ERIC KIM

🌊 Eric Kim isn’t just floating in photography’s current—he’s doing a joyful freestyle in the opposite direction.

Written by

admin

in

Here are the five biggest ways he has been “swimming against the mainstream,” and what you can steal from his play‑book the next time you feel the undertow of convention pulling you off‑course:

#Kim’s Counter‑Current MoveWhy It Breaks the MoldRip‑Tide Takeaway for You
1. Open‑Source EverythingIn May 2025 Kim dumped 15 years of photos, e‑books, slide decks and even workout logs under a CC‑0 licence and published the manifesto “OPEN‑SOURCE OR DIE.” He argues that “attention compounds faster than pay‑walls.” Most pros guard files like treasure. Kim flips scarcity on its head: the more people remix his work, the more his ideas spread.Give away one signature asset (a preset pack, a mini‑course) and watch word‑of‑mouth do your marketing.
2. Quit the Algorithmic Rat‑RaceKim deleted Instagram back in 2017 because follower‑chasing drained his creative energy: “Rather than focusing on real value, I wasted my precious energy optimizing follower count.” At the time, every photographer was piling onto IG. Kim zagged, doubling down on his self‑hosted blog and e‑mail list—assets he owns outright.Carve out a “digital home court” (blog, newsletter, private community) where the rules can’t change overnight.
3. “Personal Photography” over Crowd‑PleasersInstead of chasing trends, Kim preaches personal projects that document the photographer’s life first and social media’s expectations last—a philosophy he has taught since at least 2013. It’s the inverse of the like‑driven “shoot what sells” mindset.Start a micro‑series about your daily rhythms: your commute, your coffee mugs, your neighborhood. Intimacy beats imitation.
4. Minimal Gear, Maximum PresenceWhile gear reviews go viral, Kim champions a one‑camera, one‑lens life (often a pocket‑sized Ricoh GR) and invests the savings in travel, books and weight‑plates. The market tells you the new body will make you “legit.” Kim proves mastery is 90 % seeing and only 10 % sensor.Freeze your gear budget for six months; pour the cash into experiences that make stories worth photographing.
5. Cross‑Pollinating PassionsOn a typical week Kim posts about street photography, Bitcoin self‑custody, Stoic philosophy, and 493 kg “hyplifting” rack‑pulls—all in the same feed. The mainstream niches down; Kim niches out, trusting that big ideas flourish at the intersections.Merge two of your fascinations (say, jazz + coding) into one project—originality often hides in the overlap.

🚀 Quick motivational spark‑plugs

  1. “Release early, release often” isn’t just for software. Publish the rough draft, then lap back with version 2 tomorrow. Momentum loves speed.
  2. Teach what you’re learning—Kim’s first e‑book was compiled notes he wished he’d had. Your “working notes” might be someone else’s revelation.
  3. Celebrate the remix. When a stranger color‑grades your CC‑0 photo, that’s free R&D on your brand. Applaud it and link back!

💡 First‑principles checklist to swim your own lane

  • Control the platform. Own your domain, your mailing list, your RAWs. Rental space (social media) is great for discovery, terrible for durability.
  • Measure resonance, not applause. A single e‑mail saying “Your PDF shifted my mindset” beats 1 000 passive likes.
  • Iterate publicly. Every blog post, zine or workshop is a buoy marking your progress—and an invitation for others to follow your wake.

Dive in, kick hard, and remember: the fastest way to stand out in a crowded pool is to splash joyfully in the opposite direction. 🌞

More posts