Street Photographers Discuss The Importance of Quality Shoes
“Buy a good pair of comfortable shoes…”. A lesson many of us learned from prominent street photographer, Matt Stuart. Over the past decade, I’ve been on the hunt for the best shoes for street photography. In this article, I’m sharing my personal discoveries, as well as sharing insight from prominent street photographers.
Street Photography: The Importance of Quality Footwear
There was a slight hesitation when reaching out to friends in the field. It’s not every day an editor contacts you to ask, “so, what shoes are you wearing?”. But, seen as footwear is such a prominent topic in street photography, I felt justified in my questioning.
Back in the day, when I had less finances, the best footwear for me was the cheapest. I walked a lot more back then too, so it wouldn’t be long before my sneakers had more holes in them than a block of Swiss cheese.
I was also much more naive back then. Why would hours and miles of walking impact my feet? Several years and blisters later, I wish I could have a conversation with my younger self.
I’m by no means balling today, but I know where’s best to invest my money. After doing almost a decade of street and travel photography around the world, Adidas Sambas are my footwear of choice. They’re very light but very durable as well - and my feet are very thankful for them.
But that’s just me…
What Others Wear
I reached out to Phil Penman. He’s a good friend of mine and also has one of the best photography websites, so check it out if you need inspiration. He was more than happy to oblige my left of field question.
“I rock the Alexander McQueens…yes, all white…” he told me. He continued, “they last forever and clean up like new. I get one to two years out of each before they start to have cracks in them”.
Phil lives in New York, where the weather changes drastically across the seasons. “For the wet weather I wear Gore Tex boots by North Face. Very important if you plan to be in snow for ten hours…[they] keep the feet dry”.
Photo: Phil Penman
Shifting climates, I turned to our friend Debrani Das. We recently interviewed the India-based photographer, but prior to sharing her excellent street photography, she told me, “shoes are an integral part of street photography… As street photography demands long hours in the street our body needs to be fit, hydrated and feet need a comfortable pair of shoes. I prefer sneakers while shooting. Old sneakers are my trusted friend. I have been a victim of wrong shoes and now I trust my sneakers.”.
Photo: Debrani Das
I couldn’t avoid speaking to someone in the UK, my home nation and where I cut my teeth in street photography. I contacted Mike Chudley, an excellent street photographer and someone who is doing great work through his YouTube channel - it’s a great source of education and inspiration.
“I’m a big fan of Vans, but specifically the comfy cush soles”. He told me a single pair lasts him a good year with no issues. But that’s not his only choice of shoes for street photography. “I have most recently just picked up a pair of ON running shoes…I’m about two months into using them and they seem really nice so far.”
Photo: Mike Chudley
Reddit On Street Photography Shoes
To add even more of a diverse opinion, I turned to Reddit. I believe Reddit is one of the best social media platforms for photographers. It’s a great space to discuss the craft and gather the opinion of others. Some of the footwear mentioned included…
However, Reddit being Reddit, some users couldn’t help but have a joke in their responses. One particularly made me laugh, so I’m sharing it with you.
@mysterious-mouse-154 wrote…
“I don’t wear shoes…I am an artist! I need to feel the streets to properly connect with them. This is the difference between a rank ametuer and those of us operating at a higher level of photography.”
Signing Off
In closing, I’ll say if you have the cash, don’t overlook the importance of investing in quality footwear. If your budget is tight, like investing in used cameras, you can also invest in used footwear. I know that may sound off to some, but you can find good options in charity shops and eBay. Your feet will be more than grateful for them.
What shoes do you wear for street photography? Let me know in the comment sections below. Thanks for reading.
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