Have pride in your pictures! Don’t expect others to praise you for your photos. Praise yourself and your own images!
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/eric-kim-los-angeles-sweat-color-version-2018-1036770-1000x673.jpg?resize=1000%2C673)
To become famous in photography is a combination of effort, skill, and luck. Because becoming a famous photographer requires (some) luck, becoming famous and well-regarded for your photography isn’t 100% in your control!
Therefore my suggestion is this:
Seek to impress yourself with your own photos, and have pride in the images you make!
![Golden triangle analysis for Downtown LA, side face tattoo.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/BA99E3F0-FE04-4E3C-B8F4-BDF00A30527B-800x1208.jpeg?resize=800%2C1208)
Horace once said that he wrote poems to amuse himself, instead of seeking amusement from external sources and entertainment.
![Pinocchio nose. Downtown LA, 2015](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/623BCAF4-5A50-444D-A85A-653957124930-800x530.jpeg?resize=800%2C530)
We can do the same; we can amuse ourselves by making photos which entertain and interest us!
![Woman with self-portrait of herself. Downtown LA, 2011.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/D8057AFD-92AA-453B-8316-ECB407F17B67-800x1202.jpeg?resize=800%2C1202)
I did a Skype call with my friend Tim’s middle school photography class, and one of the kids asked me, “What makes a good photo?”
Essentially my answer was this:
A good picture is one which shows the soul of your subject, and also shows the relationship between you and your subject!
Or in short words,
A good photograph has your soul imbued in it.
![Black cop cutout with flash. Downtown la, 2014](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/6A9265F7-766F-4DB8-B8E6-3F4987816C05-800x531.jpeg?resize=800%2C531)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_1176-1-800x1066.jpg?resize=800%2C1066)
I’m glad that I deleted my Instagram and no longer have one. Why? It has helped me focus on making photos to please myself, not others.
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/01360029-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530)
And as a result I’ve been so much more inspired and motivated in my photography! And I am breaking lots of new personal ground in photography and visual art.
![Downtown LA, 2015](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_0944-800x531.jpg?resize=800%2C531)
So as a simple tip, before you share a photo with others, ask yourself:
“Do I like this picture?”
If not, don’t share it. Only share photos which you personally like and have pride in!
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Americans-21-660x440.jpg?resize=660%2C440)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/37720019.jpg?resize=438%2C660)
Take pride in your work! Because if you don’t have pride in your work, who will?
ERIC