{"id":47104,"date":"2017-04-14T21:45:40","date_gmt":"2017-04-15T04:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=47104"},"modified":"2017-04-14T21:45:40","modified_gmt":"2017-04-15T04:45:40","slug":"how-to-become-successful-in-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/14\/how-to-become-successful-in-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become Successful in Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"eric<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

What is success in photography and life?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. My definition of success<\/h2>\n

\"2-side<\/p>\n

To me, the only definition of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsuccess\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 I have in photography is this:<\/p>\n

Look at your own photos, and ask yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Am I proud of my own photos?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d If the answer is \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcyes\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you are successful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let nobody else dictate your \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsuccess\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in photography. That means, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t give a fudge how many likes or social media followers you have (and certainly do not compare yourself to anyone else).<\/p>\n

This means, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t use your barometer of success in photography be dependent on how many accolades, awards, exhibitions, books, prints, etc you have done\/sold.<\/p>\n

2. Never compare yourself with nobody<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Success is never comparison. Success is judging yourself by your own ruler, your own barometer.<\/p>\n

For example, anything by comparison can be made small.<\/p>\n

You can have a 30-story skyscraper. But it looks small compared to a 100-story skyscraper.<\/p>\n

You have a blacked-out Lamborghini Huracan. But it looks puny compared to an armored Batmobile.<\/p>\n

You have a 10-room Mansion in the hills. But that looks puny compared to the 1000-room Versailles Palace.<\/p>\n

You can own an entire continent, but if you go to space, the entire earth looks like a tiny speck of dust.<\/p>\n

3. What is ‘success’ in life?<\/h2>\n

\"cindy<\/p>\n

In life, I like the idea that your only judge is yourself.<\/strong> You judge your own photos, actions, and morals, and ethics.<\/p>\n

For me, I used to give way to many fudge ice cream sundaes about what others thought of my photos. This is because I had no faith in myself.<\/p>\n

Now, if I like my photo, that is it. I like my photo. If nobody else likes my photo, that is fine. I just want to be grateful for my own opinion, my own thought, and my own world-view.<\/p>\n

Picasso got a lot of haters when he did cubism. Andy Warhol had a lot of haters. Jean Michel Basquiat had haters. Keith Haring had haters.<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing something totally different, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to have haters. But don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hate your haters; love them. Feel pity for them, because they are just small people who have unrealized dreams. They feel angry because they see you pursuing your dreams.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

To conclude, never stop following your passion in photography. Only photograph what you want, on your own conditions, with no permission, or \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwhat if\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00e2\u20ac\u2122.<\/p>\n

Follow your heart, your own unique vision. Throw up a middle-finger to what others think of you. Measure yourself by your own ruler.<\/p>\n

Always look at your own photos, and ask yourself:<\/p>\n

\n Do I like my own photos?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If the answer is yes, why do you care what others think?<\/p>\n

Be strong,
\nEric<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO<\/h2>\n