ERIC KIM

How to Become a More Self-Confident Photographer

Dear friends,

What do we lack as photographers? Confidence, and also self-confidence in our own photography.

What is the goal?

I say the goal is towards self confidence. To become a more self confident photographer — to become more confident in our approach, our photos, and our progress.

How does one become more self confident?

I say–

Become more child-like.

Let us consider children– they have no problems asserting themselves as artists. They have no problems pursuing their art, with no obstructions or desire for acclaim from others. I think it is only society which corrupts us into seeking external validation for our worthiness or value as photographers/artists.

Detaching yourself from external affirmation

Why do we desire others to affirm us and our worthiness? Why don’t we just affirm ourselves? Or just break away from all notions of ‘legitimacy’?

The joy of viewing your own photos

A big thing I have discovered is that I actually really love looking at my own photos because:

  1. It helps me re-live wonderful past memories (I have a poor memory)
  2. There is a certain aesthetic joy I get from looking at my own photos — I am always amazed “Wow, I had no idea that scene could have manifested itself like that as a photograph.”
  3. I am becoming less interested in making a good single photo — I am more interested in the process or stream of photos.
  4. I am becoming more future-oriented. Now that I have a kid (Seneca), I am more interested in my future and his future. Life is about the future– future growth, future progress, and future thriving.
  5. When you view your photos– you can see unique compositions you might have done anew.

Having faith in yourself

Perhaps the best way to become more confident in your own self and photography (confidence means ‘faith in oneself’), is —

Detach yourself from anything which saps away your faith.

For example, measuring yourself against other photographers on social media. Deleting my instagram was perhaps the best thing I’ve ever done for my self confidence. Therefore perhaps the best way to become ‘more’ self confident is to simply REMOVE or SUBTRACT (via negativa) that which is anti-confidence for you.

For example, anything with numbers seems to be bad for self confidence. Therefore, ‘demetricate‘ yourself. Personally speaking I turned off all statistics for my blog and more recently I’ve also been turning of metrics for my YouTube channel which is hugely advantageous. It helps me stay more focused on my creative vision, rather than seeking a meter to see how well I am doing via numbers.

ZEN ZONE.

Then another thought is perhaps we must get into a zen zone (creative isolation) in order to progress and grow as photographers. To turn a blind eye to all other photographers, and become insanely focused on ourself, and our own goal.

The blog as a zen platform

Creating your own self hosted blog platform seems to be a good approach. And this is what I have realized:

The benefit of self-hosted (wordpress.org) is the ultimate control.

In life, more control is supreme.

Just make your own blog on bluehost.com and install wordpress.org (or use 1and1.com, which I use).

Self hosted publishing ideas

  1. Publish photos to your own blog
  2. Publish your photos as PDF
  3. Self print your own photos at a local printer, just do a simple letter-press ‘zine’ (magazine).
  4. Make an iMovie slideshow with your favorite photos and share with friends and family

Self confidence in street photography

  1. To become more extroverted in street photography: Smile at strangers, wave hi to them, and make small talk with them. Small talk as a means to start making ‘big talk’ with people (first warm up people with small talk, then transition into the deeper questions).
  2. Take a photo of a stranger without permission, smile and make eye contact with them, then compliment them and move on.
  3. The goal is to conquer confidence in street photography.

Street photography 101 >

HAPTIC INDUSTRIES

Empower yourself with HAPTIC:

  1. ERIC KIM NECK STRAP MARK II: For the brave >
  2. ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II: Always locked and loaded >
  3. HENRI SHOULDER STRAP: For the heavyweights >
  4. HENRI NECK STRAP MARK IV: The OG >

HAPTIC PRESS

HAPTIC books to inspire and motivate your photography and artistry:

  1. CREATIVE EVERY DAY (Print Edition) // Digital Edition
  2. Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Street Photography EBOOK
  3. LIMITED-EDITION MASTERS VOLUME 1 Print Edition // DIGITAL

Discover all HAPTIC PRESS IN SHOP >

TURBO IDEAS

  1. In praise of productivity
  2. The Philosophy of Photography Aesthetics
  3. How to photograph
  4. Optimize it For You.

More on blog >

Your photo assignment: EYE

EYE:

Make the focus on the human eye your photo assignment. Upload your best eye photo to arsbeta.com

Remember the saying:

Eyes are the windows to the soul.