free to go now," essentially protecting us.

However, in places like Shibuya, there are public nuisance laws. While street photography itself isn’t illegal, if you persistently follow someone to take photos, it could be considered harassment, and you might face legal consequences.

Also, in Japan, when you suddenly take someone’s photo, people might shout “TOUSATSU,” which means “peeping” or “voyeurism.” This refers to secretly photographing undergarments or body parts that are normally covered, and it’s a crime.

Back when cell phones became popular, there was a surge of people secretly taking photos under women’s skirts on trains. Because of this, Japanese iPhones make a shutter sound even in silent mode.
Of course, street photography is about capturing public scenes, which means it’s not considered voyeurism. However, in Japan, many people mistakenly believe that taking photos without permission is the same as voyeurism.

In short, a lot of people here think street photography—snapping photos without asking first—feels like peeping, and it makes them uncomfortable.

I think everyone is entitled to their own views on the ethics of street photography. If you want to take sudden, candid shots like Bruce Gilden, by all means, go ahead.

Personally, I don’t want to take photos that make people uneasy, and I don’t think Gilden’s approach fits well in today’s world. That’s why I try to photograph in a way that doesn’t upset others.

So, how can you capture candid moments without making people uncomfortable? Here are 5 tips I always keep in mind.
Also, feel free to share your own suggestions in the comment section of the web version of this newsletter!

🍌 Point 01: Spend Time Together

This photo was taken in front of a bar in Shibuya. Besides the two people in the photo, there were about four of their friends hanging out. They were having fun, tossing popcorn into the air and catching it in their mouths, and I was standing nearby, laughing with a beer in hand.

They were goofing around the whole time, and all of us, including their friends and me, were just laughing along. Even though we didn’t really talk, there was a sense that we were all sharing the same moment. When you spend time together like this, people tend to lower their guard.

Later, when I used my flash to take the photo, no one got upset. In fact, they seemed to understand, like, "Yeah, this situation is funny enough to take a picture of!"

Let’s check out another example. In this photo, the man is a former yakuza boss.

I already knew he ran an izakaya (Japanese-style pub), so I decided to visit his bar, had a few drinks with him, and talked about how I’m into photography.

While one of his underlings was giving him a shoulder massage, I took this shot. I believe this shot was only possible because we had shared that time together.

If you want to take candid photos but are nervous about doing it out of the blue, spending time with your subjects first, like I did, can be a great technique. This way, the photo becomes more than just a snapshot—it captures a moment you’ve experienced, making it a photo only you could take.

🥑 Point 02: Give & Take

When I approach homeless people to ask for a photo, I always keep in mind the idea of give and take. This photo, for example, is of a homeless man I met in Shibuya. As you can see, it’s an extremely close-up shot, with the camera right in his face.

At first, I approached him and asked, "Are you usually around here?" We talked for a few minutes, and then I said, "Hang on, I’ll be right back—I’m going to grab some beer." I went to the convenience store, bought some beer for both of us, and gave him one.

After we finished drinking, I said goodbye and asked if I could take a few photos before leaving.

With people I meet more regularly, I’ve sometimes given them a bento box or money, but if it’s the first time, I’ve found that offering beer or cigarettes works best. Even if the person doesn’t smoke, having cigarettes on hand can be a good icebreaker.

🍿 Point 03: Pretend to Photograph Something Else

This might sound a little sneaky, but after taking a photo of someone with flash, I sometimes act like I’m looking at something behind them. It’s as if I’m saying, “I wasn’t photographing you, but something in the background.” 

This usually works, and sometimes the person even apologizes, thinking they accidentally got in the shot.

This photo was taken at a street stall in Taipei. By pretending I was just photographing the scene as a travel memory, nobody said anything to me. Maybe they just thought I was a camera-loving tourist from Japan.

🍄 Point 04: Compliment

To be honest, I’m not strictly focused on candid photography, so I also take portraits. In this case, I simply said, "Your neck tattoo is awesome, can I take a photo?" and that’s how I got the shot.

When doing street portraits, some people like to explain, "I’m a photographer, and I’m wandering around taking photos, bluh bluh bluh," but I find that a bit long-winded.

A simple, "I love your style!" followed by "Can I take your picture?" works just fine. My friend Alex in Shibuya is a pro at this—every 10 steps, he’s complimenting someone’s haircut or outfit and asking for a photo. He’s a genius at praising strangers and getting great shots! haha

💐 Point 05: Just Ask with a Smile

Sometimes, candid photography feels too awkward for the situation. In those cases, I simply ask, with a smile, if I can take their picture. This is similar to Point 04 (Complimenting), but for this photo, I said, "You look so cool sitting like that. Can I take a quick shot just as you are?"

Of course, there are times when people say no. But when that happens, I just say, "Oh, no worries! Maybe next time!" with a smile.

That way, we both walk away smiling and waving goodbye. Sure, getting rejected stings a little, but it’s not like you’ll get punched for asking (at least not in Japan), so rejection is no big deal.

🕺 See You Again Next Tuesday

That’s it for this week’s newsletter.

All the photos I’ve shared today were printed by me in my darkroom. My latest zine, 404 not found Issue 02, is full of darkroom prints like these.
If you’re curious to see more of the prints I’ve been making, grab a copy while you can—online sales are almost sold out! You can find more details here.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, feel free to share it using the social buttons under the title. And Feel free to take a screenshot of any part that caught your eye and share it on Instagram—just make sure to link back to the newsletter page if you can.

See you again next Tuesday!