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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> photographing the homeless
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 04/16/2007 02:24:57 AM · #26
Originally posted by jackal9:

I have talked to Joey a few times with guestions about some of the things he has done, he has always been very helpful to me and I am sure would be to you, good luck with the project!!


Thanks for the encouraging words and advice :]
 04/16/2007 12:35:52 PM · #27
In order for these pictures to work (and go above typical snapshots like idnic suggested), you need to first consider why you had to think of specific strategies to photograph homeless people. If you treat them with the same dignity and respect as any other subject you may photograph, it will go a long way. True- mental illness is common, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they are regular people also living in reality.

The best way to go about it is to get to know them. In my photos, I know each person's story. I'm also working on a video documentary about their way of life. It's interesting to me, I'm bold enough to say there is a sub-culture in Toronto. How do you get to know them? I'd say the best way is to talk to the panhandlers, because they are out in the open wanting to be talked to. Most of them find the streets exciting and "better than television" as one man told me.

Since they are panhandling, give them a bigger tip at the beginning since you are taking away from their time making a little spare change. Just like the people you know today, they'll remember you and always make an effort to catch a few words when you see them again. Don't talk to them like they are down and out, just ask how their day is going. If they open up to you, you can ask them how they got there and if they'd mind a few pictures for personal use. Again, like anyone, they'll appreciate you got to know them. It will give more life to the pictures too- conciously, subconciously, whatever. After, always bring the pictures back to them, I always make a point to do this and always have an bunch I can give back when I go to the city.
 04/16/2007 12:41:15 PM · #28
That's a wise sounding head you got on they shoulders, Joey.
 04/16/2007 01:33:20 PM · #29
Originally posted by Joey Lawrence:
In order for these pictures to work (and go above typical snapshots like idnic suggested), you need to first consider why you had to think of specific strategies to photograph homeless people. If you treat them with the same dignity and respect as any other subject you may photograph, it will go a long way. True- mental illness is common, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they are regular people also living in reality.

The best way to go about it is to get to know them. In my photos, I know each person's story. I'm also working on a video documentary about their way of life. It's interesting to me, I'm bold enough to say there is a sub-culture in Toronto. How do you get to know them? I'd say the best way is to talk to the panhandlers, because they are out in the open wanting to be talked to. Most of them find the streets exciting and "better than television" as one man told me.

Since they are panhandling, give them a bigger tip at the beginning since you are taking away from their time making a little spare change. Just like the people you know today, they'll remember you and always make an effort to catch a few words when you see them again. Don't talk to them like they are down and out, just ask how their day is going. If they open up to you, you can ask them how they got there and if they'd mind a few pictures for personal use. Again, like anyone, they'll appreciate you got to know them. It will give more life to the pictures too- conciously, subconciously, whatever. After, always bring the pictures back to them, I always make a point to do this and always have an bunch I can give back when I go to the city.


Great advice!
Really appreciate it, thank you!
 04/16/2007 01:41:53 PM · #30
Originally posted by pawdrix:
*I just noticed that you are 16. Bring a friend without question, as everyone else has already suggested. Given your age, I'm second guessing my own advice.

I'm curious why do you want to take pictures of the homeless?


I believe Joey Lawrence did a bit of homeless photography and is only 17. Although i believe of legal age there.

EDIT - to say i noticed joey already posted in here hehe.

Message edited by author 2007-04-16 13:44:18.
 04/16/2007 01:55:16 PM · #31
Mine is is a more pratical, results driven viewpoint...

One time in Phoenix I wanted to photograph homeless people for a DPC challenge. I approached one and asked. He said he would if I gave him 50 cents, so I did. Everyone I asked afterward I gave 50 cents to whether they asked or not. 50 cents seemed to be the going rate.

That worked pretty well. I did not try to get to know them or fully understand their circumstance in life or understand the plight of the poor in general. That was not my purpose. I simply wanted to take pictures of them in their natural habitat, much like I would with other people in their habitats, or animals or nature. I don't fully understand them either.
 04/16/2007 02:12:55 PM · #32
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Mine is is a more pratical, results driven viewpoint...

One time in Phoenix I wanted to photograph homeless people for a DPC challenge. I approached one and asked. He said he would if I gave him 50 cents, so I did. Everyone I asked afterward I gave 50 cents to whether they asked or not. 50 cents seemed to be the going rate.

That worked pretty well. I did not try to get to know them or fully understand their circumstance in life or understand the plight of the poor in general. That was not my purpose. I simply wanted to take pictures of them in their natural habitat, much like I would with other people in their habitats, or animals or nature. I don't fully understand them either.

50cents seems a tad light. But if thats all they wanted thats fine i guess
 04/16/2007 02:13:52 PM · #33
Originally posted by RainMotorsports:
Originally posted by pawdrix:
*I just noticed that you are 16. Bring a friend without question, as everyone else has already suggested. Given your age, I'm second guessing my own advice.

I'm curious why do you want to take pictures of the homeless?


I believe Joey Lawrence did a bit of homeless photography and is only 17. Although i believe of legal age there.

EDIT - to say i noticed joey already posted in here hehe.

as far as my understanding 17 is not the legal age in Ottawa, Im sure its still 19 like BC(where i live), but it might be 18 like alberta im not sure
 04/16/2007 02:21:40 PM · #34
Legal age? Responsibility, sincerity and maturity are more important for this kind of work. Time is measured in experience, not years.
 04/16/2007 08:13:51 PM · #35
Originally posted by Joey Lawrence:
Legal age? Responsibility, sincerity and maturity are more important for this kind of work. Time is measured in experience, not years.


That was exactly my first thought when I read that, too.
 04/17/2007 02:34:35 AM · #36
Hello all I've just started on this site and came accross this post about photographing the homeless. I have just returned myself from doing the vary same thing. I haven't read all the posts in this thread so some of my sugesstions might already be out there, but my reason for doing this kind of photographing comes from my oldest son.
We live near Toronto Canada and have our fare share of homeless people, as we were about to take in some lunch one very cold March day we came across a homeless man asleep on one of the exhaust grates for the subway. Our son then three (now twelve) asked why he was laying asleep on the cold ground? Now you have to know that our son (both boys) started speaking in complete sentencs at ten months old and to this day still astound us with their knowledge and understanding of the english language.(Due in large part that we never spoke "baby talk" to them and always answered their questions to the best of our knowledge. That and their mother is a genius) We explained to him that the man might be there because he had nowhere eles to go,or that he made the choice to be there,or that the choice might have been made for him and it is out of his control. He asked why would anybody want to be homeless, he could freeze to death in the night. Then he said he wanted to do something to help and when we asked him what, he said he wanted to build him a home so he wouldn't be homeless anymore. After the explanation of why this was not possible for us to do, he said that when he grows up he hoped to have enough money to help the homeless and make a differance in the world.(Mom and Dad now have tears in their eyes) So he asked if we could give him our lunch money to help him out and we gave him what we could and went on our way humbled by our son and his three year old understanding of the world as he knew it.
Fastforward to now; two boys twleve and nine. I'm an electrician by trade and a professional builder as well and I have always had a love for photography and only recently had an opertunity to purchase a camera that could capture the pictures I've seen my whole life. My wife teaches at an elemntary school and has a love for the stage and as a result I think spured our children into acting and now we all act professionaly as well.
I have always been active in our community helping with the local homeless shelters and the womens and mens shelters as well as habitat for humanity and school breakfast clubs (I grew up in poverty and faced a fair bit of adversity myself and I know what it is like to go hungry for a while and be tossed out on the street). Now I arrived here after that long winded explaination at the point,our oldest as well as all of us (all be it we are not rich but we do what we can) donate 10% of our gross earnings from acting to help all kinds of local and larger charities and this brings me back to our three year old wanting to make a difference in the world. It might not be much in the grand scheme of things but it makes us feel good.
These are but a few reasons why I take pictures of the homeless, it also helps to show me that I was very lucky that things never got that bad for me.
I also take them because I'm intersted in who they are and the sperit that drives them to be who they are. You can see it in their eyes if you look hard enough and sometimes it's not that hard at all.
So here are some tips and things I do: be honest with them tell them the truth about why you want to take their photo they will open up to you and you will get a true image of who they are. Always ask , you wouldn't want anyone to steal one of your images so don't steal theirs, some will say no and I always thank them anyway and not always but sometimes they change their minds and let me. If they say yes always ask their names it helps me to relate a little to them and always offer yours (again tell them the truth they always seem to know if you are feeding them a line because it happens all the time to them). Some will say yes but not the face, respect their privacy we all have reasons at one time or another as to why we don't want our faces to be seen. Take some coin with you (never bills)Iusually do an entire 8-10 hour shoot on $20-25 but I keep only about $4-5 in my pocket at a time when I've exhausted that I go back to my safe place and get more out of my camera bag. Trust them and try not to be afraid you will be suprised at how easily you will get the photos you are looking for.Always let someone know whwer you are going to be shooting and check in with them often (usually when I getting more money out of my bag. Take someone with you if you can it's good to have someone with you they can write down the names of the people so you don't forget. Map out your shoot, drive around in your car and plan you area well alot time lines in each place this is only a guide line because sometimes you are quicker or longer in one area than another.Find a safe place to do all your lens changes and reloading your money, we tend to carry alot of gear and if you find yourself out numbered you don't want to give any ideas. Always answer their questions this has worked well with me and I am better able to get the shot I was looking for. Choose your homeless people wisely if they look like they don't want you there chances are they don't. Treat them the way you would want to be treated enough people treat them like crap already who want nothing to do with them and your trying to get their photo' so a please and thank you goes a long way. I never ask them what they intend to do with the money I've given them It's none of my business after all once it's in their hat/can/cup what ever it's no longer mine, some try to tell me and I always tell them that. They have a great respect for that and always thak me. It has been my experince that homeless women have a harder time with being approached and I have yet to have one grant me the priviledge of taking her photo. But men and women together are usually not a problem.
well I must go the hour is late for me here 2:20 am and I have to be fresh for my crew a few hours. I am by no means an expert photographer nor do I profess to know everything threr is to know about photographing the homeless but I do know that I have tried these strategies and they work and I have many more that also work but I'm a painfully slow typer and a dreadful speller so with those things going for me and looking things up in the dictionary this short note (for some of you gifted typers) has taken me the better part of two hours.
So good night and I hpoe some of my ramblings are helpful in your persuit of the homeless they are a fasinating subjuct and a remarkable people.
 04/17/2007 03:58:59 AM · #37
Long post there, Quigley. It's a refreshing point(s) of view. There but for fortune...
 05/24/2007 05:12:35 PM · #38
Here is a documentary I did about my friend who was lives on the streets.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuMeYV3WzYM
05/24/2007 06:48:22 PM · #39
best person on this site to ask is Joey Lawrence, he has taken quite a few photos of Torontos homeless and hes done a documentary on them. If you private message him through this site, he may have some tips for you
 05/24/2007 06:53:17 PM · #40
Maybe you should read, "Homeless Photography" over in the tutorial section.
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