For anyone starting out, here’s a few things that have worked for me:
Practice! Especially if you’re new. Walk around your home or the city and practice capping objects without looking at them. Look at yourself in a full length mirror and notice what looks right or wrong holding your phone. Walking by a object on the sidewalk, aim high, low, angle the cam as you walk by keeping everything in frame is the goal - without looking! Work on being discreet - I do this motion with my swinging arms while I’m walking and time the swing with her walking by while rotating my wrist. The goal is get the font and back. It will all become second nature.
If the adrenaline is too much to get real caps, or you’re still too scared, that’s fine. Try simulating it. Walk around with your phone as if you’re taking caps to get used to it. Watch how other people hold their phones and take note. The point is to look natural. Get close to you’re subjects. You’re not doing anything wrong so if someone calls you out (won’t happen), you can show them your gallery is empty (don’t unlock your phone for anyone, but it’s a nice psychological comfort). When you’re ready, go for it.
Be cool. Adrenaline makes you walk and move faster, so keep cool, walking slow means longer video - a lot information can be captured within an additional couple seconds of video.
Post up when it’s unnatural to change your direction. Park bench, lean against a wall, read the menu on a restaurant window. Wait for the subject to catch up to you. Remember to look natural. I was caught filming on a park bench when I first started - had the phone at the side of my knee filming and when I watched the video later the women were laughing saying “is he taking pics? He definitely is”. I even smiled and nodded at them without realizing they were laughing at me. I was being obvious and unnatural. Hearing them say that on video made my blood run cold and quit capping for several weeks.
Predict their path. Again, don’t be obvious and chase anyone around like a horny weirdo, be natural. You’re only happening upon your subject. Get the shot and gtfo. I love lighted cross walks for this btw, it’s like a cheat code.
Breast pocket can get some great caps if you learn the angles, it tends to shoot left which is perfect. If you relax and slouch to bad posture it points the cam downward and centers the frame.
Location. Go where the babes are at. Pretty simple, there’s no magic answer here. I prefer a sidewalk myself, but there’s also food carts, malls, parks, public transit, events etc. Get creative. Personally, I try to happen upon a cap rather than seek it out. Seem to get luckier that way. If you’re brave just walk into victoria secret or lulu like that absolute legend on this site. Helps to have a purpose being there in case anyone asks you.
Be cordial. Controversial and goes against a lot of advice here but works for me. I’ll give a nod, smile or even say hi if it feels right. You might cap a cute smile. I feel like this actually draws attention away - like a misdirection, or might disarm suspicion. I don’t really know, but it feels right in some cases. I wanna avoid sending out creep vibes.
Using slow motion at 1080. Pics don’t do it for me personally. Slow mo jiggle is hot and can be sped up to normal speed later. Slomo allows more room for error - bumps, moving the cam too fast etc… On Iphone start the video 20 seconds ahead and after the cap or the video will be all fucked up.
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A few things to avoid:
Avoid getting caught. Duh. A photo of some dumpy ass isn’t worth losing your job, your wife, friends etc. Sure it’s “legal”, but your social life will be in ruins. Facebook, nextdoor app, ring community - a few places where you might be posted about. The general public knows about this hobby.
Avoid going to the same area too often. Believe me, I know its tempting when you find a goldmine, but people will become familiar with you and notice you more. Then comes suspicion. Of course don’t shit where you eat. IMO it’s absolutely crazy to cap at work or friends… anywhere i go regularly I personally avoid.
I read some terrible advice on here about crossing arms method, and hiding the phone underneath your opposite arm. I was spotted several times trying this when I first started. Dirty looks, one woman said “what the fuck” out loud, got the middle finger from another. Actually got some decent caps doing it tho lol.
If the location is too sparse you might be easier to spot, so don’t get greedy and instead make a quick pass. Inversely, if there are a lot of people there are more eyes and if things go bad in a group, you’re fucked good luck. Something to consider and evaluate because there’s some sweet spots in terms of density.
Never, never, never shoot while intoxicated. Be on point, mentally focused, and fully aware of your surroundings.
Don’t delude yourself into believing women are posing for you or enjoy being capped. Just a personal opinion to keep my head properly in the game. To be fair I did have one experience that was questionable but this woman looked like a freak.
Don’t underestimate the 6th sense and don’t follow or stalk. It’s real. Women have developed this sense from the time they started getting noticed by men (sadly a very low age btw). Bet you’ve heard the expression, “I could feel his eyes on me”. My girlfriend tells me about creeps all the time and we’ve had long and interesting discussions. They notice when a guy is in proximity too long or too often. “Hovering”. We look directly at the things we want to see - they see the world through their peripheral vision so they don’t accidentally make eye contact with a creep. I’m dead serious… and a hypocrite lol.
Don’t try too hard. Accept the loss. Sometimes it’s a miss, and you gotta let the fish go. Maybe go back once or twice if it feels absolutely natural but going back or turning increases risk. It takes discipline to accept the loss. We’ve all been there.
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Would love to hear what works and doesn’t work for you guys. Reading about your techniques are my favorite part about this site.
This is only a list of some things that have helped me get better in the beginning and I thought might help some new folks. A small contribution to the site that’s helped me greatly. However, at the same time fuck all this shit. Just point and cap some babes and don’t think too hard about it!