{"id":240068,"date":"2020-06-03T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2020-06-03T17:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=240068"},"modified":"2020-06-03T15:09:34","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T22:09:34","slug":"10-things-i-wish-i-knew-about-photography-if-i-started-all-over-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/03\/10-things-i-wish-i-knew-about-photography-if-i-started-all-over-again\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things I Wish I Knew About Photography if I Started All Over Again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear friend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some practical thoughts, which I hope can inspire and motivate you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-videopress\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VideoPress Video Player\" aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='1180' height='664' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/UvYLv2hY?autoPlay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;muted=1&amp;persistVolume=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata&amp;hd=0&amp;cover=1' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/v0.wordpress.com\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js?m=1770107250'><\/script>\n<\/div><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/02\/why-youre-not-a-photographer-youre-a-visual-artist\/\">Why You&#8217;re a Visual Artist<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>First of all, recognize that photography is art. As a photographer you&#8217;re not just a photographer; <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/visual-artist\/\">you&#8217;re a visual artist<\/a>. This means your camera is your paint brush. Shoot photos as if you&#8217;re painting a beautiful painting.<\/li><li>Best to <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/website\/\">build your own self-hosted website<\/a> (use bluehost.com or 1and1.com and install wordpress.org) than to use Facebook, Instagram, and other forms of social media. Why? This is the optimal condition for your maximal flourishing as a photographer, entrepreneur, and visual artist. &#8220;<em>Until you own yourself you can&#8217;t be free<\/em>&#8221; (JAY Z)<\/li><li><strong>Likes, followers, and social media is like crack cocaine for photographers, but worse<\/strong>. Imagine if someone put a number to your self-worth. Not only that, but your self-worth is quantified by a random <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/algo\/\">algorithm<\/a>. To become the ultimate photographer and visual artist, you must NOT use social media, and <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/instagram\/\">delete your instagram<\/a>.<\/li><li>Perfect photos don&#8217;t exist; but great photos do. This means strive to make great compositions and great photos. Perfection isn&#8217;t the goal.<\/li><li>The best inspiration from photography comes from OUTSIDE of photography. This means, &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/cross-pollinate\/\">cross-pollinate<\/a>&#8216; your passion in photography with disparate fields.<\/li><li>The best camera is a <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/ricoh\/\">RICOH GR III<\/a>. This is all you need. Cheaper options include the RICOH GR II or the even older RICOH GR. Also; <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/03\/ricoh-gr-iii-is-superior-to-leica-m10\/\">RICOH GR III is superior to any Leica camera<\/a> (Leica M10, etc).<\/li><li>Better to shoot photos on RICOH GR III than your iPhone or smartphone. <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/13\/ricoh-gr-iii-is-the-answer\/\">RICOH GR III<\/a> photos will have greater longevity; than any pro-level iPhone camera.<\/li><li>The best photos are that of people. These photos will continue to exist and inspire future generations of photographers and humans, even <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/11\/photography-300-years-from-now\/\">300 years from now<\/a>.<\/li><li>The best way to improve your photography is to get (and give) honest feedback and critique on your photos. Upload your photos to <a href=\"https:\/\/arsbeta.com\">arsbeta.com<\/a> and receive and give honest, real, feedback on your photos.<\/li><li>Your ultimate asset as a photographer is your name. &#8216;<a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/03\/put-your-name-on-it\/\">Put your name on it<\/a>.&#8217; For example, use your first and last name to market, brand, and promote yourself, not some random thing like: &#8220;Mysterious street photography INC&#8221;. We remember names. Embed your name into stone!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SHOOT ON!<br>ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also check out some of my fresh <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/workshops\/\">new online photography workshops on creativity, motivation, inspiration, street photography, and entrepreneurship here &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this inspired you, forward it to a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1180\" height=\"1573\" data-attachment-id=\"240069\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/visual-artist-4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1668,2224\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"visual artist\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?resize=1180%2C1573&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-240069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?w=1668&amp;ssl=1 1668w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?resize=768%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?resize=1152%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1152w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?resize=1536%2C2048&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?resize=655%2C873&amp;ssl=1 655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1180px) 100vw, 1180px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Never stop shooting:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fresh inspiration and motivation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/03\/what-buddhism-has-taught-me-about-photography-by-savannah-condon\/\">What Buddhism Has Taught Me About Photography &gt;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/100-Lessons-From-the-Masters-of-Street-Photography.pdf\">Free PDF download to 100 Lessons From the Masters of Street Photography &gt;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ERIC-KIM-ADOBE-LIGHTROOM-PRESETS-2020.zip\">Free .ZIP of Adobe Lightroom Presets Download &gt;<\/a>. Preset installation information <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/presets\/\">here<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your photo assignment:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your photo assignment for today is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Try to make the most beautiful black and white image possible.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can just shoot JPEG, high contrast, apply an <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/presets\/\">ERIC KIM Preset<\/a>, etc. Go out and shoot (or shoot indoors), and upload your 1 best monochrome photo to <a href=\"http:\/\/arsbeta.com\">arsbeta.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pumped to see your photos!<br>ERIC<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/arsbeta.com\/\">Upload your photo to arsbeta.com here &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear friend, Some practical thoughts, which I hope can inspire and motivate you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":240069,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ek_photo_artist_note":"","_ek_photo_thesis":"","_ek_photo_camera":"","_ek_photo_place":"","_ek_photo_human_moment":"","_ek_photo_sequence":"","_ek_photo_question":"","_ek_photo_canonical_claim":"","_ek_photo_ai_summary":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-240068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/visual-artist.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240068"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":240076,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240068\/revisions\/240076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}