I guess I’m rude, I have had a few people (men; I am female) ask to take my picture while traveling in Egypt and Turkey and I always refused (in a friendly way). I just felt there was no good reason they would need or want a picture of me. I am pretty average looking and of course there are tons of female western tourists around, so I found it a little odd.
You don’t say.
It totally depends on context – am I in a rush? what kind of vibe to I get from this person? are they pushy or polite, making a request or a demand?
But yep. And here too. I generally don’t mind unless the random stranger is setting off alarm bells.
With that photo, it sure as hell didn’t hurt that she had thought out this project in advance, could explain it in one sentence or less, and even had business cards made for it. So for her, I would have accommodated her even if I’d just been in ordinary jeans (and she, when she asked, had no idea what I was wearing – it was hidden under my trench coat). It made my day, actually – it’s very complimentary that someone thought I looked interesting enough to capture in a photo.
If you’d like to do this, and you are investing in pro or prosumer level equipment, maybe put some thought into a theme or how you could develop it into a series, and have your project cards and elevator pitch ready when you approach people to photograph. It will often help smooth the way. Acting like you have a specific purpose and know what you’re doing counts for a LOT in human interaction. I’ve had people go from hostile to intrigued just because I explained what project I was working on.