Hanoi, 2017

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.

Bangkok, 2017

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.

Marseille, 2015

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?

Paris, 2016

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.

Dinner at my friend Yves home with my mom and Cindy. Marseille, 2015

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.

My mom and Russell Halmunee. Berkeley, 2015

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.