{"id":28997,"date":"2016-05-11T02:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T09:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=28997"},"modified":"2016-05-10T13:16:07","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T20:16:07","slug":"what-is-your-photography-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/11\/what-is-your-photography-lifestyle\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Your Photography Lifestyle?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Portrait
Portrait by Neil Ta<\/a> \/ Toronto, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Is your photography your lifestyle? Or is your lifestyle photography?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lifestyle\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/h2>\n
\"New
New Orleans, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all have different \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lifestyles\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the way in which we live our everyday, ordinary lives.<\/p>\n

Some of us live \u00e2\u20ac\u0153high-pressure\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lifestyles; in which we have demanding corporate jobs, insane start-up lives, in which we are tweeting, texting, and emailing every second of the day.<\/p>\n

Some of us live more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153chill\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zen\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lifestyles; we read paper-back novels, write, meditate, and have 3-hour dinners with friends.<\/p>\n

Ultimately there is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d lifestyle. A lot of the society in which we live in dictates our lifestyle.<\/p>\n

For example, if you live in Spain; it is common to have a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153siesta\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (short nap in the middle of the day). In NYC, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sleep is for the weak\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (or you can \u00e2\u20ac\u0153sleep when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re dead\u00e2\u20ac\u009d).<\/p>\n

A lot of our lifestyles are beyond our control. If we happen to have a child, our lifestyle will be very different from a single bachelor who is living in the city.<\/p>\n

But I do believe that we have some<\/em> control over our lifestyles. And especially when it comes to photography.<\/p>\n

What is photography to me?<\/h2>\n
\"NYC,
NYC, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For me, I see photography more of a philosophical way to interact and perceive the world. Photography is all about noticing the beauty in everyday things; to make beauty from the mundane and ordinary.<\/p>\n

Street photography is also the most democratic form of photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can literally do it anywhere. You aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t dependent on living in a beautiful place, near mountains, or near anything exotic. Shoot, you can even live in the suburbs or some boring residential area and shoot \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (study the urban landscape work of William Eggleston, Lee Friedlander, and Bob Owens. You can also study the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcnew topographic\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 photographers).<\/p>\n

However I see that there are two types of photographers:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. People who make it their life\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s purpose to make photographs<\/li>\n
  2. People who take photographs while living out their life purpose<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the first case, this person might have a boring 9-5 job, but they spend all of their time, attention, and money to make the best damn photos they can. They might take vacation days to travel to somewhere exotic, and upload their photos online, trying to constantly improve their craft and get feedback.<\/p>\n

    In the second case, people simply live their ordinary lives, and photograph as<\/em> they go through their days. Their goal isn’t to be a great photographer, or make good photos. The goal is to live a meaningful, exciting, and fulfilling life. Photography comes second.<\/p>\n

    What is your style or approach?<\/h2>\n
    \"SF,
    SF, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    For me, my old lifestyle was the prior– to become “social media famous” and accrue as many followers and likes as possible.<\/p>\n

    Nowadays I’m focused more on the latter– I just try to live the most positive, meaningful, and purposeful lifestyle possible. I spend a lot of time reading books, helping Cindy, and interacting with close friends and family. I take photos in the cracks in between my daily life. I also try not to force<\/em> myself to take photos.<\/p>\n

    Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let your unique voice be drowned out<\/h2>\n
    \"SF,
    SF, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Please please please, make your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lifestyle\u00e2\u20ac\u009d authentic to you\u00e2\u20ac\u201d not what other people on Instagram or camera companies expect you to do.<\/p>\n

    You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to shoot film, you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to drink soy cappuccinos, and you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be at coffee shops all day with vintage Leica\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s.<\/p>\n

    I feel one of the best ways to shield yourself from the influence of others is to disconnect for a while on social media. Perhaps take a day, two days, or a week (even a month) and once you let all the noise drown out; your unique, authentic voice will finally have some quiet to speak up.<\/p>\n

    What do you want out of your photography?<\/h2>\n
    \"Toronto,
    Toronto, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Questions you want to think to yourself:<\/p>\n