A night time photo walk in Soho

And why you should shoot with other photographers

By Michael Wilson

January 20^th, 2025

This year, I'm really hoping to go on more photo walks with other people – actual humans, you know?

Lately, I've been super into street photography, and it's easy to get caught up in the numbers game on Instagram and forget what it's all about. For me, the best part is the amazing community of people who are passionate about it too. Talking with other photographers is where I learn the most.

Last year, I joined some awesome street photography groups like Framelines and Urban Photographers Club. They organize these photo walks where you meet up with other people who love photography, share stories, and take photos together.

So, I'm making an effort to get out there and shoot with other people. To kick things off, I met up with Mark Austin Hasler, a friend I met on a previous photo walk, for an evening shoot in Soho.

Making new friends

Turns out Mark had bumped into some other street photographers before I arrived, so our little photo walk turned into a group of six! It's one of the things I love most about street photography – the community. Everyone's so friendly, and I always enjoy talking gear, style, and all things street with other photographers.

We ended up shooting with some amazing photographers: Darren Sacks, Scott Dennis, Myke Simon and Jay Haldon. They were all super cool to chat with, and their work is seriously inspiring. You should definitely check them out!

Learning from others

I'll be honest, I don't take my best photos when I'm out shooting with other people. I end up watching what everyone else is doing, how they're framing their shots, and trying to figure out what they're seeing that I'm missing. It can be a bit overwhelming! But honestly, it's incredibly inspiring. Seeing how other people approach the same scene, their unique perspectives, it really pushes me to think outside the box and try new things with my own photography.

These new perspectives often translate into my own work when I'm shooting alone. That's why I highly recommend getting out there and shooting with other photographers. It can really elevate your work!

Large group, small group or 1 to 1?

In my experience the size of the photo walk has a big impact on what type of walk it will be.

Large groups (anything above 6 people) can feel a bit chaotic, especially in less crowded areas. You're constantly aware of the number of cameras and how you might be impacting the scene. These walks are great for socializing and chatting with other photographers, and they work best in bustling areas where you blend in more easily.
Small groups offer a good balance. You have a few people to chat with, but you're still flexible enough to explore different areas. The downside is that it can be hard to stay together as a group, as everyone gets drawn to different subjects.
One-on-one photo walks are fantastic for learning. You really get to connect with another photographer and learn from their style. Plus, it's easier to stay together and explore at a more relaxed pace.

No matter the size, there's always something to be gained from a photo walk! You learn from other photographers, discover new locations, and most importantly, have fun!

Get out there and shoot with people

I know it can be a little intimidating to shoot with new people, but trust me, it's totally worth it! You'll meet some amazing people and your photography will definitely benefit from the experience.

Like I said, I'm really trying to get out and shoot with more people this year. If you're up for it, I'd love to go on a photo walk sometime. It would be awesome to shoot with you!