Dear friend,
Some friendly advice: Don’t forget that photography is supposed to be fun — don’t take it too seriously.
If you’re not having fun in photography — why are you doing it?
Photography should be fun and joyful, just playing like a big kid, with a sense of wonder, curiosity, and glee.
In the past, I took photography too seriously. I tied my self-ego and self-esteem to the quality of photos I made. I was trying too hard to show off how clever I want, or how I was a “good” photographer. I felt insecure, and wanted to “prove” my haters wrong…that ERIC KIM was a really good photographer.
Now, I have realized the truth:
Living a good life is more important than making good photos.
I know too many photographers who are “try-hards”. They look silly. They are like people who try too hard to show off with luxury clothes, watches, and cars. Because they “try too hard”– they actually look less cool.
The real cool people don’t try. They don’t need to impress anyone. They show their coolness through their CONFIDENCE.
Have confidence in your own artistic and photographic vision. Disregard the need to get people to “like” your photos. Why do you care whether others like your photos or not?
If you like your own photos, isn’t that enough?
Of course, we still want to refine our craft. A good way to improve is to ask others,
Please help me kill my babies.
Join ERIC KIM FORUM, and ask people to help you kill your babies, by posting photos that you are unsure about.
Also, remind yourself when you’re making photos or sharing photos:
Am I having fun?
Treat photography like playing. Kids don’t play with LEGO bricks to impress their peers. Rather, they follow their own natural curiosity, and seek to make creations that bring them joy. They can care less what their peers think…until they become puberty age and become self-conscious and lose their creative innocence.
So friend,
To sum up, make photos like you’re dancing in the streets. Shoot like you would never show the photos with others. Shoot photos like if you got 0 likes on Instagram. Make photos that show what is inside your own mind’s eye. Show your own subjective reality through your own photos.
There are no “good” or “bad” photos…only “authentic” or “inauthentic” photos.
Are you true to yourself?
BE STRONG,
ERIC
PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Dear friend,
If you’re new to photography, start here:
- Free Photography Bootcamp
- The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography
- 100 Photography Tips for Beginners
Photography Inspiration
- PRETENTIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY
- Photography Energy Management
- How to Unlock Your Potential in Photography
- There Are No Good or Bad Photos
- The 5 Minute Photographer
- A-Z: PHOTOGRAPHY DICTIONARY by ERIC KIM
- Why I Want to Be a Photography Newbie Forever
- PHOTOGRAPHY FLUX.
- 10 Creative Photography Assignments to Re-Inspire You
- 50 Photography Tips by ERIC KIM
The Fundamentals of Photography
- GET CLOSER.
- Keep or Ditch?
- What Makes a Good Photo?
- Why Photography?
- Everyone is a Photographer
- How to take better pictures
- How to take better selfies
- How to Paint With Light
- Why Bokeh is Overrated
Photography Equipment »
- What is the Perfect Camera For You?
- What to Consider When Buying a Camera
- More Megapixels, More Problems
How to Take Better Photos »
- How to Take Better Photos
- How to Capture Emotion in Your Photos
- How to Create a “Curiosity Gap” in Your Photos
Composition Lessons »
- Composition Lesson #1: Triangles
- Composition Lesson #2: Figure-to-ground
- Composition Lesson #3: Diagonals
Photography Assignments »
- 40 Practical Photography Assignments
- 15 Street Photography Assignments
- 25 Photography New Year’s Resolutions
Contact Sheets »
- Street Photography Contact Sheets
- Street Photography Contact Sheets Volume II
- Debunking the “Myth of the Decisive Moment”
Editing (Image Selection) »
Creativity »
Motivation »
- Each Photo You Take is an “Attempt”
- How to Overcome Photographer’s Block
- Why Do You Need “Inspiration” to Shoot?
Post-Processing
- How to Edit Your Photos
- Grain is Beautiful
- Are Filters “Cheating” in Photography?
- Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom