I know the feeling Michelle. It's part of the reason I started doing street photography (to overcome that tendancy). I dunno about tips though. Hmmm...if I think about how I go about it, a lot of time I find locations that intrigue me for some reason. Areas where people are already at or walking through on a somewhat regular basis. A backdrop or foreground that will work well. I then set up a mental zone which is a bit bigger than the area I want to photograph in. I may then walk around the area a bit or I may stay in one spot and wait. When someone or something that catches my eye comes into my zone, I start composing as they move through. I then try to capture the "right" moment in the shot. I guess you almost anticipate what they are going to do as they move through the "capture zone". it's like the shots I took of the ladies dancing from the last car show I went to. I could see the setup I wanted and I tried to anticipate certain movements. A toss of the head sending the hair out. A flip of a skirt or position of the arm. At some point I realized I don't really think of it in my head anymore, I just automatically begin anticipating and amazingly I am right more times than not about a movement. There's also the "photo of opportunity" shot. You're walking along with your camera and you can almost see the photo coming together before your eyes. Again, I think it takes some anticipation of what the subject(s) are about to do in order to capture it all. Here's a little trick I use to use when someone would give me the hairy eyeball when I first started. I'd bring my camera down after the shot with a look on my face like "crap...dude just stepped into my shot." Then I'd stand there waiting for the person to move "out of my shot". I'd then bring the camera back up as if to say "ok..lets try this again." Not only do most people stop giving you the hairy eyeball and look kind of sheepish (for "ruining your shot") but it tends to put anyone else in the area who noticed at ease. "Oooo...he's just taking pictures of the buildings or the sky or ...etc." I've noticed that if you stay in an area long enough taking shots of scenary (or looking like you are) you fade into the background for almost everybody around you. I dunno...not exactly scientific. I will give this tip though, keep doing what you just did. Before taking the full plunge and walking around the normal streets taking photos, go to events like this. People somewhat expect others to be taking photographs at these types of events. It takes some of the pressure off of you as a photographer. That's how I eased into it. Shooting car shows, festivals, etc. Then moving to some tourist type places (waterfront, etc). Next thing you know I'm in downtown seattle taking shots...then in the middle of the night. Now I've got the guts to walk into a car show, go up to strange women who are just attending and asking them if they'd like to pose by a car. :) Next I'll be knocking on Michelle's door carrying my camera, a little catholic schoolgirl outfit and wearing a huge smile. :) -=>Donald