The Street Style of Helen Levitt Smiles at Life

Photography tips to catch kids being kids on the street

Emulating Helen Levitt involves capturing candid moments quickly. “Green Basket on Head, 2010” by Matthew Bamberg

Children used to be outside. Now, the streets are empty. People are indoors looking at television or something”—Helen Levitt

Helen Levitt’s quote about children being outside in America is undeniably true. Overprotective parents worry that they’ll skin their knees or experience some other catastrophe. That’s just the way it is today. Is America really that scary?

I make no judgments.

Most of my street photography isn’t from the United States. Other countries have a different perspective on their kids. They were created to act out all sorts of unbelievable and creative antics.

Children were made to play, run, skip, jump, smile, laugh, and more on the street. A street photographer can get around the fear by initiating parents in polite conversation, especially if the kid is

To be an influential street photographer requires you to be quick. Quirky moments are likely to happen on t…