An off-the-wall, disruptive, street and portrait photography podcast hosted by Gary Lashmar, aka the Street Thief from East London, UK. We’re creating, we’re disrupting, we’re clicking, and we’re putting the world to rights. A podcast that keeps it real and asks questions that no other photography podcasts do. Fires arrows at industry nonsense. With a tilt toward street photography, leaving no stone unturned.

In this episode

Gary started out this episode improvising what to talk about and as a consequence got into talking about the benefits of improvisation. Out here on the streets, with a camera in your hand and the world moving at a hundred miles an hour, a plan is just a distraction. I never plan a shot. Not because I can’t be bothered, but because the best moments—the real, raw, unfiltered ones—happen when you’re actually in the moment, not stuck in your head thinking about what should happen. Street photography isn’t a checklist. It’s not about following some pre-planned vision like you’re directing a film. It’s about reading the energy, reacting to the unexpected, and staying sharp. And yeah, that can feel like stepping off a cliff with no parachute. But that’s where the magic happens.

If you’re overthinking every frame, you’re missing the real story. Let go, trust your instincts, and see what happens when you shoot with your gut instead of a game plan.