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How to Build Self-Confidence

Downtown LA, 2011

Dear friend,

I think street photography is 80% confidence, and 20% skills. Of course, confidence is also a skill– a skill you can build, develop, and mature.

I. Why be confident?

Okay, so the more I think about it…the more I am in the business of selling self-confidence. Self-empowerment.

To me, street photography is the best way to build self power, self esteem, and self confidence.

Downtown LA, 2016

First of all, why have self confidence? Many reasons:

  1. Confidence will give you the confidence to actually make a photo of something you want to, without hesitation or fear.
  2. Confidence will give you the strength and self-belief to actually share your work, and not fear judgement.
  3. Confidence will allow you to believe in yourself, and your uncompromising artistic vision.

Confidence is the blood of the artist. And yes, as a photographer you are an artist.

II. Confidence is a skill.

The reason why I teach workshops is because I want to teach this skill of confidence to others.

Downtown LA, 2016

I believe in a growth mentality, the idea that we can grow. My life philosophy:

There are no limits.

I want to conquer reality– conquer my own self-doubts, and even fight gravity. I want to become more powerful, to help more other people, and also for me to become a more fearless artist.

III. How to teach confidence

How do you teach confidence? Some ideas:

  1. “Exposure training therapy”: Have people actually do what they’re afraid of, and after they do it, they’re not that scared anymore. For example, giving a student the assignment to ask for permission to make a portrait of a stranger. Before doing it, the student is scared. After doing the assignment, the student is empowered and has less fear.
  2. Not fearing failure: Modern society has taught us to fear failure. I believe in the Silicon Valley mantra: “Fail forward.” That means, don’t fear failure. Rather, channel forward to drive yourself forward, to become stronger and more self-confident.
  3. Practice it everyday: If our muscles were no longer under the power of gravity, our bodies would wither and die. Astronauts in space lose a lot of strength and muscle mass. If we go a day without doing something that slightly scares us, we will lose our “mojo” or confidence. Confidence is a skill, like a muscle, which must be trained daily.

IV. How ERIC KIM practices daily confidence building.

So how does ERIC KIM do it? Some things I do in my daily routine:

  1. Say hello to everyone and ask them how they’re doing: I try to make as much small talk with everyone I meet. I ask them about their day, where they’re from, and their life dreams. This is why I like taking Uber and Taxis, I can make small talk with drivers. Often in a foreign language.
  2. I make photos of what scares me. If I see a stranger that scares me, I ask to make a portrait of them. It helps me build my confidence.
  3. Regret Minimization Framework: I don’t want to regret not making a photo. This can be called the “regret minimization framework” in photography: life a life without regrets. Live a life of a photographer without regrets. For example, if you were on your death bed at age 90– what would you regret not having done in life? You would probably regret not taking more risks– risks of travel, risks of job, risk of finding a life partner, or risk of publishing your controversial art, photos, or starting your own business.

V. Why street photography is the key to self-confidence

Of course this piece is just another advertisement for an ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE— to conquer your fears and meet new peers. To be honest, doing a workshop on how to conquer your fears in street photography– a good investment that will pay dividends for decades to come.

I have found having confidence in my street photography help me in so many practical ways in life:

  1. Having the confidence to raise my prices for my services– because I started to value my labor more (read the “My labor is not free” essay by Cindy Nguyen).
  2. Having the confidence to take risks with travel– not to just travel to Paris, but to go to Portugal, rent a car, and see the beautiful seashore — an epic adventure with family I highly recommend.
  3. Having the confidence to publish controversial ideas, even though I might be crucified on a digital social media cross.

VI. Confidence building exercises

Hollywood, 2011

What are some practical things I can do today to build confidence in street photography and life? Some ideas:

  1. Make a photo of a stranger without permission. After you make eye contact with them, walk up to them and then ask for permission to make more photos of them.
  2. Ask a bunch of stranger to make a portrait of them, and get 10 people to reject you and say “no.” Keep shooting and asking until you get 10 rejections.
  3. Prefocus your lens to .7 meters (3 feet), and only shoot at that distance for a month.

For more inspiration, invest in an ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE, or in STREET NOTES MOBILE EDITION. Also see more empowering tools in the HAPTIC INDUSTRIES SHOP.

ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP

Above all, know that you have the key to self confidence already — in your own palm. That golden key is hidden in your front shirt pocket, you just don’t know it. So friend, fly high– no limits.

Paris, 2015

BE STRONG,
ERIC


STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Tokyo, 2012

If you’re new to street photography, start here:

  • 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Photography
  • Street Photography by Eric Kim

Street Photography Inspiration

  • Walking Meditation in Street Photography
  • 10 COMMANDMENTS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Street Photography is Improvisation
  • In Praise of Randomness in Street Photography
  • How to Become a Fearless Photographer
  • How to Make Better Street Photographs
  • 12 ERIC KIM Street Photography Assignments
  • Meaningful Street Photography
  • 25 Street Photography Tips by ERIC KIM

Beginner Street Photography Articles

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Get started in street photography:

Definitions in Street Photography

  • Visual Sociology Street Photography
  • Why Street Photography?
  • What is Street Photography?
  • Why Shoot Street Photography?
  • The History of Street Photography

How to Shoot Street Photography

  • How to Shoot Street Photography
  • Street Portraits 101 by ERIC KIM
  • The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Street Photography
  • 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
  • 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
  • A Letter to My 18 Year Old Self: If I Started Street Photography All Over Again

Street Photography Equipment

  • What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
  • What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
  • What to Consider When Buying a Camera

See all equipment articles >

How to Conquer Your Fears in Street Photography

  • How to Conquer Your Fears in Life
  • Shoot What You’re Afraid Of
  • How to Channel Your Fear into Bravery

See all articles to conquer your fears >


Intermediate Street Photography Articles

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Take your street photography to the next level:

  • How to Become a Stoic Street Photographer
  • The 10 Principles of Good Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
  • The Importance of Social Skills in Street Photography
  • The Street Photography Code of Ethics
  • “Taking” vs “Making” Photos in Street Photography
  • Follow Your Gut in Street Photography
  • 10 Reasons Why You Should Never Chimp While Shooting Street Photography

Advanced Street Photography Articles

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Find deeper meaning in your street photography:

  • How to Master Street Photography
  • How to Be a Zen Street Photographer
  • Personal Street Photography
  • The “Bookend” Technique in Street Photography
  • Street Photography is Self-Therapy
  • Zen in the Art of Street Photography
  • Taoism and Street Photography
  • How to Find Your Style in Street Photography
  • Follow Your Gut in Street Photography

Street Photography Tips & Technique

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Learn how to shoot on the streets:

  • 70 Street Photography Tips for Beginners
  • 15 Street Photography Techniques and Tips
  • Take More Risks
  • Don’t Think About Composition When You’re Shooting Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Capture “The Decisive Moment” in Street Photography
  • 7 Tips How to Make a Great Street Photograph
  • Tokyo Street Photography Contact Sheets
  • Video: Why it is Important to “Work the Scene” in Street Photography
  • Shoot Less, Better
  • Make Shitty Photos
  • Shoot Effortlessly
  • 10 Tips for Candid Street Photography
  • 103 Lessons I’ve Learned From Street Photography

See all street photography tips and techniques >

Street Photography Guides

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In-depth guides on street photography:

  • How to Shoot Candid Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
  • How to Shoot Black and White Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Color Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Portraits with Permission
  • How to Shoot Layers in Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Urban Landscapes

Street Photography Equipment

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The best equipment for street photography:

  • What is the Best Camera for Street Photography?
  • What is the Best Lens for Street Photography?
  • Why I Love Cameras with Non-Interchangeable Lenses
  • The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide for Cameras in Street Photography
  • What to Consider When Buying a Camera for Street Photography
  • In Street Photography, The Smaller the Camera, the Better
  • Why Sharpness is Overrated in Street Photography
  • How to Shoot Street Photography on a DSLR

See all equipment articles >

Street Photography Editing and Workflow

  • Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom
  • How to Edit (Choose Your Best Photos) in Street Photography
  • How Studying Contact Sheets Can Make You a Better Street Photographer
  • Debunking the “Myth of the Decisive Moment”

How to Start a Street Photography Project

  • Free E-Book: The Street Photography Project Manual
  • How to Start Your Own Street Photography Project
  • How to Come Up With a Personal Photography Project Idea

Learn From the Masters of Street Photography

Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos
Prague, 1968. Josef Koudelka / Magnum Photos

“He without a past has no future.”

If you want a distilled version, read the free ebook:  “100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography.”

  • Alfred Stieglitz
  • Alec Soth
  • Alex Webb
  • Anders Petersen
  • Andre Kertesz
  • Ansel Adams
  • Araki
  • Blake Andrews
  • Bruce Davidson
  • Bruce Gilden
  • Constantine Manos
  • Daido Moriyama
  • Dan Winters
  • David Alan Harvey
  • David Hurn
  • Diane Arbus
  • Dorothea Lange
  • Elliott Erwitt
  • Eugene Atget
  • Eugene Smith
  • Garry Winogrand
  • Helen Levitt
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • Irving Penn
  • Jacob Aue Sobol
  • Jeff Mermelstein
  • Joel Meyerowitz
  • Joel Sternfeld
  • Josef Koudelka / Part 2
  • Josh White
  • Lee Friedlander
  • Magnum Contact Sheets
  • Magnum Photographers
  • Mark Cohen
  • Martin Parr
  • Mary Ellen Mark
  • Rene Burri
  • Richard Avedon
  • Richard Kalvar
  • Robert Capa
  • Robert Frank
  • Saul Leiter
  • Sergio Larrain
  • Sebastião Salgado
  • Shomei Tomatsu
  • Stephen Shore
  • The History of Street Photography
  • Todd Hido
  • Tony Ray-Jones
  • Trent Parke
  • Vivian Maier
  • Walker Evans
  • Weegee
  • William Eggleston
  • William Klein
  • Zoe Strauss

Free Downloads

  • Lightroom Film Street Photography Presets
  • Street Photography Presentations

See all free downloads >

Free Street Photography Ebooks

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Distilled information on street photography:

  • 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  • Street Photography Contact Sheets
  • Street Photography 101
  • Street Photography 102
  • Film Street Photography Manual
  • The Street Photography Composition Manual
  • The Street Portrait Manual
  • 31 Days to Overcome Your Fear in Street Photography
  • Zen in the Art of Street Photography

For more resources on photography, Start Here >

Say Hello to Your New MUSE.

MUSE: Inspire the photographer within you.

Discover MUSE >

ERIC KIM Experiences

Experiences never die:

  • Jan 16-19: Mexico City Travel Street Photography Adventure – OPEN!
  • Feb 29-Mar 1: NEW ORLEANS Street Photography Experience – NEW!
  • March 21-22: Boston Discover Your Unique Voice in Photography Workshop – OPEN!
  • April 25-26: CHICAGO Street Photography Experience (info TBA)
  • August 27-30: SAIGON, VIETNAM Street Photography Adventure (info TBA)

Free photography tips:


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