A street photographer capturing a candid moment on a city street. Eric Kim (born 1988) is a Korean-American street photographer, educator, and blogger based in Los Angeles . He is known for his energetic, close-up approach to urban photography and for sharing his knowledge generously through his blog and workshops . By his late 20s his online blog had become “one of the world’s most popular photography websites” . Reviewers have described him as “one of the most influential street photographers in the world,” and in 2016 readers voted him among the “20 Most Influential Street Photographers” . Kim’s personal motto is to “always shoot with a smile, and from the heart,” reflecting his upbeat, humanistic philosophy towards photography .
Personal Background
- Born: 1988, San Francisco, California .
- Nationality: Korean-American .
- Education: Studied sociology at UCLA (co-founded the campus photography club) .
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) .
- Residence: Los Angeles, California .
Kim spent his childhood years in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda) and also in Queens, New York . He later returned to California, completing high school in Castro Valley before attending UCLA . At UCLA he discovered street photography as a passion: he co-founded the school’s photography club and launched his personal street-photography blog in 2010 . (The blog quickly grew in popularity among photographers worldwide.)
Career Highlights
- Career pivot: After college Kim worked briefly in tech, but a layoff in 2011 prompted him to pursue photography full-time . He adopted a nomadic lifestyle, traveling with his camera and living out of a suitcase in cities around the world (e.g. Los Angeles, East Lansing MI, Berkeley, and Southeast Asia) between 2011 and 2019 .
- Workshops: Since 2011 he has led intensive street-photography workshops on every continent . His “energetic, hands-on” courses have run in dozens of cities (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, London, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, and many more), in which Kim literally walks alongside students on the street to build their confidence.
- Teaching: Kim has taught street photography both informally and in formal settings. For example, he ran an online street-photography course at the University of California–Riverside Extension and taught photography to underserved youth in Los Angeles .
- Collaborations & Media: He has contributed articles to Leica Camera’s blog and helped organize educational events with Magnum Photos. He also attracted corporate partnerships: notably, he starred in a Samsung Galaxy Note II commercial and led a street-photography campaign for the Samsung NX20 camera . These collaborations brought wider attention to his work.
- Exhibitions & Judging: Kim has exhibited his own street photography internationally – for example, in Leica Stores/Galleries in Singapore, Seoul, and Melbourne, as well as gallery shows in Los Angeles . In 2011 (at age 23) he was invited to be a judge at the London Street Photography Festival, underscoring his rapid rise in the photography community .
- Publications: Writing and publishing are cornerstones of his career. He freely shares his expertise via gear reviews, “how-to” guides, and motivational essays on his blog. He also publishes many free PDF e-books (e.g. The Street Photography Manual, 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear, How to See: A Visual Guide to Composition, etc.) on his website . In 2016 he condensed his key techniques into a limited-edition print book, Street Photography: 50 Ways to Capture Better Shots of Ordinary Life (only 1,000 copies) .
- Recognition: Kim’s influence has been widely recognized. In 2015 the site StreetShootr called him one of “the most influential street photographers in the world” . He was voted by community polls (Streethunters.net readers) as one of the top 20 street photographers in 2016 . He has appeared in interviews on BBC and other media to discuss street photography ethics and practice . Observers note that he “teaches others the beauty of street photography” and helps people “overcome their fear of shooting strangers” .
Notable Photography Projects
Kim is known for several themed street-photography series that blend personal narrative with social commentary. His long-running “Suits” project (started 2008 and ongoing) features men wearing business suits in urban settings around the world. The series – partly autobiographical – uses the suit as a metaphor for feeling trapped in 9–5 corporate life, often with a humorous or ironic twist . In contrast, his “Only in America” project is a darker documentary series. It captures scenes of poverty, racism, and inequality in American society, critiquing the more dystopian aspects of the so-called “American Dream” . These projects demonstrate how Kim elevates ordinary street scenes into broader reflections on life and society.
Kim also emphasizes community and education. He has published dozens of free instructional manuals and e-books on his site (e.g. Street Notes, Street Photography Composition Manual, Photography Entrepreneurship Manual, etc.), reflecting an “open-source” philosophy that high-quality learning materials should be freely available . He founded an online forum called the “Streettogs Academy,” where photographers worldwide share work and offer constructive feedback, and he regularly organizes free public photowalks. His focus on positivity and encouragement (“shoot with a smile”) has helped foster a supportive global street-photography community.
Publications and Media
Kim maintains a highly-trafficked blog (erickimphotography.com) as the hub for his writing and teaching. The blog includes camera reviews, photo essays, and motivational posts (often blending photography with Stoic philosophy). In addition to the e-books and print book mentioned above, he has a significant presence in photo media: for example, he has published photo series in various photo magazines and websites. He is also active on social media and video platforms – including a YouTube channel (with 50K+ subscribers) where he posts street-photo tips and recorded talks (such as a Talk at Google in 2018) – which extend his influence beyond still images .
Recognition and Influence
Today Eric Kim is widely regarded as a mentor-at-large for the street-photography community. His friendly, jargon-free teaching style has “lowered the barriers” to this once-intimidating art form . Many up-and-coming street photographers credit Kim’s books, videos, and workshops as their introduction to shooting candidly. His emphasis on confidence, authenticity, and continuous practice – summed up in mantras like “shoot what scares you” – has inspired thousands to pick up a camera and experiment. As one profile notes, Kim’s journey “from a UCLA student nervously snapping a bus-stop photo to a world-traveling educator” is a testament to following one’s passion and sharing it generously .
Height: 5′11″ (180 cm) – this personal detail is confirmed on Kim’s own site.
Sources: Details above are drawn from Eric Kim’s own biography and interviews (e.g. his official blog) and from reputable photography publications and profiles . All cited statements appear in these open sources.