The Problem With ‘Saul Leiter Style’ Street Photography
Reading time: 6 mins
Street photography has seen numerous evolutions since its inception with each generation of photographers contributing something distinct. Among these pioneers of street photography is Saul Leiter, whose groundbreaking work blurred the boundaries between painting and photography, showcasing a unique vision of the world that has captivated artists for decades. Leiter’s use of vibrant colour, reflections, and out-of-focus elements created a painterly style, transforming mundane street scenes into evocative, dreamlike compositions. His work, particularly his use of colour in the mid-20th century, was ahead of its time, standing in contrast to the dominance of black-and-white street photography. Today, his influence is undeniable as thousands of photographers strive to emulate his aesthetic. Yet, in this widespread admiration lies a problem: the overuse of Saul Leiter's style.
The Overuse of Saul Leiter’s Style
While there’s no denying Leiter’s genius, the prevalence of his influence has led to a kind of creative stagnation in my opinion. Social media platforms are flooded with images that are reminiscent of his approach: reflections in windows, figures obscured by objects, bold patches of colour, and an intentional softness that abstracts the scene. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of these Saul Leiter style images are often beautiful but as more photographers rely on these tropes only, and don’t seek personal growth and development, over time they lose their originality and depth.
What was once innovative and daring has become predictable, a formulaic approach that limits creative exploration rather than encouraging it. I’m very much guilty of this, when I started out in street photography I fell in love with Leiter’s work and found his influence creeping into my photography in a big way and I’d really enjoy comments like, ‘wow your photography is so Leiter-esque’, but it makes me feel cringy to think I pursued comments like that back then without realising that I was being so derivative. So what’s the problem with trying to be too much like Saul Leiter?
The Challenge: Authenticity and Substance
The first issue with this overuse of Saul Leiter’s style is the erosion of authenticity. Street photography at its core, is about capturing the spontaneity and essence of life in public spaces. It’s meant to be an honest, unfiltered reflection of the world around us. When photographers consciously or unconsciously mimic Leiter's style, they risk imposing an aesthetic framework that may not suit the subject matter they are photographing. Leiter’s signature techniques—his abstraction, his use of reflections, and his focus on colour—were deeply personal. They emerged from his own sensibility and his background as a painter. To simply copy these techniques without understanding the intention behind them can result in images that feel contrived, as though the photographer is imposing a vision on the world rather than responding to it organically.
Leiter’s work was not just about creating pretty pictures. His choice of colour and composition was informed by a deep engagement with the world around him. His photographs are introspective, a quiet dialogue between him and his environment. When photographers attempt to replicate this style without that same level of introspection, the results often lack substance. A beautiful reflection or a splash of colour may catch the viewer’s eye, but without a deeper emotional or narrative connection, the photograph risks being hollow, more decoration than document.
The Risk of Narrowing Street Photography
Another challenge with the overuse of Leiter’s style is that it can inadvertently narrow the definition of what street photography can be. Street photography is a vast and diverse genre that spans many styles, from the raw, high-contrast images of Daido Moriyama to the layered, complex frames of Alex Webb. However, as Leiter’s style becomes more prevalent, especially on visual platforms where aesthetics are often rewarded over substance, it can create the illusion that this is the right way to do street photography. New photographers may feel compelled to adopt Leiter's approach, thinking that it is the key to success or recognition, rather than exploring their own unique perspectives.
This imitation culture can also lead to a dilution of Leiter’s legacy. When a style becomes too common it loses its potency. Leiter’s work was groundbreaking because it was different. It stood apart from the grainy, hard-edged black-and-white photography that dominated street photography in his time. If everyone is doing "Leiter-like" photography today, the impact of that aesthetic diminishes. What made his images so compelling was not just the technical choices he made, but the fact that they were a fresh way of seeing the world. As that freshness fades through repetition, so too does the impact of his work.
There’s also the risk of street photography becoming detached from its original social function. Historically, street photography has served as a visual record of society, a way of documenting the everyday lives of people in urban spaces. By focusing too much on aestheticised compositions—colourful reflections, abstracted forms, and blurred figures—there’s a danger that photographers will lose sight of the human element, which is the heart of street photography. Leiter’s work, though often abstract and painterly, still managed to capture the soul of the streets. He conveyed a sense of place and mood that was unmistakably tied to the lives of the people in his scenes. Photographers who merely mimic his style without that sensitivity to the human condition risk creating images that are more about surface than substance. So what steps should we take to enjoy Saul Leiter’s influence without copying it?
Inspiration vs Imitation
Of course, none of this is to say that Leiter’s influence is inherently bad, or that his work shouldn’t be appreciated, studied, and even emulated in certain ways. Like all great artists, his work offers valuable lessons for photographers—about colour, composition, and the importance of seeing the world in a way that is personal and unique, so I encourage you to study his work and experiment with his techniques. But the problem arises when his influence becomes overwhelming, when photographers stop searching for their own voice and instead rely on the stylistic choices of someone else.
What’s needed now is a return to the principles that made Leiter’s work so profound: a commitment to seeing the world with fresh eyes, to finding beauty in the ordinary, and to pushing the boundaries of what street photography can be. Photographers should be inspired by Leiter, not by copying his technique, but by embracing his spirit of experimentation and individual vision. Street photography is a dynamic, ever-evolving form of expression, and while it’s natural to be influenced by the greats, it’s essential to resist the temptation to follow in their footsteps too closely.
I didn’t write this article to put you off making photos reminiscent of Saul Leiter as his style is very striking and accessible especially for beginners, and if you just want to take street photos for fun and you’re happy with the outcome there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you’re looking to grow as an artist though and find yourself following a style of another photographer too much perhaps it’s worth thinking about how you can break away from it and experiment with new ideas.
Saul Leiter’s impact on street photography is both undeniable and deeply inspiring. However, the overuse of his style has led to a kind of creative similarity that can halt growth as a street photographer. In my opinion we need to be mindful of the difference between inspiration and imitation, seeking our own voice rather than merely replicating the work of others. By doing that and constantly looking for new ways to explore the works through photography we can ensure that street photography remains a vibrant and vital form of artistic expression, one that reflects the diversity and complexity of the world around us. The legacy of Saul Leiter should be one of creative freedom and exploration not constraint and repetition.
