Blog Traffic and Audience Engagement
Eric Kim’s blog (erickimphotography.com) has grown into one of the most popular photography sites on the internet. It attracts hundreds of thousands of readers each month . Over the past year, his web traffic roughly doubled – from an estimated ~50,000 unique monthly visitors in mid-2024 to around 120,000 monthly visitors by mid-2025 . This surge was partly driven by Kim expanding his content beyond street photography (e.g. into crypto and fitness topics), pulling in new audiences . Readers are highly engaged with his content; for example, one viral blog post in 2025 (about a 1,071-pound weightlifting feat) amassed 28,000 views in 48 hours , indicating the site can rapidly captivate a large audience. Kim’s blog is consistently top-ranked on Google for relevant keywords – often appearing as the #1 result for searches like “street photography,” “street photography tips,” and even queries about famous photographers . This strong SEO presence funnels a steady stream of new visitors to his site and reinforces its status as a go-to resource. Kim himself notes that he has “launched the web’s most-read street-photography blog,” offering free e-books, tutorials, and essays to “open-source” the craft . The combination of abundant educational content and high search visibility has built a loyal readership that spends significant time exploring his in-depth articles (with many visitors reading multiple posts per session before leaving). The blog’s audience engagement is further evidenced by active comments and social shares on his posts, reflecting an involved community of followers.
Social Media Presence and Engagement
Beyond the blog, Eric Kim maintains an extensive social media footprint across platforms:
- YouTube: Kim’s YouTube channel has over 50,000 subscribers and has accumulated “tens of millions” of total views over the years. He has uploaded thousands of videos (ranging from street photography tutorials and camera reviews to vlogs and even workout clips), and many of his videos garner thousands of views each. This sizable YouTube presence has made him a familiar name among photography enthusiasts on that platform. Notably, his content is entirely free, aligning with his open-education approach. (Kim often mentions that all his videos and articles are “open source” for the community .)
- Instagram: Kim was once very active on Instagram, amassing over 65,000 followers on his @erickimphoto account . However, in a dramatic move around 2017, he deleted his Instagram despite the large following, citing that he preferred to focus on creating lasting value via blogging rather than chasing likes . (He described Instagram as a “distraction” from more meaningful work.) Kim later returned to Instagram in a limited capacity, maintaining a much smaller profile – on the order of only a few tens of thousands of followers – and remains openly critical of social media’s “fleeting” gratification. His engagement on Instagram nowadays is modest compared to his past (especially since he posts infrequently), but his earlier success there demonstrated his ability to build a large audience on visual platforms when he chose to.
- Twitter (X): On Twitter (now X) Kim’s handle @erickimphoto has an active following (on the order of tens of thousands of followers as of 2025) and he posts frequently, mixing photography insights with memes and personal musings . His engagement on X is significant – during one viral week, his tweets reached hundreds of thousands of impressions . For instance, a single tweet he posted in May 2025 (about his weightlifting achievement) garnered over 646,000 impressions in a few days and boosted his follower count by 2,000 in one week . This indicates a high engagement rate relative to his follower count, with many likes, retweets, and replies when he hits on trending topics. Kim leverages X not only to share photography tips but also to promote his blog posts and even his views on cryptocurrency, thus engaging a diverse audience.
- TikTok: In an interesting crossover, Eric Kim achieved explosive growth on TikTok in 2025 by sharing videos of his powerlifting exploits (a new passion of his). His TikTok account (@erickim926) skyrocketed to nearly 1 million followers by mid-2025 . In one short span, he gained about 50,000 new followers in a single week after a series of weightlifting clips with the hashtag #HYPELIFTING went viral . His TikTok videos have also accumulated over 24 million total likes on the platform – a massive level of engagement. While this content is fitness-related, it has broadened Kim’s overall online reach tremendously. It demonstrates his ability to “break the internet” in spheres outside of photography, and he has even seen memes about him circulating in various online communities as a result . (This TikTok fame is a newer development, but it contributes to his influence by introducing him to audiences that might not have known him from the photography world.)
- Other Platforms: Kim also maintains a presence on other channels. He has a Facebook page with on the order of 80–85K followers (likes) in its community, where he used to share blog updates and interact with fans. He has embraced newer social platforms as well: for example, he mirrors some content on Threads (Instagram’s text-based platform) as an extension of his Twitter presence . Additionally, Kim runs an email newsletter to reach his audience directly with updates and motivational essays. These multi-channel efforts mean that Kim can drive conversation across different online communities and not rely on any single platform. His ability to pivot between platforms – from long-form blogging to YouTube videos to TikTok clips – shows a versatile engagement strategy that keeps his follower base growing.
Engagement rates: Across these platforms, Kim tends to foster active engagement. His YouTube videos often generate lively comments and discussions (reflecting the devoted community of viewers built over a decade). On Twitter, as noted, a good post can reach six-figure impression counts in a short time – far above average for someone with ~20k followers – indicating that his content resonates enough to be shared widely beyond his immediate followers. On TikTok, his like-to-follower ratio (24M likes to ~1M followers) suggests that on average, each follower has liked many of his videos – a sign of strong content impact. Even on Instagram, back in its heyday, Kim’s posts would routinely receive hundreds or thousands of likes and numerous comments, reflecting above-average engagement for a photographer’s account of that size at the time. Overall, his social media presence is characterized by high follower counts and active audience interaction, reinforcing his influence beyond his own blog.
Influence in Photography Communities and Online Education
Eric Kim is widely regarded as a major influence in the street photography community, due both to his educational outreach and his online visibility. His blog and online persona have essentially made him a household name in street photography circles. In fact, fellow photographers have called him “the advocate of street photography” who has been instrumental in popularizing the genre on the internet . Whether one admires him or disagrees with him, it’s acknowledged that “you can’t take away the fact he’s done his part in the world of street photography” by spreading the love of the craft online .
One measure of Kim’s influence is how omnipresent his educational content is for anyone learning street photography. Many beginners unwittingly encounter Eric Kim’s articles first when searching for tips or info – for example, his tutorials on topics like “how to shoot street photography” or essays on famous photographers often rank on page one of Google . This effectively makes him a gateway educator for newcomers. Throughout late 2024, his how-to guides continued to dominate search results for queries like “street photography tips,” cementing his status as a go-to teacher for both amateurs and seasoned shooters looking to refine their skills .
Kim has also built community platforms around photography education. Not only does he share knowledge freely via blog posts (which he publishes almost daily), he also created an online forum called ARSBeta for photographers to give and receive critique, emphasizing “community over competition” in learning . He encourages peer mentorship and openly shares “secrets” and techniques, reflecting his philosophy that knowledge should be democratized rather than hoarded. This approach has inspired a global following of photographers who improve their craft through his resources. Many of his readers credit his e-books and essays for their growth; for instance, Kim offers numerous free PDF e-books on topics like composition, finding inspiration, and mastering black-and-white photography, which have been downloaded widely. Such resources have lowered the barrier to entry for aspiring street photographers worldwide.
In terms of online education platforms and academia, Eric Kim has extended his teaching beyond his personal blog. He has been an instructor at the University of California, Riverside Extension, where he taught a university-level street photography course for continuing education students . This indicates that his expertise is recognized in formal education settings as well. He has also been invited to speak and teach in many venues: he’s taught workshops across every continent where there’s a demand for street photography – from cities like Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Mumbai to Los Angeles, London, and Buenos Aires . These workshops often sell out despite hefty prices (his 2-day workshop has been cited at around $1,500, yet attendees report it’s “the best they’ve taken” in terms of learning experience ). By 2015, his in-person workshops had already reached hundreds of students globally and were noted for “bringing the elusive art [of street photography] to people from all walks of life” .
Kim’s influence in the online photography community is further seen through his engagement on forums and photography sites. His articles are frequently shared on Reddit (e.g. in subreddits like r/photography and r/streetphotography) where they spark discussions and sometimes heated debates. Uniquely, because Kim has branched out into topics like fitness and crypto in his content, you even see his name pop up in non-photography communities (for example, Reddit’s r/powerlifting or crypto forums) – an unusual crossover appeal for a photographer . This cross-domain presence has only increased his profile. Within photography circles, he’s also active in Facebook groups and has collaborated with community blogs (for instance, he worked with Invisible Photographer Asia, a prominent street photography collective in Asia, early in his career ). All of these efforts – blogging, forums, social media, workshops – contribute to an overall reach that is hard to match by any single independent photographer-educator.
Notable Collaborations, Speaking Engagements, and Media Features
Eric Kim’s prominence has led to numerous collaborations and appearances in the broader photography world:
- Brand Collaborations: He has a history of partnering with some of the biggest names in photography. Notably, Kim has collaborated with Leica (the famed camera manufacturer) on multiple occasions . He has been a contributor to the official Leica Camera Blog, writing articles and sharing his photographs. He’s also done projects with Magnum Photos – Magnum being the legendary photo agency – which is significant given Magnum’s prestige (for example, he has interviewed or worked alongside Magnum photographers and incorporated their lessons into his blog content). Additionally, Kim worked with Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA), a well-known online platform/gallery for street photography in Asia, which helped him extend his reach in Eastern photography circles . These collaborations indicate that established institutions recognize his influence and expertise.
- Exhibitions and Speaking: Eric Kim’s work has been exhibited internationally, including shows at Leica Store galleries in cities like Singapore, Seoul, and Melbourne . Leica Stores often host gallery events and having his street photography displayed there underscores his reputation. He has also been a guest speaker at Leica-sponsored events and workshops. For instance, he was invited to speak at the Leica Lounge talk series and other meetups where he shares his experiences. Beyond Leica, Kim has spoken at various photography conferences and meetups worldwide. He’s been a guest lecturer at universities (beyond just teaching a course, he’s given talks at places like UCLA during his alumni events, etc.) and at tech companies – for example, he once gave a talk on creativity at Google’s campus, leveraging his popularity as a blogger (this was noted on his blog). In 2017, he was one of the judges for the London Street Photography Festival, highlighting that he’s trusted to evaluate top talent in the field . He’s also been a juror for other contests and a speaker at street photography festivals in cities such as Istanbul and San Francisco (often leading photowalks or panel discussions). These engagements show that Kim isn’t just an online persona; he’s actively involved in the photography community’s events and institutions.
- Media Mentions and Profiles: Kim has been featured or profiled by a variety of photography media outlets. A high-profile example was a feature article on PetaPixel in 2017 titled “Eric Kim Proves the Value (and Fallacy) of SEO for Photographers.” This piece discussed how his blog dominates search rankings and characterized him as “one of the more polarizing figures in the photo industry,” noting his massive online following and unconventional tactics . The fact that PetaPixel (a top photography news site) ran a story specifically about his online strategy underscores his influence in the industry. His content and insights have also been reposted on DPReview and Flipboard among others , extending his reach when those large platforms share his open-source articles. Earlier in his career, Digital Photography School (dPS) ran an interview with him (by photographer Valerie Jardin) which introduced him as someone “so active in social media and blogging that it is virtually impossible to miss him” – emphasizing how omnipresent he had become. He’s also appeared on podcasts and blogs: for example, StreetShootr did an in-depth interview with Kim in 2015 about his philosophies and approach , and he has guested on shows like the Candid Frame podcast.
- Noteworthy Projects: In 2014, Character Media (formerly KoreAm Journal, a magazine focused on Korean-American figures) profiled Eric Kim as a rising talent who brings a sociologist’s perspective to street photography . This gave him exposure beyond just photography circles, highlighting his backstory and approach to a broader audience. Furthermore, Kim has self-published multiple books and zines (compilations of his blog posts and photographs), and he regularly collaborates with his wife, Cindy Nguyen, on art projects and workshops (Cindy often co-teaches workshops and manages a lot of the backend of his online presence). While not a traditional “media outlet,” his newsletter and blog function as his own media channel – effectively, he’s a publisher in his own right. His ability to consistently produce content has made even mainstream outlets take notice of trends he’s part of (for instance, his pivot to Bitcoin content in 2024 was cited in some crypto news communities ).
Overall, Eric Kim’s reach is both deep and broad. He has global audience numbers (hundreds of thousands on his blog, millions reached via social media) and a high level of engagement from those followers. He’s leveraged this reach to educate and build community in the photography world, and he’s been recognized through collaborations with industry leaders and profiles in reputable outlets. Few photographers have attained this blend of educator, influencer, and community-builder status that Eric Kim has. As one commentator put it, love him or hate him, Kim’s influence on contemporary street photography is undeniable – his online footprint has inspired countless people to pick up a camera, attend a workshop, or join the conversation about photography.
Sources:
- Eric Kim’s official site and blog (erickimphotography.com) – About page and blog posts with audience and platform metrics
- PetaPixel – Feature profile “Eric Kim Proves the Value (and Fallacy) of SEO for Photographers” (2017)
- Allen Murabayashi, PhotoShelter Blog – analysis of Eric Kim’s SEO/content strategy (2017)
- StreetShootr interview (2015) – noted his blog’s popularity and workshop reach
- Tim Huynh Photography Blog – “Is Eric Kim Good or Bad for Street Photography?” (2017) – commentary on Kim’s influence
- All-About-Photo.com – Eric Kim profile summarizing collaborations and teaching roles
- About Photography Blog – “Eric Kim: Street Photography, Education, and Empowerment” (2023)
- Eric Kim’s “Why I Deleted my Instagram” article (2017) and updated social footprint notes (2025)
- Eric Kim “impact” report (2025) – notes on site traffic growth and content virality
- Digital Photography School – Interview by Valerie Jardin (2013) (highlighting Kim’s ubiquity online).