What is a Photowalk?
Before we start with our photowalk tips, let’s start with what a photowalk is. Photowalking is when a group of photographers get together for the purpose of taking photographs. Sometimes there is a theme that the group works with. A lot of groups will have a route planned.
Photowalking is often compared to street photography. It can include street photography, but can actually take place anywhere. There are photowalks in cities, at local parks, beaches, shopping malls, museums, and anywhere out in nature.
Photowalking is a fun way to socialize and practice your craft. It’s also a great way to get you out of a rut and provide you with some new inspiration.
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Photowalk Tips – 26 to get you started
- Limit How Much Gear You Bring – A photowalk is supposed to be enjoyable, so bring only the essentials. You don’t want to be overloaded with gear. Any camera
is fine for a photowalk, even a point-and-shoot. Try to limit yourself to one camera and a single lens. If you bring a tripod, bring one that is lightweight. Gorilla tripod’s are convenient because they compact and flexible. An ND filter
- Use a Different Camera or Lens – Break out of your comfort zone. Bring a camera or lens that you normally don’t use.
- Make Sure Your Batteries Are Fully Charged – There’s nothing worse than your battery dying mid photowalk. Charge them the night before and bring extras.
- Bring Extra Memory Cards – Clear your memory card
- Dress for the Weather – Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Be sure to bring sunscreen in hot weather. Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking distances.
- Bring Water and Snacks – Keep your energy up with snacks and stay hydrated with water, especially on longer photowalks.
- Experiment With Different Genres – Try abstract, architecture, black and white, street, cityscapes, glass ball, environmental portraits or even macro photography.
- Shoot Your First Photo Right Away – Just shoot it! The longer you hesitate the harder it will be to take that first shot. It will help you get into a creative mode quicker.
- Don’t Be Afraid To Shoot – If you keep waiting for the right moment to shoot, the day will get away from you very quickly. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get the perfect shot. Just shoot!
- Don’t Delete Photos – Wait until you are home to edit your photos. You may be surprised that the shot you almost deleted wasn’t so bad after all.
- Shoot in Program Mode – It’s ok to shoot in Program Mode. You can focus more on your surroundings, and composition rather than finding the right settings.
- Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode – You can quickly switch to different depths of fields in Aperture Priority Mode. Try shooting the same shot with a shallow vs a wide depth of field.
- Shoot in Continuous Shooting Mode – Shooting in continuous mode is a great option for capturing perfectly timed action shots.
- Bracket Shots – Bracketing your shots help you get the right exposure, without worrying too much about your settings.
- Chase the Light – Observe the direction of the light. Watch how it creates interesting shadows or light patterns. Create silhouettes by positioning the sun behind your subjects.
- Capture Reflections – Reflections are everywhere. Look for them on surfaces such as water, ice, glass, mirrors, and metal.
- Shoot at Different Angles – Shoot from above or get down low. Change your normal perspective of how everything looks while standing up.
- Use Leading Lines – Leading lines add the illusion of depth and dimension. They add visual impact to your images.
- Experiment – Shoot textures, patterns, and colors. If the group isn’t working with a theme, choose one to work on yourself. Themes force you to look for, and photograph things you may normally pass by.
- Stop Walking – Take a break from walking. Sit down, stand and just observe your surroundings. Look for the details in things. Let the shot come to you.
- Be Patient – If you are moving to quickly, you’ll miss a lot of great shots. Slow down and take your time. Enjoy your photowalk!
- Keep Your Camera On – You don’t want to miss a shot by switching your camera off and on. If you are worried about conserving your battery power, just bring an extra one along.
- Network – Photowalks are great for meeting people and other photographers. Be sure to network for future opportunities to collaborate on projects together.
- Be Respectful and Know the Law – If you are including people in your shots, be respectful of them. Not everyone might be happy about being photographed. When it doubt, just ask. Check the law where you are shooting and make sure there aren’t any restrictions. Some areas may require permits. Be sure your group has one.
- Stay Safe – It’s easy to get absorbed in shooting. Pay attention to your surroundings. If you are shooting in busy areas, watch out for traffic, or running into pedestrians while shooting, and possible thieves.
- Have Fun – Photowalks are about being social too. Make sure to engage in conversations and not just take photos. Have some fun with your group.
is fine for a photowalk, even a point-and-shoot. Try to limit yourself to one camera and a single lens. If you bring a tripod, bring one that is lightweight. 
Where To Find Photowalks
Photowalks are actually pretty easy to find. Local Camera Clubs, MeetUp Groups, and InstaGroups are a good place to search for one. Check Instagram for Insta Groups in your area. If you can’t find one, start your own!
Don’t be afraid to start out doing solo photowalks. Sometimes it’s just nice to wander solo at your own pace.
Don’t forget to try out the Photowalk Tips!
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