Use Social Engineering to Find Unique Photography Locations
Learn how to use social engineering to benefit your photography.
Prefer to watch this tutorial in video format? 😏
Introduction to Social Engineering
In this tutorial, I'm going to talk about how to use social engineering to benefit your adventure photography.
Now, social engineering is essentially learning how to make friends quickly. And when you have friends, you can gain access to great locations, get insider tips, find models to work with, and ultimately get better photos.
In a lot of ways, adventure photography is high-level problem solving in unfamiliar locations. The quicker you can build rapport with people and have them on your side, the easier your job will be.
In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you how to talk to security, park rangers, photographers, models, and locals. I’m also going to cover how to deal with crowds, and recommend a couple books to improve your social skills.
Ready to jump in?
This photo, taken at Land’s End in Cabo, Mexico is normally only accessible via “paid” boat adventures. However, by talking to the locals, we were able to discover a secret pathway along the rocks to access it for free.
Talking to Security
Let’s start by talking about the most dire social situation you may run into. Dealing with security. At one point or another they’re going to find a way into your adventures, and it’s usually going to be when you least expect it.
It’s most likely to occur if you’re during architectural photography where there’s onsite security, if you’re entering an abandoned location that’s monitored, or if you’re trying to access an overlook or rooftop that’s off-limits to the public.
But it can happen anywhere- especially if the culprit is in a bad mood and they just want to rain on your photography parade.
This photo was taken at Cape Porpoise in New England. Was I tresspassing on private property? Who knows.
Here’s two different methods of dealing with security:
Method 1: Ask for Permission Before Confrontation
By this I mean permission to enter a certain area, to shoot a certain thing, or to use a certain prop. If it seems like something is off-limits to the public, it most likely is.
Now, I wouldn’t recommend walking up and asking for permission directly. If they don’t know you, the answer is most likely going to be no. Their job is to protect the area, and if they don’t know your intentions, why would they trust you right off the bat?
Start by building rapport. Make a joke, ask how their day is going, or show a little empathy. Maybe say something like, “Looks busy today. You almost out of here?” or “You enjoy working here? Bet you see some crazy stuff.” Basically spark a conversation, preferably about them.
Eventually, they’ll probably switch the conversation back to you and ask what you’re doing with your camera. That’s when you casually say, “Oh, I’m just practicing some photography. Mind if I walk around and snap a few shots of _____?”
One key tip: don’t approach with big gear. Have a single camera in hand, preferably with a small lens. Avoid the tripod and large lenses, as they set off alarm bells for “professional,” “high production,” and “needs a permit.”
You want to build the appearance of a hobbyist photographer doing this for your own private collection- even if you have thousands of dollars worth of gear in your backpack.
Once you’ve built some trust and/or have permission, then you can slowly bust out the bigger gear.
Another solid technique if you’re young enough is to pull the “I’m a student” card. Simply say, “I have a photography assignment and need to take some photos for my class. Do you mind if I shoot around here?” This gives you a bit of leniency, and helps push the amateur agenda. Everyone wants to help a hard-working student succeed.
Never claim you’re a pro, that you're selling prints, or that you’re monetizing your content. This can trigger permit issues as businesses usually want a piece of the pie if they know you’re making money off them.
This photo, taken at Las Pozas in Mexico, was taken with permission of the organization. A tripod and photography permit needed to be purchased in order to take photos.
Method 2: Be Stealthy and Ask for Forgiveness If Caught
On the other hand, you can take direct control of your destiny. Personally, I have better results with this method as I often realize I’m less charismatic than I think I am.
The best way to do this is to simply start taking photos of off-limit areas with confidence. It’s a delicate balance between not drawing attention to yourself with over the top gear, but also acting like you’re not doing anything wrong. That way if you are caught shooting where you’re not supposed to, you can claim ignorance.
Another more advanced tactic is to act like you work somewhere. Say, for example, you want to get on the roof of a building. You can wear a vest, hard hat, and carry a clipboard, pretending to be a hired contractor.
Say you're there for an electrical inspection, a network test, or a building inspection. 90% of the time, if you act confident, the front desk or security will just let you in. And if you do get caught, simply say you’re in the wrong building and then leave embarrassed.
If you're doing rooftops, stairwells are your best friend. Sometimes they’re locked, sometimes not, it’s all a numbers game. Pro tip: wedge something into the latch once you're up there so you don’t get locked out.
This photo, taken at the Beekman Hotel in New York, was taken before security noticed I was walking around taking images. By the time they caught on, I had everything I wanted.
Rangers (State & National Parks)
Now let’s talk about park rangers. These are essentially the police officers of State and National Parks, and they do have the authority to arrest and detain you. Treat them with respect and you can be rewarded with some behind the scenes benefits.
Most park rangers know their parks inside and out, which means they also usually know about secret spots that might not be obvious to the public. If you befriend a ranger, especially one who’s also a photographer, they could give you early access to the park or special tips.
This photo was taken at Cummins Falls in Kentucky. A friendly park ranger let me into the gated state park at 5AM so I could catch the golden hour happening before the park’s official opening time.
Talking to Locals
When you're in a new town and looking for great photo spots, a great technique is to head to the bars on a Friday or Saturday night. Chat some people up, buy a drink or two, and ask if they know any cool spots to photograph in town.
Locals often know about all hidden gems that aren't talked about online. Be friendly, be generous, and they’ll usually be happy to share.
Dealing with Private Property
Sometimes you’ll be driving somewhere and see a beautiful scene or view that’s on private property. This presents the ultimate conundrum- do you hop the fence and get the shot, or keep driving?
Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ll regret not taking that shot for the rest of your life. Which leaves you with two options:
Ask for permission. Go to the front door, knock, and ask politely to take a quick photo on their property. Again, present yourself as a hobbyist photographer, not a pro. Results may vary.
Hop the fence and get the shot. Now I’m not condoning this, but if you do, at least be aware of the potential consequences. Trespassing in Texas? You might get shot. California? They'll probably call the cops. Third-world countries? Who knows what could happen. Use common sense, and trust your intuition. And pro-tip: if you’re hopping across barbed wire, throw a towel down to minimize the risk of ruining your clothes.
This photo was taken at Tight Pond in New Hampshire on private property, but the opportunity couldn’t be missed.
Meeting Other Photographers
If I see another photographer while I’m out shooting, 99% of the time, I’m going to at least say hi. It’s a great way to make friends, share tips, and discover new locations. Just don’t start a conversation with gear talk, as nobody likes an equipment flex.
Instead, talk about nearby locations, adventure stories, or trade shots. People appreciate value, so give them something they can walk away with.
Working with Models
As a general rule of thumb: if you're a girl, it’s easy to find a guy to shoot with. If you're a guy, it’s more difficult, but not impossible.
Here’s some tips to find models to shoot with:
Find model meetups. Search Facebook or Meetup.com for model/photography meetups in your city. These events are goldmines for TFP (Time for Print) shoots, where photographers trade their photo skills for a model’s time. Usually both ends are trying to break into their respective industries, and this is a great way to get practice and build connections.
Build a solid social media presence. Even if you don’t have many followers, having a strong portfolio is often more than enough to demonstrate your skillset. Post consistently, use stories, and have a clear profile picture so people know who you are.
DM etiquette: Don’t cold DM people with “Wanna shoot?” Instead, reply to their story with a genuine comment to open a conversation that eventually leads in this direction.
This portrait was taken at PortraitSlam event, a traveling model/photography meetup group in the United States.
Dealing with Crowds
With more people visiting national and state parks each year, crowds are becoming an inevitable part of the photography experience. Here are some tips to deal with them:
Be patient. Everyone has the right to be there and enjoy the area as much as you.
Go early. You’ll encounter 1/10th the crowd in the morning, and this will make the experience much less stressful and lead to an easier post-production process.
Use Photoshop. Learn to use Clone Stamp and Healing Tools to remove people from the scene. It’s easier than you think.
The Time-lapse Method: Take a photo on a tripod every second for a few minutes. Then, stitch together a final image using all of the pieces without people. It’s a tedious but effective way to remove massive amounts of people from a scene.
Ask People to Move. If someone’s in your shot, strike up a quick friendly conversation. Then politely ask if they’d mind stepping aside for a moment. Most people will gladly move if they notice they’re in your way.
This photo, taken at Shark Fin Cove in California, is a popular sunset destination. I had to use Photoshop to remove multiple people from the frame.
Book Recommendations
If you want to get better at talking to people, check out these books:
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over by Jack Schafer
Influence by Robert Cialdini
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss
The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene
These books will help you connect with others, earn trust, and build mutually beneficial relationships. All critical skills for adventure photographers in the wild.
Conclusion
In the end, social engineering is a tactic that’s largely overlooked in the photography community. But if you utilize these techniques correctly, you can open doors to shots you never thought would be possible.
Let’s go ahead and move into the next tutorial, where I’m going to talk about how to use Google Earth to find hidden photography gems!
