What's your best one liner?

[intheviewfinder]

I'm curious to hear from those folks that do impromptu street portraits. You know what I mean, thinking there's a great portrait there, what do you say to the person that just peaked your interest? What is it you say to them to commit to being photographed? "I'm a bigwig news photographer. Let me take your picture," would probably work. So what's your one liner?

TIA
--Rich

 

[Phil_F_NM]

"Would you mind if I took your photo?"

Or (phonetically written for the Iraqi translation):

"agdar akhod menak sure?"

I've gotten more photos with a smile and a gesture than actually asking a person beforehand. I'll usually talk to the person after clicking the shutter, hand them my card and offer them a copy if they email me.

Phil Forrest

 

[jippiejee]

I always just take my picture before saying anything. "Sorry... I just had to take that photo. You looked gorgeous." Never a problem.

 

[Mr_Toad]

"I'm a talent scout for a major Hollywood movie producer."

(I'm only half joking, since a strange man with a camera told me almost exactly that when I lived in North Hollywood.)

😱

 

[whitecat]

"Want to come to my apartment to see my photos?" I was with her 30 years.

 

[vrgard]

I recently told a woman, "you are so beautiful, would you mind if I took your picture?" and then proceeded to do so when she didn't protest. Also recently, I told a guy, "you have such an interesting face I have to take your picture." But usually, if I seek any kind of advance approval, all I do is make eye contact, smile and take the person's picture.

 

[Ronny]

Say after me in swedish:
"Får jag ta en bild av dig, tack så mycket" 🙂



Paris by Ronny Persson, on Flickr

 

[candidcameraman]

One I used once....

One I used once....

I was in a Starbucks line up waiting to order my coffee, in Montreal, the two women behind me speaking English, thinking I was French... notice my big lens attached to my camera (A 200/2 with a special extended hood) one whispers to the other, "I think he's compensating for something..." to which I whipped around and say, "No, I'm advertising, it's big and I'm proud of it!" they both turned bright red and were pip quiet after that one.

As far as street is concerned... I never ask anymore, it is easier for me to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

 

[Johann Espiritu]

"I am happy to see you, but yes, that is also a Nokton 1.2 in my pocket."

 

[tstermitz]

In Argentina "piropos" are a high-art form. They are drive-by complements. ("I would love to climb up our golden locks to arrive at heaven.") The effectiveness is all about the perspective of the receiver, not the sender. So all those comments about how "I'm in fashion" or whatever are worthless bragging rather than flirtatious.