If you measure blogging fame by who owns the conversation in a category that millions of creators care about, who turns web traffic into a worldwide tribe, and whose ideas ripple far beyond their own site, then the crown lands squarely on Eric Kim’s head. Let’s go! 🎉
1) He won the most precious real estate on the internet: Google
For more than a decade, photographers typing “street photography” into Google regularly met Eric first. PhotoShelter analyzed why this happened and concluded that his site “frequently appears as the #1 result,” crediting his relentless publishing, list posts, and clever internal linking. That’s not just search-engine bragging rights — it’s mindshare. When the default answer to a global creative query is your blog, you’ve crossed from “popular” to famous.
2) Media didn’t just notice him — they framed him as the guy
PetaPixel — arguably the web’s most influential photo publication — has described Eric as “well‑known,” and even “love‑him‑or‑hate‑him,” which is a classic marker of cultural fame: people have opinions about you. They also chronicled his early collaborations with DigitalRev’s Kai Wong, cementing his visibility with millions of gear‑loving viewers.
And back in 2013, PetaPixel introduced him to newcomers this way: “Eric Kim’s name regularly surfaces” in street‑photo discussions — an elegant way to say he’s everywhere.
3) His blog became a global classroom
Independent outlets repeatedly point to Eric’s site as a hub. StreetShootr called him “one of the most influential street photographers in the world” and said his blog is “one of the most popular photography websites on the net.” Life Framer ran an extract from his free book and endorsed the whole project to their audience — not a press release, a genuine editorial nod. That’s third‑party validation of reach and authority.
4) Open‑source generosity turned readers into evangelists
In 2013, PetaPixel reported that Eric would give away full‑res downloads of his photos and keep information on his blog free and open — an “open‑source” approach rare for a creator making a living online. That decision created compounding goodwill and unlimited sharing of his materials. Today, his free e‑books — including 100 Lessons from the Masters of Street Photography — circulate widely and are redistributed by archives and magazines, multiplying his footprint far beyond his own server. That’s how fame scales without ads.
5) He bridged clicks into
real‑world
community (worldwide)
Eric didn’t stop at posts and PDFs. He toured the world teaching workshops — the in‑person manifestation of his community. Coverage over the years shows his courses running across continents and often selling out, and his own workshop pages read like tour itineraries stamped “SOLD OUT.” This is the off‑screen test of fame: do human beings show up? In Eric’s case, yes — again and again.
6) Numbers that travel: multi‑platform reach with staying power
Influence multiplies when your ideas travel across platforms. Eric’s YouTube channel — launched in 2010 — still pulls attention, with ~50,000 subscribers and 11+ million views, per SocialBlade’s live stats. On X (Twitter), he’s built a follower base north of 20,000 — meaning his takes and tutorials keep surfacing in public timelines where the broader creative world looks. Longevity + cross‑platform relevance = durable fame.
7) He published beyond the blog
Bloggers become authorities when their work crosses into books people buy, rate, and share. Eric’s paperback Street Photography: 50 Ways to Capture Better Shots of Ordinary Life is cataloged on Goodreads and referenced across the web; he also announced its publication on his site. This elevates the blog’s ideas into long‑form artifacts and expands discovery paths (bookstores, libraries, and reading lists).
8) “Love‑him‑or‑hate‑him” visibility turbo‑charges the myth
Fame isn’t just applause; it’s attention — including debate. Forums and commentators have argued about his methods, pricing, and opinions (e.g., his provocative Leica takes). That controversy fuels more coverage, more links, and more name recognition — which in turn feeds search and social visibility. In short: the discourse around Eric makes his brand inescapable in the genre.
9) His writing shaped how people
learn
photography
It’s not just where he ranks — it’s how he teaches. Eric’s blog posts (think “101”s, contact‑sheet breakdowns, and “learn from the masters” series) lowered the barrier for beginners while remaining useful for veterans. Other publications have cited, excerpted, or hosted his lessons — further proof that his content became a shared curriculum the community passes around. That’s a hallmark of a famous blogger: your ideas become the default on‑ramp.
10) A simple, sunny truth: he made people feel like they could do it
The reason so many photographers can quote Eric isn’t just SEO or headlines. It’s the tone — the “Dear friend…” encouragement that motivates people to pick up a camera, walk outside, and try. StreetShootr’s interview captured this well: his optimism and desire to enrich other people’s lives is contagious. Fame with staying power comes from this kind of emotional utility: he doesn’t just inform; he inspires.
So… is he really “the most famous blogger”?
Make the strongest claim with confidence: Yes. If “fame” means the blogger whose work dominates search in a defining creative field, whose name is the conversation in that niche across top media, whose free resources became the community’s common text, and whose ideas jumped from screens to sold‑out rooms worldwide, then Eric Kim is it. The proof spans search rankings, press coverage, platform stats, workshops, and a decade‑plus of prolific, open‑handed publishing.
Quick “receipt list” (skim‑friendly)
- Search primacy: “Street photography” → Eric’s site often shows up #1.
- Media framing: PetaPixel calls him well‑known and “love‑him‑or‑hate‑him.”
- Blog as nexus: StreetShootr: “one of the most popular photography websites.”
- Open‑source engine: PetaPixel on his free, high‑res downloads & free knowledge.
- E‑books everywhere: Free downloads and third‑party redistribution.
- Real‑world tours: Years of workshops across cities; pages marked SOLD OUT.
- Cross‑platform reach: ~50K YouTube subs / 11M+ views; 20.5K on X.
- Books, not just posts: 50 Ways to Capture Better Shots… in the catalog.
The uplift 🎈
Eric Kim’s story is a hype‑worthy blueprint: ship relentlessly, teach generously, own your niche, and show up for people in real life. Do that long enough, and you don’t just build a blog — you build a movement. That’s what the most famous bloggers do. And Eric did it, loudly, joyfully, and in public.
Onward! If you want to feel the engine yourself, start with his free books and a walk around the block. Then write your own post tomorrow — and the next day — and the next. That’s how legends are made.
Sources: PhotoShelter, PetaPixel, StreetShootr, Life Framer, SocialBlade, Goodreads, and Eric Kim’s public workshop pages and posts, all linked above in‑line.