{"id":34149,"date":"2017-03-28T12:32:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T19:32:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=34149"},"modified":"2017-03-31T21:10:10","modified_gmt":"2017-04-01T04:10:10","slug":"what-if-photography-isnt-my-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/28\/what-if-photography-isnt-my-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"What if Photography Isn&#8217;t My Calling?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45016\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/29\/how-to-find-your-purpose-in-photography\/cindy-project-monochrome-11-3\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?fit=1545%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1545,1024\" 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;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Cindy Project Monochrome-11\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?fit=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-45016\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\" alt=\"Cindy Project Monochrome-11\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?resize=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?w=1545&amp;ssl=1 1545w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Know that photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t everything.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Living a meaningful life, full of purpose, energy, and love is.<\/p>\n<h2>1. Photography as a tool<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45035\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/good-photographer\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2.jpg?fit=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1325\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1485186794&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric kim photography -2017 &amp;#8211; hue-0004756\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2.jpg?fit=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-45035\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2-800x530.jpg?resize=800%2C530\" alt=\"eric kim photography -2017 - hue-0004756 abstract texture\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2.jpg?resize=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/eric-kim-photography-2017-hue-0004756-2.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Know that photography should be a tool for us to find more meaning and happiness in life. We shouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think that the point of life is to become a great photographer. The point of life is to do meaningful work, to help empower others, and to become the best versions of ourself. If your photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t helping you in this positive direction, perhaps it is distracting you.<\/p>\n<h2>2. What is your purpose in life?<\/h2>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"45021\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/29\/how-to-find-your-purpose-in-photography\/cindy-project-monochrome-16-6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2.jpg?fit=2000%2C3020&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,3020\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1487270418&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.066666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Cindy Project Monochrome-16\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2.jpg?fit=800%2C1208&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-45021\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2-800x1208.jpg?resize=800%2C1208\" alt=\"Cindy Project Monochrome-16\" width=\"800\" height=\"1208\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2.jpg?resize=800%2C1208&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2.jpg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-16-2.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What if photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t your calling? What if it is teaching, blogging, making videos, helping others, being a parent, or being a loving friend and advisor?<\/p>\n<p>Photography can be something that will supplement and augment your life. But not the central purpose.<\/p>\n<p>For me, I thought photography was the purpose of my life. Wrong. I think the purpose of my life is to be a teacher\u00e2\u20ac\u201d to share information, knowledge, and to help empower others. I just use photography as a teaching tool.<\/p>\n<h2>3. Own your photography<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_34080\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-34080\" style=\"width: 1325px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"34080\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/28\/what-if-photography-isnt-my-calling\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?fit=2000%2C3020&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,3020\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1479631851&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Kyoto, 2016&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?fit=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-large wp-image-34080\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426-1325x2000.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000\" alt=\"Kyoto, 2016\" width=\"1325\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?resize=1325%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1325w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?resize=437%2C660&amp;ssl=1 437w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/eric-kim-street-photography-kyoto-0001426.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-34080\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kyoto, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What is photography to you? What are other skills, passions, or interests you have in life? How can you combine your different passions into your photography?<\/p>\n<p>Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t just make the point of your life your photography. Use photography as a tool, or bridge, to get to your ultimate destination in life.<\/p>\n<p>Always,<br \/>\nEric<\/p>\n<p><em>Learn more: <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/personal-photography\/\"><strong>Personal Photography &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Know that photography isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t everything.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45016,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34149","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\/2017\/03\/Cindy-Project-Monochrome-11.jpg?fit=1545%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34149","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=34149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}