ERIC KIM ₿

A few days ago I wrote a letter to my 18-year old self, and gave myself some advice on if I started street photography all over again. I told myself things I learned in the 8 years I’ve been taking street photos. I wish someone told me this when I started off.

Similarly, I was inspired to write this post for young street photographers starting off. I think this can apply to both young photographers (age wise) and also street photographers just starting off (young, experience-wise).

Here I go, I hope you enjoy :)

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I recently read some advice by author Ray Bradbury for aspiring writers:

“Write a short story every week. It’s not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.”

I think the same applies for street photography. To change the numbers a bit– I think it is impossible to take 100,000 bad street photographs in a row. I think it was Henri Cartier-Bresson who said, “Your first 1,000 photos are your worst.” I think in the digital age, it is more like “Your first 100,000 photos are your worst”.

Assuming you shot 100 photos a day, that would be 36,500 a year. So at that rate, you can reach the 100,000 street photos mark in 3 years. If you’re more prolific and shoot more– you can reach that 100,000 mark much quicker.

I think it is impossible to take 100,000 bad street photographs in a row.

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1. Smile at and compliment a stranger.
2. Surprise a friend with one of your favorite prints (for no reason).
3. Give a constructive criticism to a street photographer with 0 comments online.
4. Promote the work of another contemporary street photographer whose work you admire.
5. Go out and only shoot with 1 camera and 1 lens (and turn off your smartphone).
6. Contact a local street photographer to go out and shoot together.
7. Lend one of your favorite photography books to a fellow street photographer.
8. Give away a camera you don’t use to charity, a photography program, or someone in need.
9. Donate some of your time by teaching a photography class or lecture to less-privileged students.
10. Give yourself permission to take bad shots, enjoy a nice coffee, and shoot to please yourself (not others).

How do you have a good day in street photography? Share your tips in the comments below!

Nowadays. we are all really busy. We have countless commitments at work, at home, with our friends, and with our families. It is really hard to find time to shoot street photography. Not all of us can leave the obligations of the “real world” and just go out and shoot all the time.

Ironically enough even though I am a “full time street photographer”– I still find it really hard to make time to shoot. I spend a lot of time with emails, social media, blogging, finances, helping out Cindy and my family, and church related activities.

If you consider yourself a busy person, here are some tips I suggest to shoot more street photography:

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1. Don’t chimp (let your shots marinate)
2. Don’t look at bad photos (study the masters)
3. Don’t spend time on gear review sites when you’re bored (buy books, not gear)
4. Don’t worry about your camera (the best camera is the one you have with you)
5. Don’t mix black and white and color in the same set (aim for consistency)
6. Don’t stop shooting (shoot a lot of bad photos to get a few good ones)
7. Don’t worry about how many followers you have (shoot for yourself, like Vivian Maier)
8. Don’t publish photos without a second opinion (edit ruthlessly)
9. Don’t only take 1 photo of a scene (work the scene, there is more than one “decisive moment”)
10. Don’t forget to have fun (life is short, shoot if everyday were your last)

What else would you add to this list? Share what you don’t do in street photography in the comments below!

I recently read something quite interesting about music. The concept was when you’re listening to music, you tend to listen to the treble (high notes) and tend to ignore the bass (low notes).

Therefore the author suggested to get a richer experience listening to music, focus on listening to the bass (not the treble).

So I gave it a go myself. I listened to some of my favorite classical music, and really paid attention to the low notes of the cello in the background (instead of focusing on the high notes of these violins).

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Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.

I find this such a beautiful quote not only in life but also street photography.

Many of us are afraid of taking risks, of taking chances. We worry about failure. We worry that others will judge us for our shortcomings. We worry about the worst case scenario.

But in life, we need to take chances. We need to take risks. We need to give things our best shot. By simply not trying, we don’t make any progress and don’t move forward.

In street photography there are a lot of risks face. Risk of getting yelled at, risk of missing the shot, risk of pissing somebody off.

We often hesitate too. For example I have missed thousands of potential photographs because of that split second in which that voice in my head goes, “Don’t take the shot, you might get in trouble or you might upset the person.” The second I have that doubt, I end up not taking the shot (and greatly regretting it afterwards).

In sports players often choke too. This has to do a lot with the pressure to perform. The second basketball players start thinking too much, they often miss the shots. Wayne Gretzky was one of the greatest hockey players in history, yet he has missed countless goal opportunities.

But you won’t ever make a shot unless you take a chance.

So in your street photography take more chances. Be bold. Take risks. Don’t worry about making bad photos. There is a nice quote I like: “To double your success rate, double your failure rate.”

As my friend Charlie Kirk says, “When in doubt, click.” Don’t worry about making perfect photographs. Work hard, hustle, and work the scene. Take multiple photos from different angles. Crouch down. Take a step closer or take a step back. Don’t give up after only one photograph.

Work the scene

To learn more about working the scene and taking more risks, check out my article: “Debunking the Myth of the Decisive Moment.”

If you want to push yourself outside of your comfort zone in street photography, Check out one of my upcoming street photography workshops in Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, and London.

One of the most interesting concepts I’ve learned recently is the concept of “Systems” vs “Goals” from a book written by Scott Adams titled: “How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big.”

Basically Scott Adams says that in life we should focus on “Systems” instead of “Goals”. So what is the difference? Scott Adams defines a system as the following:

“A system is something you do on a regular basis that increases your odds of happiness in the long run.”

“Systems” are daily routines or procedures we do everyday (which we tend to have a lot of control over). For example in the context of street photography, going out and shooting everyday is a system. Buying a street photography book once a month and studying it is a system. Meeting other street photographers in person to get feedback and critique on your work is a system. Systems are much more dependent on the process– not the final result.

“Goals” tend to be external accomplishments that we have far less control over. For example in street photography– goals include: getting 100+ likes on your photos, having your book published by a famous publisher, having a big solo exhibition at a prestigious gallery, and becoming rich and famous through your photography.

So in life and street photography– focus on systems instead of goals. Focus on the daily things that you have control over.

Systems focus on the small daily achievements you make– and the step-by-step progress you make forward. Goals tend to be focused too many on things you have no control over. Not only that, but we tend to get more disappointed by goals as they are harder to achieve.

In conclusion to gain more happiness and progress in street photography– focus on systems, not goals. Now go out and pound the pavement!