Street Vendors

Street vendors are an integral part of urban economies around the world, offering easy access to a wide range of goods and services in public spaces. Men and women are drawn to the occupation by factors such as low barriers to entry, limited start-up costs, and flexible hours. ⁠ Competition for space in the streets and access to customers are realities in many locations. In order to prosper, vendors must engage passers-by; quick and easy banter is part of a vendor’s stock-in-trade. As a street photographer who often must convince strangers to pose in my pictures, I feel an affinity to this job requirement. ⁠ I have been traveling internationally for over sixty years. When I arrive in a new city, I take my camera for a walk and mingle with the street vendors. They and their merchandise provide a good introduction to a particular time and place.