11 Tips How to Shoot More

Dear friend,

Recently I’ve found a huge new spurt of creative inspiration for photography, and have been shooting more on a daily basis than ever. What has helped me? Let me share with you what has worked for me:

ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE

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1. Photograph ordinary things

My moms glasses and the Korean bible. Marseille. 2017

I think our job as photographers isn’t to hunt for the extraordinary, the exotic, or the fantastical. Rather, it is about transforming the ordinary, everyday things we see and experience — and to highlight them and make them beautiful.

This can be photographing ordinary things at home.

Cheese grater at home. Marseille. 2017

For example, when I am taking a break at home, I just wander around and look for random stuff around the house to shoot. That can be my desk, my moms glasses, or even shooting selfies of myself in the mirror.

Random colorful things in the kitchen. Marseille. 2017

2. Always carry your camera around your neck or wrist

Bus stop. Marseille, 2017

I have been lately always carrying my RICOH GR II around my neck, which allows me to always be ready to shoot. My New Years resolution for this year:

Don’t leave the house without my camera on my neck.

This is my theory: the easier your camera is to access, the more you will shoot.

3. Treat every day as a holiday

Family eating dinner. Marseille, 2017

I remember reading something from the philosopher Diogenes —who said, he treated everyday as a feast day.

Family dinner. Marseille, 2017

I’ve been trying to do the same — finding joy in the small joys of everyday life, like our family dinners.

Generally it is frowned upon to shoot your food. My opinion— it is good for us to shoot our food. Why? To me, when I photograph my food, I’m more grateful for my food. Also, I always review my old meals, which brings a smile to my face.

Dessert. Family dinner. Marseille, 2017

4. Shadow play

Hand and selfie shadow. Blue and red. Marseille, 2017

I have been having a lot of fun just shooting shadows of myself, my hands, and whenever I see shadows (anywhere).

Red and white selfie. Marseille, 2017

Hand abstract and blue background. Marseille, 2017

Man and shadow. Marseille. 2017

Therefore, when you don’t have inspiration to shoot — just look for shadows, and have fun.

5. Shoot in P (program mode)

Cindy, Golden hour, by the water in marseille, 2017

The beauty of P mode — set it and forget it. Focus less on camera settings. Use ISO 800-1600, center point autofocus, and just shoot.

The less you worry about your technical settings, the more you can reduce resistance and friction — and just shoot.

6. Don’t feel like you need to nail your composition with just one photo

Boy and mother. Marseille, 2017

I think one concept which has hurt a lot of photographers is that thinking there is only one “decisive moment”. In reality, we must make many photos of the same scene, to just get one good photo.

Therefore if you see a good scene shoot at least 10 photos of the scene. This will help you overcome “paralysis by analysis”.

Contact sheet 1, Boy with mother, marseille, 2017

Contact sheet 2, Boy with mother, marseille, 2017

7. Shoot colorful textures

Blue and rust texture. Marseille, 2017

Lately I’ve been shooting high contrast color jpeg mode, and I’ve been having so much fun shooting colorful things and textures.

Abstract man with arm. Marseille, 2017

As a tip, try shooting two photos of each scene: shoot one photo of the colorful texture with flash (which often increases contrast and saturation), and also shooting without a flash (which will show more textures).

8. Shoot artistic portraits of your friends

My friend Yves at his home in marseille, 2017

Don’t feel like you only need to shoot street portraits of strangers — photograph your friends and loved ones and try to make them artistic. Shoot your subjects next to window lighting with -1 exposure compensation.

I photographed my friend Yves at his home in Marseille above, and I love the drama of the shadows that come through his curtains.

9. Experiment with perspectives for fun

Shot from patio, looking down. High perspective photo. Marseille, 2017

To keep shooting, treat all photography like fun and experimentation. I’ve been having a lot of fun just practicing shooting different perspectives — from very high perspectives looking down, or crouching down very low, and shooting up.

Doorbell ringer shot from a low angle. Marseille. 2017

10. Go out during Golden hour

Golden hour, boy in orange jacket by water. Marseille, 2017

Whenever it is Golden hour (sunrise or sunset) in your local time, just go for a walk with your camera. Because of the Golden light, almost everything will look good in the photo.

Cindy, Golden hour, by the water in marseille, 2017

I always feel more inspiration to shoot during Golden hour, and I think you will too.

11. Shoot at night

Blue sky, orange window. Marseille, 2017

Shoot all times during the day, including the night. I’ve been doing more evening walks with my camera, and treating myself like a night walker with a camera. Just a good thing to do in the evening to clear your mind.

Orange texture at night. Marseille, 2017

Conclusion

Photo of my mom on iPad. Processed with VSCO with a6 preset. Marseille, 2017

Ultimately, don’t worry about making “good” photos, or trying to get a bunch of likes on social media. Make photos that bring a smile to your face. Retain your childlike enthusiasm for photography, and keep that spirit alive.

Have fun,
ERIC

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