ERIC KIM

How to Gain More Pride in Your Photography

ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER >

What do we lack in our photography? Self-pride in our photos. Some thoughts and ideas:

1. Are you really shooting for yourself?

I like to ‘double’ dip with photography:

  1. First, shoot for yourself (selfish reasons)
  2. Share your photos that you like with others.

This way you get the joy of shooting for yourself, while also getting the joy of sharing photos with others.

2. See whether you’re growing in your photography or not

For me, I have great pride in seeing the growth of baby Seneca. And to grow as a photographer is the goal.

But how do you know whether you’re growing or not? I say it is simple:

As time goes on, do you become MORE curious about photography and the limits of your creative expression, or more jaded, depressed and miserable?

Then curiosity is the goal. Strive with all your might to become more curious as a photographer:

  1. Shoot more random things around the house
  2. Experiment with flash and different types of exposure compensation
  3. Shoot black and white
  4. Share photos you’re unsure about on arsbeta.com

3. Delete Instagram

The best thing I have done for my pride is to de-metricate myself and my photography by deleting my Instagram. Post all of that to your own blog instead. Disable stats, likes, followers, views, or any other metrics.

The more you metricate yourself on numbers, the worse you will feel about yourself.

4. Gratitude

To look at your past photos not as your ‘best photos of all time’, but to see ‘growth over time’.

To also believe that your best photos are yet to come.

5. Display and print your own photos for yourself

Hang your own photos at home instead of hanging the artwork of others. Use your photos as the wallpaper on your laptop, phone, iPad.

Love to look at your own photos, and to realize pride isn’t a vice.

6. Share your photos directly with those whom you care for.

Directly send your photos to your friends and family with direct messenger apps. For example use iMessages to send your photos, text messaging, What’s App, Signal, Telegram, KakaoTalk, Line, etc.

The social media of the future is smaller; a smaller circle (only those whom you care for).

7. You are the author

You’re authentic, as long as you’re the one making the photo.

Authentic means ‘author’. You’re the author of your photography and life.

So make it count. Make your photos for yourself, and never peg or frame your photos in comparison to others.

You compare yourself only to yourself.

If you feel happier as a photographer than you were a year ago, you’re on the right path!

ERIC

Motivation

  1. HOW TO GROW AS A PHOTOGRAPHER
  2. LIFE IS ALL UPSIDE, NO DOWNSIDE.
  3. PHOTO PERFECTION
  4. How to increase your photographic power
  5. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

Creative tools to empower you:

  1. Free: Embark On Your Own Photography Adventure Flowchart
  2. FREE: Photolosophy Course
  3. PRINT: MASTERS VOLUME 1
  4. ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II
  5. ERIC KIM WALLET
  6. RICOHMAFIA ARTWEAR

HAPTIC SHOP >

HAPTIC AMAZON SHOP >

BOOKS

Photo book reviews:

  1. Magnum Contact Sheets
  2. Josef Koudelka: Exiles
  3. Trent Parke: Minutes to Midnight

All reviews >

STREET NOTES

Street Notes is a pocket-sized assignment journal to break outside of your comfort zone >

CINEMA

Great films:

  1. 2001 space odyssey
  2. MAD MAX FURY ROAD//Black and Chrome Edition
  3. JUSTICE LEAGUE [Snyder Cut]

Great cinema to inspire your photography >

COMPOSITION

  1. PDF: ERIC KIM Photography Composition Studies // Google Drive
  2. PDF: Josef Koudelka Photography Composition Studies // Google Drive // Direct Download PDF
  3. PDF: Richard Avedon Photography Composition Studies // Google Drive

More composition >

STREET CLUB MOTTO

When in doubt, let us never forget our street club motto:

JUST SHOOT IT.

ERIC

If this motivated you, feel free to forward it to another photography friend in need of motivation. NEWSLETTER LINK.