obody wants to get rejected for any reason - especially when you're going into something with good intentions. Sometimes it just kills me when I get shot down - not so much personally, but because I really wanted to take their photograph (for whatever reason). Apart from being able to actually capture a great moment, getting rejected is the most difficult thing for me to swallow right now.<br /> 
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If someone doesn't want you to take their picture, respect that. I've seen photographers who don't and will continue to take photos, and only make the individual(s) more irate. To a degree, that's giving the rest of us a bad name/reputation.<br /> 
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However, what happens when you take a picture first, <i>then</i> ask and are shot down? I've had instances where I take the picture, show the person, and ask if I can feature this in my portfolio/blog. They say <b>no</b>. As much as it kills me, it's something I respect as well. If they ask for me to delete the shot, I'll do so in front of them. It's tough, but again, I try to respect people's decisions. I've often wondered if it's the right thing to do, especially since it's perfectly legal to take a stranger's photo and publicly showcase it (unless you're making money off of it), but it's my current stance and what I'll keep practicing. Who knows if it will change in the future.<br /> 
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Anyway, at first, I would take this rejection personally. What was I doing wrong? Is it my face? My actions? Why don't they get this is art to me? Whatever. Like most things in life, you're going to get better at something if you keep at it. I wish I had better advise as to ways to get better with this, but it's not easy and it varies person to person. You just have to grow some <i>cajones</i> - getting over your fears. That's not easy. You <i>will</i> be rejected, and you will have people question your photo motives. This is just something you have to live and deal with. There are many different types of people in this world, and sometimes you'll lose some. Just the way it is.<br /> 
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<i>However</i>, sometimes you'll be stopped by cops/security saying you're not allowed to shoot (usually because of "security purposes"). Do not allow this to happen. Yes, I said I wouldn't talk about the legality of street photography, but know your local laws and rights regarding it. I always carry <a href="http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf">this form (PDF)</a> around to show to any officer/guard in case I'm stopped to prove I'm not doing anything wrong. You may still be hassled, but it's better than doing nothing.<br /> 
<h2>General Tips</h2>As mentioned, being honest and not being sneaky are going to yield you better shooting opportunities. However, there are a few other things I've found that can be helpful. For one, shooting with digital is a great way to get the subject involved. Although I prefer to shoot with film, the immediacy of digital (and being able to show shots off of the LCD screen) is beneficial, especially to those who are harassing you or don't speak the same language. Whether they let you take/use their shot or are giving you a hard time, allowing people to see themselves on the LCD screen is a huge boost (especially if it's a decent shot).<br /> 
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I also hand out business cards to those that I photograph. I tell them to email or give me a call and I'll send them a digital file or print. If someone doesn't have email (or phone), I make arrangements to get them prints of their shot. I don't do this all the time, but it's something I try to keep up with. I've found a combination of the above has resulted in people rarely saying no to a photograph nowadays.<br /> 
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<img src="http://dailysnap.com/imgs/log/street4.jpg" /><br /> 
<h2>Mo Money, Mo Problems</h2>I constantly get emails on my street photography regarding paying people and photographing the homeless. I'll keep this short - I have no problem paying people for my shots if it warrants it (Thomas Hawk has a great <a target="_blank" href="http://thomashawk.com/2008/06/introducing-christopher-and-start-of-my.html">$2 portrait project</a>) and believe it's okay to photograph homeless people (applying the same rules from above). Some people think it's morally/ethically wrong to do either, but this article isn't really about that. Do what you think is right. I'll leave it at that.<br /> 
<h2>Common Sense</h2>Like real life, a little common sense will go a long way in photography. Putting yourself in other people's shoes also helps. Let's say you're at the park and you see a cool shot with a child in the scene. If you're a parent and you see some stranger taking photos of your kid, it's going to come off creepy. You may mean no harm, but it comes off as questionable behavior.<br /> 
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Being observant of your surroundings is also big. Having expensive equipment in an unsafe area while you're shooting can lead to trouble. I've gotten myself into a few fights and chases (where <i>I</i> was the one being chased) over my gear. Know your limitations and trust your intuition. In those situations, I knew I was going too far to get a shot, and it resulted in me almost getting shot. If you're into documenting some more 'dangerous' situations, that's a whole other article in and of itself, but again - common sense, and try to feel out the people you're photographing before you hit the shutter.<br /> 
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Some tricks I've learned over time have included using gaffers tape to cover up any logos on my equipment. This also includes the 'red ring' around Canon L lenses, unstitching logos away from my camera backpacks, and bringing other people/shooters with me when going to questionable areas. Simple things.<br /> 
<h2>Rules of the Game</h2>I seem to have a lot of issues with my compositions in street photography. These meets with strangers are usually really quick interactions. If I didnh/a>, <a href="/log/tags/street/