Photographer Paul Bence says it better than I possibly could. His is a specific case of a much more general sentiment. What is the worst thing that could happen?

Talking to complete strangers on the tube can be a bit tough but this girl had a little too much character for me to be scared so I asked her at the stop just before Oxford Street and low and behold she said yes.

Most people do ! oh and that wasn’t meant to sound bigheaded, I meant not many people say no so don’t be scared to ask.

What’s the worst they can say ?

No

Which at first might be a little hard for the ego to take but after while you realise that if you ask people correctly, even in strange circumstances like a packed tube, probably due to the shock, they say yes….

A lot of people ask me how I ask and to be honest, I don;t have any great secret. A smile helps and also some kind of card, and just be polite and ask….

I usually say, Hi my name is Paul, would you mind if I take your portrait for a project I’m doing ?

That’s it….my secret is out…..

(Image)

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