“Some of the most famous historical images ever taken have involved children. Two good examples are Henry Cartier-Bresson’s “Children Playing in the Ruins” and Steve McCurry’s “Afghan Girl.” Make no mistake, photographs of children can indeed be timeless—which is why they continue to be a noteworthy subject. Although we shouldn’t be afraid to aim a camera at a child when we feel like there is something worth photographing, we need to be sensitive to each situation—taking into consideration the perilous times we now live in. We need to ascertain whether the creative ends will justify the means. Legality aside, parents can be highly protective and there’s always the risk of getting our asses whooped by Momma or Papa Bear (or getting into a confrontation with an un-informed security guard or police officer).
Street photography is often a game of risk and reward, and sometimes we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zone in order to chase the compelling shots.”