How to fashion amazing street style photography using your XZ3

by Duncan Nagle February 11, 2019

This month sees the return of fashion week in New York, London, Milan and Paris, when some of the world’s most stylish people gather to watch the latest designer collections on the runway.

But for everyone who doesn’t have a ticket to the front row, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved in the action. Over the past decade, street style photography has soared in popularity, with bloggers and Instagram users all clamouring to take the best shots of people coming in and out of the shows.

If you’re snapping pictures on-the-go, Sony’s Xperia XZ3 is the perfect device for you. Its 19MP Motion Eye^TM camera snaps high quality photos in true-to-life colour, while its excellent ISO means it’s ideal for low-light street style day and night.

To put the camera to the test, we captured street style shots using the XZ3. We’ve listed the settings here so you can mimic the shots with your own device, along with our top tips on getting shots that will nab you the most Instagram likes.

Street Style image taken using the XZ3 Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio; HDR off; Shutter Speed 250; ISO 400; EV 0.0

Use Manual mode to your advantage
The XZ3 has a great Manual mode which gives you as much control as you want when taking pictures, as each setting can be controlled individually. But if it’s a quick snap you need, you can let the camera do the work for you – it will adjust to the surroundings to get you the best shot.

A street style shot on the XZ3 Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio; HDR off; Shutter Speed 250; ISO 400; EV 0.0

Minimal backgrounds
Simple backgrounds always look great. It makes sure the focus goes straight to the outfit. A block colour always looks strong, but try to choose a colour that complements the outfit being pictured.

Street style image against a pink background Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR off, Shutter Speed 500, ISO 200, EV 0.0

Enable HDR
Use the XZ3’s HDR mode when shooting in very bright sunlight, or where there are lots of shadows cast by the sun. HDR will balance the highlights and shadows making sure you don’t lose any of those key details.

Close-up street style photograph Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR on, Shutter Speed 2000, ISO auto, EV 0.0

Street style photo showcasing neutral colours Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR off, Shutter Speed 1000, ISO auto, EV 0.0

Check your aspect ratio
The XZ3’s native aspect ratio is 16:9 widescreen. This looks amazing on the phone, but apps including Instagram could make you crop the image to post it, potentially cutting essential details out of the image. Try shooting in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which will help you frame your photo for Instagram from the start.

A close-up street style portrait Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR off, Shutter Speed 1000, ISO auto, EV 0.0

Watch your ISO settings
ISO essentially tells you how sensitive the camera is to light (we have a full guide for you here). The higher the number – the higher the sensitivity. The only issue is that the higher the ISO – the more noise and grain your photo will have. When shooting outside in natural light, try to have the ISO as low as possible to get a super clean image.

An off-the-shoulder coat adds an edge to a street style look Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR off, Shutter Speed 100, ISO 200, EV 0.0

Let the XZ3 do the work for you!
Smart launch, an in-built feature of the XZ3, instantly prepares your camera when you hold your phone in landscape mode – ideal for the post-show rush! Meanwhile, Predictive Capture automatically detects movements and smiles, buffering images before you’ve even pressed the shutter button. Think you missed that perfect shot? You might not have done!

Street style image taken using the Xperia XZ3 Get the shot: 4:3 aspect ratio, HDR off, Shutter Speed 500, ISO 400, EV 0.0