Any photos you make of the ubiquitous Indian street beggar will be based upon your reasons for doing so, how you approach and interact with the person in question and the camera techniques and skills you implement. After five visits to India, here’s what I've learned along the way.

I'II approach an Indian street beggar, with my camera and lens ready, and ask permission to make their photo. I'm motivated to create life affirming portrait photos that celebrate the beauty and cultural diversity of people around our world. That philosophy ensures my photos celebrate life and hope.

Seeing an interesting subject is the primary reason we want to make photos. But when you’re photographing strangers, particularly children, things can get a little tricky.

Cultural sensitivities should also be considered, particularly when traveling outside your own country.

Why Photograph An India Street Beggar?

To understand how to photograph a beggar, regardless of their age or gender, it’s important to think on your motivations for doing so and to have a strategy for how to approach and photograph the person in question.

If, like me, you’re motivated to produce beautiful, life affirming images you want to do the right thing. Just be careful that your concern doesn’t result in you running away from a world full of fantastic photography opportunities.

That’s why being clear as to the reason you make photos is so important.

If you’re motivation is pure and you want to make rather than take photos then there’s no reason why, assuming local cultural sensitivities are respected, that you shouldn’t go about creating beautiful portrait photos.

Personally I find that my own evolving world view is the reason why I make photos.

This has lead me to the understanding that, rather than being a physical barrier between me and the surrounding world, my camera is a passport into lives, places and cultures beyond my normal, everyday experience.

I don’t bring a camera along on my travels. I travel so as to make photos that serve to build tolerance and understanding by celebrating beauty and diversity.

Are these the kind of concepts that underpin your own photography? If so you should recognize that fact and embrace those concepts.

Soon enough they’ll motivate you to make photos with confidence in the knowledge that your art and creative expression is making a positive difference to the world.

It’s this kind of understanding that makes it really hard not to create beautiful photos when interesting opportunities, such as photographing a beggar, present themselves.

The best Way To Photograph An India Beggar

Here’s the approach I take when photographing a beggar.

Preset my camera to the aperture that will produce the desired depth of field (e.g., f/4) and the focal length to help produce a great composition
Approach the subject in a non confrontational manner
Introduce myself (e.g., “Hello, I’m Glenn. I’ve come from Australia to discover the beauty of your country and to share it with my family and friends”)
Compliment them on the way they look (e.g., “I love the red scarf you’re wearing and I’m sure you’d look great in a photo”
Ask permission to make a few photos
Work quickly and don’t be afraid to direct the subject to achieve better lighting, background and expression
Focus on the subject’s eyes and do what you need to do to elicit a great expression
Be enthusiastic and keep them relaxed by telling them how the tweaks you’re making to camera, composition and posing are leading to a better photo

I find the whole process from introducing myself, making the photos and moving onto other opportunities is often completed in a minute or two. If all goes well this short, intensive interaction will have brought joy into both your lives.

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Personally I find that a great motivation which makes it easier to photograph more people, more often.

How To Photograph A Street Beggar With Confidence

The first time you photograph a beggar you’re likely to be quite nervous, particularly if it’s your very first time visiting the tourist site from which they operate.

Nerves and anxiety are exactly the feelings that can cause an otherwise enthusiastic photographer to stand back, at what they consider to be a safe distance, in the hope of catching an interesting candid moment.

But let’s be clear, it’s most likely not the candid moment that motivated them to keep their distance and, through the use of a telephoto lens, zoom in for a close up.

Most likely their actions were motivated by fear.

They may well have made an interesting image. However, I’d argue that by not interacting with the person they’ve photographed, the experience of both parties, subject and photographer, has been diminished.

What’s more the ability to control the background, lighting and subject expression is significantly reduced the further back from the subject you stand.

Needless to say, in an environment where you look very different to local folk, you and your great big camera lens are going to stand out like a sore thumb.

Under these circumstances the notion of photographing unawares can be quite a moot point.

How to photograph a beggar with confidence is actually quite simple. Here’s what I’ve discovered over the years.

To make better photos I need to be interacting with the person I’m photographing. To do so I need to ask permission to make their photo. That’s obvious! All that’s needed is for me to do so.

Naturally the process of asking permission can be difficult, but only if you make it so. I’m so used to it now that it’s just not a problem. But, of course, it wasn’t always that way.

The reality is that the more photos you make of strangers the better you’ll get at approaching them and asking permission to do so.

I remember, long ago, writing down a list of things I felt I needed to say before I’d be granted permission to make someone’s photo.

In fact I started by writing paragraphs, but soon realized that would be too hard to recite. Paragraphs were reduced down to sentences and then to simple phrases. And it’s not all that hard, with practice, to remember a few simple phrases.

I stood in front of a mirror and practiced reading out those few phrases until I could do so without looking at my notes, while keeping eye contact with my reflection in the mirror.

With the words assigned to memory all I had to do was remember to hold eye contact when speaking to the potential subject.

Here’s the kind of phrases I would have used. Feel free to adapt them to your own needs.

Hi! My name’s Glenn.
I’m a keen (don’t overstate your abilities) photographer.
I love crochet and noticed this beautiful piece you’ve created.
I’d love to make a photo of you with your crochet.

Photographing strangers can be a tricky experience, but my own travel experiences have given me a pretty clear idea about how to approach and photograph professional beggars.

I’ve created a helpful post titled How To Photograph Strangers which features some lovely black and white portraits I make in Kolkata and Chennai.

I’m sure you’ll find it to be a helpful resource when making photos on your own travels.

How Not To Photograph A Beggar

I photographed this man outside the Madras Kali Bari, a Hindu temple complex in Chennai in Southern India.

While I think the result is quite good, the experience associated with making the photo was not particularly pleasant.

You might think that I’ve recorded a candid moment depicting joy, happiness or surprise.

The 1/320 second shutter speed used to record this image illustrates a kind of created reality that, at best, describes the illusion of the photograph.

It certain does not describe the confrontation that lead to the photo being made.

Ultimately, it’s the reality of the photo that’s most important. Nonetheless, in the context of this post, you might find the story behind its creation to be of interest.

“Photographs have their own truth, outside of what we might call fact.”

— Glenn Guy, Travel Photography Guru

As I've only photographed beggars on a handful of occasions it's important to note that, while the gentleman in the photo is a professional beggar, all other people appearing in this post are not beggars.

I include them as a way of illustrating the approach and authenticity with which I normally photograph people.

I remember approaching this man and asking permission to make a portrait. I did so, not because he's a beggar, but because I liked his face and beard and was interested in the tones and textures within the scene.

I think you'll agree that the tonality within this image, together with the textural qualities within the man's face and beard, made this photo a good candidate for rendering into black and white.

What Really Happened During The Making Of This Photo

From previous experience I’ve learned that it’s best to agree to pay money, but not to actually do so until after a few quick photos have been made.

I started by making the rather uninspiring photo at the top of this post. After releasing the shutter I began to move to a slightly different position so as to make another image.

Almost immediately he turned quite abusive demanding his money. I decided the mood of the event was not to my liking and that it would be difficult to create the kind of images I’m usually able to make.

I decided to withdraw, without making another photo, when a policewoman appeared and began to reprimand the man.

He went all childlike and presented the rather forced face of innocence to the officer evident in the above photo.

I thought his expression was somewhat ironic so, against my usual way of working, I quickly raised the camera and made a candid photo.

Not wanting him to get into trouble, in a place where he creates income, I explained to the officer that the whole incident was a misunderstanding, for which I took full responsibility.

I apologized to both her and the subject of the photo for any inconvenience I may have caused.

Once the policewoman left I knelt down in front of the gentleman in question, took a decent amount of money from my pocket and gave it to him.

After all I'd made a reasonable photo.

He nodded, with a degree of humility, and I moved on in search of more positive interactions and outcomes, some of which come our way and some we create for ourselves.

*Young boy in Chennai, India displaying the face of innocence.*

Should You Pay Beggars To Make Their Photos?

I’m not against paying folks to make their photo, under certain circumstances, though I am concerned about the possibility of creating a beggar culture, which is why I would never offer money up front.

That's particularly the case where children are involved.

However, that does not prevent me from donating money to the schools or temples those kids are associated with when I believe it’s appropriate to do so.

It’s common practice for me to set money aside for such things when traveling in developing countries.

My mum, Mary Guy, had run a charitable business for many, many years and donated the profits from that business to a range of charitable organizations around the world, particularly in India.

I believe she operated that retail outlet, on a full time basis, for 18 years and in that time never took a dollar in wages for herself.

The reason for my most recent trip back to India was to visit some of the projects my mum supported and create a photographic record so that her eleven grandchildren would be aware of some of the good work she'd done over the years.

In doing so their understanding of the developing world and of their own, fortunate existance might be brought home to them.

Giving Money With Confidence?

I remember way back in 1999 photographing a young primary teacher in a village school in rural Myanmar.

The only teacher in a single classroom school she had not been paid in months and few of the children attending that one room school had paper, pens or pencils.

While no one asked for money, I was more than happy to make a generous donation knowing the money would be well spent and that both the teacher and her students would benefit.

I'm sorry I don't have that image to share with you at the moment. So much of my photography over the years has been conducted with film-based cameras and very few of those negatives and slides have been scanned.

It's a massive project, for the future.

If you know you're likely to be visiting such a place you might bring along supplies for the teacher and the pupils. In many ways it's a better option than handing over cash.

Nonetheless, it's for each of us to decide what we think is right and to proceed, in good faith and with the best intentions.

The important thing is to do something and, where money is involved, to try to give it directly to someone in a position of responsibility who will put it to good use without corrupting any of the individuals involved.

Well, that’s my opinion.

*This girl isn't a beggar. The photo was made under adult supervision.*

The Law Of Reciprocity And Doing The Right Thing

I think I've only photographed beggars on a handful of occasions. However, as soliciting alms is their profession, I’m okay with the notion of paying for the opportunity to photograph them.

But I hate being fleeced and I have an aversion to bullying.

Frankly, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that a polite, genuine and compassionate approach should be reciprocated.

At the very least I expect to be treated politely when seeking permission to photograph someone who makes their living begging in a highly touristed area.

As there was never any intention to photograph this man unawares I can see no reason for him to treat me with such aggression, other than him seeking to extract even more money from me.

While he may well have been treated poorly by tourists in the past, someone in his profession really should be able to read folks intentions. And mine were pure.

He only needed to give me a minute or two of his time and, as a result, gained immediate financial benefit from the interaction.

And, of course, he could simply have said no.

While there are reports of professional beggars who make a very good income, that cannot be true for most. What events cause people, particularly children, to be placed into such a position need to be recognized by those of us who live more fortunate lives.

At the very least the photos we make can bring attention to the plight of others less fortunate than ourselves.

Why I Believe This Discussion Is Important

I hope you're not reading this in a way that might suggest any notion of perceived superiority on my behalf. That's certainly not what I'm about.

The whole premise of this website is to share the beauty of our world and its people in a way that brings folks, from diverse cultures, together by promoting understanding, compassion and greater tolerance.

I believe in freedom, equality and opportunity for all. But I do have certain expectations about how people should be treated. And I don’t think it’s unreasonable that those expectations run both ways.

In fact the only reason I'm publishing the image at the top of this post is because, as a photography tutor, I'm often asked about my feelings concerning photographing strangers and whether or not to pay folks for making their photos.

Never Let An Unpleasant Experience Get You Down

The game, from previous experience, is one for which I have no stomach. The gentleman in question demands money and, almost certainly, sneers at me with contempt at the amount I hand over.

Through embarrassment I might well have coughed up more.

While charity should not be negotiable these folks see a lot of tourists, most often only once, and I suspect some of them probably think they might as well push that little bit harder.

Of course being extra nice might also work.

Perhaps you’ve had similar experiences. It happened to me, several times, on my very first trip to India and I learned and adapted.

It's just a game and, at the end of the day, it takes two people to make the photograph: the subject and the photographer.

Both subject and photographer have a right to determine whether or not to proceed and I have walked away, without making a photo, when I felt I was being manipulated or bullied. You can as well.

But I don't let a negative experience bring you down. I photograph people for a purpose and I ensure that the photos I make, on good and bad days alike, stay faithful to that purpose.

In fact only a few minutes after that rather negative experiencing photographing the beggar I walked into the Madras Kali Bari, a Hindu temple in Chennai where I photographed this lovely young girl and several other visitors.

It’s a simple enough photo, made in less than a minute, that speaks to why it is that I make photos. Her expression is genuine and a great reward for the way I approached her and her family while asking permission to make her photo.

There Are Two Partners In A Great Portrait

At the end of the day you have to decide for yourself whether it's appropriate or not to photograph beggars.

When photographing beggars my approach is to ask permission first and then make a series of images, within a minute or two, prior to thanking the individual and rewarding them relatively generously.

However, I'd much rather photograph normal, everyday local folk as both the interaction and the resulting photograph seems to be more honest, more authentic.

I wish that wasn't the case, and I'm sure that if I photographed more beggars I'd be able to break through and make more meaningful images that explore the Human Condition at a deeper level.

After photographing for so many years that's the reason I continue to make portraits and I think that notion is evident in this dignified black and white portrait of an elderly lady sitting on her front doorstep in Kolkata.

I noticed her as I was walking past
I approached and asked permission to make her photo
She agreed
I made a few quick portraits
I showed her the best image on the LCD screen of my camera, hoping her ageing eyes were able to see the image in question
She reached out and touched my face, the way an adult might do to a young child
I thanked her, wished her well and walked away happy with the photo I’d made and elated by the interaction I’d just experienced

Photographing Beggars | What's Your View?

Is it okay to photograph beggars?

My own view is that, while every opinion is valid, you can't really know anything without personal experience.

It's not until you travel to a country like India and are confronted, in equal measure, with joy and despair; kindness and indifference; serenity and chaos that you'll be in a position to speak about such things with any sense of authority.

You might well be totally opposed to giving money to a village child, until you're drawn in by the beauty in their eyes and their lack of material wealth.

My own experiences have lead me to be careful about giving money to children who are obviously not full time beggars.

However, if the situation seems right, I might give them a pen or pencil (though I avoid giving sweets or candy) or, as I mentioned previously, donate some money to the local school or temple that they attend.

Be Careful About Creating A Beggar Mentality

Often such interactions are fun for local village kids, and the pencils are often greatly appreciated.

Such interactions can also provide great joy for us tourists passing through. However, we have to be so careful about creating a beggar mentality.

Imagine a village child coming home with a fist full of dollars in their hand.

It's not unreasonable for their parents to see the short term benefit of sending the child out there, day after day, asking every trekking party that enters the village for money.

Before you know it the child is no longer going to school, some of their friends get in on the act and a beggar community has been established.

And don't think that doesn't impact on the experience of the average tourist. I've been followed around town for literally hours by young lads offering to clean my shoes.

No manner of polite "no thank you" would appease the kids and by the time you're free of them your day's been ruined by the endless "clean shoe sir" and other such comments.

*This child’s mother stood next to me when I made this photo.*

Make Photos, But Keep Children Safe

“We have to be aware that, while our own intentions and behavior are pure, that is not necessarily the case for those that follow us.”

— Glenn Guy, Travel Photography Guru

When it comes to photographing children I'm particularly careful. It's not me I'm worried about, but the next guy who comes along.

That's why my preference is to ask permission from an adult prior to photographing kids.

That's exactly the approach I made when photographing the child above leaning against a wall in a suburban railway station in Kolkata, India.

The child's mother was standing off to one side while I made this image. What’s more I first asked permission of the mother before gesturing to the child with my camera as a way of also asking his permission.

If there are no adults around I ensure that I involve more than one child in the event and, when searching for great light or a good background, I'm careful not to move the kids more than a very short distance from where I first met them.

It's sad that the world is the way it is and that predatory behavior exploits vulnerable children.

However, I don’t believe that should stop decent, well meaning people from interacting with strangers and, when it's appropriate to do so, creating beautiful life-affirming photographs.

After all, photos are an important way by which we can contribute, in a meaningful way, to making our world a better place.

The notion that underpins this website is to heal the world, one photo at a time.

We all just need to be careful how we go about making those photos. I don’t think that’s unreasonable. Do you?

Glenn Guy, Travel Photography Guru

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