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The ‘T’ Technique of Success

T technique: Broad generalization (across X axis), and deep specialization going down (Y axis).
T technique: Broad generalization (across X axis), and deep specialization going down (Y axis).
T technique: Broad generalization (across X axis), and deep specialization going down (Y axis).

A tip on how to succeed as a modern photographer, embrace the ‘T’ Technique— broad generalization across many disciplines (the top of the T) and deep specialization in one domain (the line of the T that goes downward).

Broad generalization and erudition

General knowledge across many disciplines

The top of the T: Broad knowledge over many domains.

For example, I have general and superficial knowledge in many different fields such as:

  • Economics
  • Philosophy
  • Physics

Deep specialization and expert knowledge

Deep specialization

But I have very deep knowledge in photography. This is what I am an expert in. Therefore, I can draw upon my broad array of knowledge from my general fields, to come up with novel ideas.

For example,

  • Economics x Photography = Photography Entrepreneurship
  • Philosophy x Photography = Personal Photography
  • Physics x Photography = Dynamic Tension Theory in Photography

Essentially, by having broad knowledge, you can combine your specialized knowledge to create something totally new, interesting, and innovative.

Succeed as a modern photographer

Therefore to succeed as a MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER, don’t just be a photographer. Cross-pollinate and combine all your skills and interests, to create novel ideas, in order to stand out.


New Book: MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER: Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

The modern photographer cover final

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.


Super special knowledge

The arrow is my knowledge on photography, the red triangle is my sub-specialty or ‘street photography’
The arrow is my knowledge on photography, the red triangle is my sub-specialty or ‘street photography’

The way I’m really able to succeed and thrive is because I have super-specialized knowledge in my specialty of photography, which is street photography.

One principle of success as a modern photographer:

Better to be a big fish in a small pond, than a small fish in a big pond.

So what small genre, or small specialty can you dominate, and focus at least 5 years of your life on?

For me, I devoted thousands of hours and shots of espresso to produce STREET PHOTOGRAPHY 101 and LEARN FROM THE MASTERS OF STREET PHOTOGRAPHY. This is what helped me become #1 on Google for ‘street photography’.

MASTERS now available on Amazon

MASTERS: First Edition Book by HAPTICPRESS

MASTERS now available on AMAZON


Assignment: Write down your skills and cross-pollinate

T technique: Broad generalization (across X axis), and deep specialization going down (Y axis).
T technique: Broad generalization (across X axis), and deep specialization going down (Y axis).

Write down your list of strengths, interests, and personal curiosities. Then, see how you can cross-pollinate and combine your other interests to make you stand out as a photographer.

How can you cross-pollinate your skills as a programmer, computer scientist, or technologist to apply your skilled knowledge on technology to photography?

How can you apply your business consulting skills to help your photography clients?

How can you use your Sociology, psychology, or social work major to help build connections with others, communities, and your photography clients?

BE BOLD,
ERIC

New Book: MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER: Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

The modern photographer cover final

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.


PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101

ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP  by HAPTIC INDUSTRIES // Portrait by Benjamin Thompson

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER: Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.


Why Become a Photography Entrepeneur?

Take control of your own photographic destiny:

  1. Photography Startup Manual
  2. PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP MANUAL

THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

The modern photographer cover final

  • Go Ahead and Sell Out
  • What is Your Unique Voice?
  • Why You Must Self-Promote Yourself
  • What is Your Unique Angle as a Photographer?
  • Photography Content Marketing 101
  • Why You Must Become Your Own Publisher
  • The Art of Cross-Pollination in Photography

Photography Entrepreneurship Articles

Google advance up arrow

  • Photography SEO and Blogging: How to Become Number One on Google
  • Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
  •  Now is the Best Time to Be a Photographer
  • PRODUCERISM
  • What Is The Value of a Picture?
  • Your Photographic Labor is Not Free

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS 101

CAMERA MONEY GBP by ANNETTE KIM

  • Chapter 1. How to Make a Photography Blog
  • Chapter 2. How to Price Yourself
  • Chapter 3. How to Find Your Market
  • Chapter 4. Why Teach Workshops?
  • Chapter 5. How to Build Trust
  • Chapter 6. How to Market Yourself
  • Chapter 7: Why Should Someone Attend Your Workshop?

KEYS TO SUCCESS

  • Why You Must Be a “Personality” in Order to Succeed
  • THRIVE OR DIE.
  • Impatience is a Virtue
  • Create Your Own Category
  • HOW TO DREAM BIG.
  • Will Not or Cannot?
  • Why Not?
  • How to Think BIG
  • How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
  • How to Invest in Yourself
  • The Two Camera Rule
  • MEANINGFUL DIFFERENTIATION
  • Advice For College Students
  • How to Thrive in Uncertain Times
  • CANNIBALIZE YOURSELF.
  • DO AND GROW RICH
  • Does Fear of Punishment Hold You Back?
  • HOW TO GET MORE FOLLOWERS
  • How to Innovate
  • How to Build Your Own Empire
  • YOU ARE ENTITLED TO HARD WORK.
  • PICK YOURSELF.
  • OWN YOUR PLATFORM
  • 10 KEYS TO SUCCESS

Table of Contents

Learn how to make a living from your passion:

  • Preface. BRAVE NEW WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Chapter 1. How to Create Value
  • Chapter 2. ZEN CAPITALISM
  • Chapter 3. Scarcity
  • Chapter 4. How to Brand Yourself
  • Chapter 5. How to Build a True Following
  • Chapter 6. The Blueprint to Success in Photography
  • Chapter 7. HOW TO BE BOLD
  • Chapter 8. How to Sell Out
  • Chapter 9. GO AGAINST THE GRAIN
  • Chapter 10. EXTREME ABUNDANCE
  • Chapter 11. Photography Experience Economy
  • Chapter 12. Why You Should Make Money for Your Photography
  • Chapter 13. How to Become a Famous Photographer

Photography Business 101

  • Practical Photography Business Advice

How to Make Money with Photography

CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM
CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM
  • How to Charge More Money in Your Photography
  • Why You Should Not Pursue Photography as Career
  • Can Photography Make You Rich?
  • How I Earn $200,000+ a Year From Photography
  • How to earn $10,000 a month as a photographer
  • Why you must be an expensive photographer

Photography Marketing 101

  • Why Have More Followers?
  • Why You Should Do Photography Work For Free
  • How I Became an Internet Famous Photographer
  • Photography Blogging Ideas
  • Why You Should Promote Your Own Name
  • How to Build a Following
  • How to Stand Out as a Photographer.
  • HOW TO GO VIRAL AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.
  • How to Master Marketing
  • How to Sell Yourself

SELLOUT ERIC KIM

How to Hustle.

  • Entrepreneurial Advice to My 18 Year Old Self
  • How to Become Insanely Productive.
  • 5 Lessons From Hesiod on Hustling

Entrepreneurial Principles

  • It is Better to Beg For Forgiveness Than Ask For Permission
  • The Free Way to Become Rich
  • JUST DO IT.
  • 7 Steps: How to Make a Living From Your Passion
  • How to Do What You Love for a Living
  • How to Create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
  • How to Fail Big
  • How to Invest in Yourself
  • How to Be Bold in Photography and Life
  • Mission: Cover Your Rent and Food
  • 1,000 True Fans
  • The “10x Principle”: The Only Difference Between “Success” and “Failure”
  • Make More Value Not Money
  • We Live in a Photo Utopia

How to be a Full-time Photographer

  • How to Make a Living From Photography
  • The 3 Principles of Making Money With Photography
  • Advice for Aspiring Full-Time Photographers
  • Don’t Go Into Debt For Your Photography
  • How to Brand Yourself as a Photographer
  • Trust: The Most Important Thing You Need to Succeed as a Photographer

Photography Blogging

  • How to become rich from photography blogging
  • How to Make a Living with Blogging
  • 50 Blogging Tips For Beginners
  • How to Start Your Own Photography Blog
  • A Photographer’s Guide to SEO, Blogging, and Social Media

How to Teach Photography

  • How to Become a Photography Teacher
  • How to Teach a Street Photography Class
  • Why I Teach Street Photography Workshops

Social Media

  • Why I Deleted My Instagram
  • The Social Media Blackbook for Photographers
  • Why Do You Need More Likes or Followers?
  • Instagram is Going to Be the Next Facebook
  • Don’t Trust “Free” Photography Social Networks

How to Save Money

  • How Cindy Saved Us $150,000+
  • The Free Way to Become Rich

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PHOTO WALLET HAS ARRIVED.

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HENRI NECK STRAP MARK III

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MUSE by KIM

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HENRI SHOULDER STRAP

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Street Photography Starter Kit

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HENRI WRIST STRAP PRO

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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

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STREET NOTES

The original and true STREET NOTES >


FILM NOTES

Take it back to the old school >

CREATIVE EVERY DAY

Create every day >


STREET HUNT

Never stop hunting >


PHOTO JOURNAL

Photo Journal Print Edition

Discover more personal meaning in your photography >

HAPTIC MAG

Read our HAPTIC MAGAZINE: Issue 1 “Our Story” >

HAPTIC makes creative tools to empower visual artists. From educational tools, art platforms, to camera equipment, HAPTIC is driven by a spirit of experimentation and creative collaboration. We are a majority women led, family operated industry, and have great pride in everything we make.

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HAPTIC MISSION: We believe in disrupting the production market for photography, art, and creative tools. We are transparent about the labor practices behind HAPTIC because we are proud and love everything we make. We support honest and beautiful work with respectful wages to our artists, artisans, and collaborators.

We are not anonymous. Our products are a story. HAPTIC products are printed, prepared, shipped from California with creative collaborators from Saigon.

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