Wow, those tourists can get in the way when we’re out on a photography mission. Y’know the people who always walk into the frame as you are composing. Basically it’s a “Just wait it out!” situation – and hope for a clean shot – eventually. In some cases I spend more time waiting for people to get out of the shot than I do with the actually shooting. On some days and at some events it is impossible to “wait them out” because it will never happen. The photo below, shot in the Baltimore Inner Harbor on the last weekend of the Star Spangled Celebration (a few years back), was one of those days. But, in this instance, the tourists actually “make” the photograph.
Other days and in other places that tourists frequent, but not in droves, can be an opportunity to actually market your photographs and well as capture them. On a recent trip to Fort McHenry in Baltimore I kept loose track of the marketing I did while exploring with my camera. 
There were several small groups of people at the Fort while I was there. They were mostly in groups of two, three or four and, in one case among the people with whom I interacted, 6 people. Today, selfies may be the rage, but selfies are seldom good at including a scene along with a person or persons. I smile when I see these small groups trying to take photos of one-another and “taking turns” with the camera because they (obviously) cant get everyone together in the scene. If they are close to me I approach them and ask if they would like to get everyone in the picture – and offer to take their picture with their camera(s).
Nearly everyone says, “Yes.”
So I compose a bit, take a few shots and provide them a couple of good pictures of themselves with an interesting background – all well-exposed and in focus. Of course they look at the pictures on their phones or point-and-shoot cameras and always express gratitude. As they thank me I hand each couple a card and simply say, “Check out my work in my Online Gallery.”
BTW – I never do this with families with large numbers of children in tow. That would be too much like “work.” I focus on the older set or young couples because it only takes a minute or two and there are no distractions (or whining).
Sometimes, as you say, the people really can make the shot, but I try to avoid the tourist traps when they are busy. I know one day I went somewhere and it was really quiet and I thought ‘great, some good shots coming’ and then every time I turned round there was a cat in the shot. I gave up in the end and just took the shots with the cats and made a blog post out of it!!!
I try to avoid touristy places during the “season” – but it doesn’t always work.
Great idea, Bill. I do help people with their shots when they are in trouble, as you say, but I never have a card with me. I printed some recently and so that will be my new year’s resolution to carry them and hand them out!!
Thanks, Steve. Hey, right now, put a small stack of cards in your camera bag. (Then you’ll have them.)
Hey Bill; Great marketing ideas, it looks like you really enjoy the street, maybe street photography? Looks like a beautiful area.
Thank you, Louis. I am not into street photography at all. The “crowd” image was more of a cityscape and the two people in silhouette are just used to illustrate a couple of tourists (taking a break for a snack).
Shooting people!!! Ha, ha – the title intrigued me but I liked to read your article 🙂 Good idea with your business card!
Thank you for the comment, Tatiana. I do not do “shows” and don’t sell directly to people so that’s about the only time I really hand out business cards. I know it has prompted at least a couple of sales.
Including a person or two can add scale and distance to an image. Great work. I have a tee shirt that says “I Shoot People for a Living” with a graphic of a photographer on it. Since I don’t do wedding and portrait work anymore it’s a bit of a stretch, but I like it just the same.
It really does add a bit of perspective to a scene. I, too, used to do wedding photography – to help work my way through college.