365 Portraits - #5 ~ Tom Robinson

365 Portraits - #5 ~ Tom Robinson, originally uploaded by Oliver_Godby.

Well, today was supposed to be a stranger, but after a false start at Starbucks (apparently they have a no photography policy in the franchise agreement in order to protect the copyright of the decoration and branding), I was then busy at work and so decided to do another "easy" one - in that Tom had already volunteered and it was simple to swing by their house on the way home...

..::EDIT::..

A few days ago, I embarked upon a project - to take 365 portraits over the course of a year. More specifically, I want to take __at least__ one posed portrait per day that I add to a Set on Flickr. They cannot be "stolen" candids, and I must take one per day to successfully complete the challenge, which although a challenge I have set for myself, is still a serious one.

Here's a link to the set, so that you can see days 1-5 if you like

The thing is, I am rubbish at asking complete strangers whether or not I can take their picture. Does anyone have any suggestions as to strategies that they have used in the past with regard to street photography and shooting strangers, in terms of "getting over the hump" of their reaction to someone they've never met wanting to take their picture?

I've thought of carrying my business card(s), and maybe printing an iPhoto pocket book once I've got up to 20-25 portraits so that people can see an idea of the project offline, but I'm still struggling to come up with a "pitch" that will re-assure people that I'm not an axe-murderer / pervert / paedophile / terrorist / identity thief / grifter. (Please bear in mind that there is a very real, although not universal, climate of hysterical fear in the UK at the moment, due to the current administration's continuation of it's policy of "Control Through Fear".)

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as would any C&C on the shots so far... I think that I will shoot one of my colleagues today, rather than risk missing the window... Check back later on the Flickr link above if you want to see portrait #6...