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How to Become a Self-Confident Photographer

ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP // Photo by Benjamin Thompson
ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP by HAPTIC

I’m the most self-centered, vain, egotistical, and confident photographer I know— how, and why?

1. How I built up my self-confidence

Kyoto Eric Kim Selfie, 2017
Kyoto Eric Kim Selfie, 2017

My life story:

I had a good mother. I grew up bullied, and punked by my peers. I was fat. I was called “gay” and “faggot” on a daily basis. It was essentially my classmates who wanted to feel superior by putting others down.

For a long time, I took it. I was meek, weak, and insecure.

But one day I was like,

“Fuck this. I’m taking control of my life. No more excuses.”

I started to work out. I did pushups, crunches at home. I ran for miles with rocks in my backpack (I was age 12). I asked my mom to buy me dumbbells, and I started to lift weight.

I felt liberated… I realized,

I am the master of my destiny.

2. What tries to kill you motivates you to become stronger, and therefore not die, and therefore to become stronger

Now that I think about it, I’m grateful for being punked and bullied as a child. Why? It encouraged me, or gave me the opportunity to become stronger. I needed a challenge, a barrier, or some sort of struggle to overcome.

So friend, whatever your life story… know that you have THE POWER TO OVERCOME!

3. Do you like your own pictures?

When it comes to photography and art, life is short. Why care what others think of you? Do you like your own pictures and photos… isn’t that enough?

The greatness of your picture doesn’t depend on whether others praise it or not. If your picture is a beautiful green emerald, you don’t need people to “like” it to affirm its worth. No. It is still beautiful, regardless whether people praise it or not.

Kyoto, 2017 #CINDYPROJECT

So let’s say you have a picture that you don’t upload or share. It can still be a great picture, regardless of what the rest of the world says.

4. How to be more self-confident in your photography and art

Walking woman. Kyoto street photograph, 2017
Walking woman. Kyoto street photograph, 2017

To become a more self-confident photographer, some ideas:

  1. Don’t take it too seriously. Treat your photography like play. Have fun. The more fun you have, the less pressure you will have on yourself, the more prolific you will become, and the more you will hustle, make even more beautiful pictures, and the more you will continue to creatively thrive.
  2. Physical fitness: The more physically strong and muscular your body, the more confident you will be as an artist. My ideal photographer is one who is both strong in spirit, and physically. Lose body fat, and put on muscle. Do squats and deadlifts at the gym. Do chin-ups at the playground. Do push-ups or yoga at home. Abstain from sugar, and eat more meat, protein, eggs, veggies, or any other food that gives you power and nutrition.
  3. Empowering music: Does the music you listen to empower or disempower you? Curate your playlist to excite your muscles, stimulate you to move, and to get to a new creative level.
  4. Make more art: Andy Warhol has a good quote that says something like, “Don’t worry whether your artwork is good or not. While others are judging whether it is good or not, just make more art”.
  5. Share more: Share your pictures and artwork, and then move “onto the next one.” Don’t get stuck in your past work, you’re always changing and evolving.
  6. Ask yourself, “Do I like my own pictures?” Don’t let anyone superimpose their beliefs, or their opinion on your artwork. If you like your own pictures, you’re on the right path as a visual artist.

BE STRONG and be CREATIVE EVERY DAY!
ERIC

CREATIVE EVERY DAY: Your New Creative Stimulus >


PHOTOGRAPHY 101

Seoul, 2009

Dear friend,

If you’re new to photography, start here:

  1. Free Photography Bootcamp
  2. The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography
  3. 100 Photography Tips for Beginners

Photography Philosophy

  • Reality vs. Perception in Photography

Photography Inspiration

  • The Spirit of Becoming a Photographer
  • How to Make Better Pictures
  • 10 Tips How to Take Better Photos of People
  • How to Avoid Boredom in Photography
  • How to Master Photography
  • A Photographer’s Guide to Seeing
  • PRETENTIOUS PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Photography Energy Management
  • How to Unlock Your Potential in Photography
  • There Are No Good or Bad Photos
  • The 5 Minute Photographer
  • A-Z: PHOTOGRAPHY DICTIONARY by ERIC KIM
  • Why I Want to Be a Photography Newbie Forever
  • PHOTOGRAPHY FLUX.
  • 10 Creative Photography Assignments to Re-Inspire You
  • 50 Photography Tips by ERIC KIM

The Fundamentals of Photography

  • Make Simple Pictures
  • The Art of Reading a Picture
  • How to Choose Your Best Photos
  • GET CLOSER.
  • Keep or Ditch?
  • What Makes a Good Photo?
  • Why Photography?
  • Everyone is a Photographer
  • How to take better pictures
  • How to take better selfies
  • How to Paint With Light
  • Why Bokeh is Overrated

Photography Equipment »

  • What is the Perfect Camera For You?
  • What to Consider When Buying a Camera
  • More Megapixels, More Problems

How to Take Better Photos »

  • How to Take Better Photos
  • How to Capture Emotion in Your Photos
  • How to Create a “Curiosity Gap” in Your Photos

Composition Lessons »

  • Composition Lesson #1: Triangles
  • Composition Lesson #2: Figure-to-ground
  • Composition Lesson #3: Diagonals

Photography Assignments »

  • 40 Practical Photography Assignments
  • 15 Street Photography Assignments
  • 25 Photography New Year’s Resolutions

Contact Sheets »

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  • Street Photography Contact Sheets
  • Street Photography Contact Sheets Volume II
  • Debunking the “Myth of the Decisive Moment”

Editing (Image Selection) »

eric kim laughing lady nyc

  • How to Choose Your Best Photos
  • Be Your Own Harshest Critic
  • Nobody Wants to Look at Your Photos

Creativity »

eric kim Cindy project reflection flash

  • The Beauty of “Creative Constraints”
  • Beginner’s Mind
  • Follow Your Intuition

Motivation »

eric kim portrait by Cindy nguyen

  • Each Photo You Take is an “Attempt”
  • How to Overcome Photographer’s Block
  • Why Do You Need “Inspiration” to Shoot?

Post-Processing

dark skies over Tokyo eric kim

  • How to Edit Your Photos
  • Grain is Beautiful
  • Are Filters “Cheating” in Photography?
  • Video: Introduction to Editing, Processing, and Workflow in Lightroom

How to Create a Body of Work

AMERICA - ERIC KIM16 eric kim woman popsicle

  • Don’t Work on Too Many Projects

Technical Photography Settings

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  • DSLR Photography 101

Learn From the Masters of Photography

MASTERS PROTOTYPE by HAPTIC

“He without a past has no future.”

Start here:

  1. Why Study the Masters of Photography?
  2. Great Female Master Photographers
  3. Cheat Sheet of the Masters of Photography
  4. 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography
  5. Beginner’s Guide to the Masters of Street Photography
  6. Download All Articles >

The Masters of Photography

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

Classics never die:

  • Alfred Stieglitz
  • Alec Soth
  • Alex Webb
  • Alexey Brodovitch
  • 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
  • Fan Ho
  • Garry Winogrand
  • Gordon Parks
  • Helen Levitt
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson
  • Irving Penn
  • Jacob Aue Sobol
  • Jeff Mermelstein
  • Joel Meyerowitz
  • Joel Sternfeld
  • Josef Koudelka / Part 2
  • Josh White
  • Lee Friedlander
  • Lisette Model
  • Magnum Contact Sheets
  • Magnum Photographers
  • Mark Cohen
  • Martin Parr
  • Martine Franck
  • 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

HENRI SHOULDER STRAP

Film Leica MP x Henri Shoulder Strap (CREMA BROWN)

Supreme >


Street Photography Starter Kit

street photography starter kit by ERIC KIM

Master street photography >


HENRI WRIST STRAP PRO

Henri wrist strap pro

For the pros >

Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship

My brand-new Udemy Course, "Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship" now live!

Seize your destiny >


Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Photography

eric kim ultimate beginners guide to mastering photography udemy

Master photography >

ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS

red hand ERIC KIM

Unleash your creative potential:

2021:

  • April 10-11th, 2021: BOSTON / Discover Your Unique Voice in Photography Workshop [Register Intent Here]
  • May 1-2nd, 2021: CHICAGO / Street Photography Composition Masterclass [Register Intent Here]
  • May 22-22nd, 2021: NEW YORK CITY / STREET PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS by ERIC KIM [Register Intent Here]

Be notified of when new workshops are live here.


ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER

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CREATIVE EVERY DAY

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PHOTO JOURNAL

Photo Journal Print Edition

Discover more personal meaning in your photography >

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