{"id":52179,"date":"2017-06-02T22:46:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-03T05:46:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=52179"},"modified":"2017-06-03T21:51:40","modified_gmt":"2017-06-04T04:51:40","slug":"how-i-found-more-personal-fulfillment-in-my-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/02\/how-i-found-more-personal-fulfillment-in-my-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Found Personal Fulfillment in My Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I think a lot of us are trying to find more meaning and purpose in our lives– and using photography as a tool for self-knowledge and discovery.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I. Crowd sourcing my self esteem.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My biggest problem was I tried to find fulfillment in my photography by seeking affirmation in my photography from others via social media — via how many favorites I got on Flickr, Likes on Facebook and Instagram, and page views on this blog.<\/p>\n

I \u00e2\u20ac\u0153quantified\u00e2\u20ac\u009d my progress in my photography through these superficial markers of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153success\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. But no matter how many likes I got, I never felt fulfilled.<\/p>\n

II. Do I like my own photos?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I found true fulfillment in my photography when I started to make photos for myself.<\/p>\n

For example, before sharing any photo now, I look at it and ask myself:<\/p>\n

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

My new rule: never share a photo that I personally don’t like.<\/strong><\/p>\n

III. Deleting my Instagram was the best thing I ever did.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One thing that helped me care less about what others thought of me and my photos was stopping to use social media. I deleted my Instagram<\/a>. Now I follow my own gut whether the photos are good or not, instead of whether I optimized posting my 1 photo a day, precisely at noon pacific time.<\/p>\n

No longer being a slave to social media, I feel more freedom and happiness. Photography blogging is the best. I recommend you to start one by paying for it, about $10 a month on bluehost.com and WordPress.org. You can be more creative, by customizing your photos with text, videos, and audio. You can post multiple photos, in whatever order you want.<\/p>\n

\n You will be happier as a photographer, because you have more freedom how to display your photos.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Instagram and Facebook, you are trapped. You have to only display photos however the platform dictates. You cannot change the order of your photos in Instagram; they are shown in reverse chronological order (newest photos at the top).<\/p>\n

IV. I don’t like being a slave to social media.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

My other gripe about social media is that you cannot disable whether you see likes, or comment, or not. That is less personal freedom.<\/p>\n

I’m a fan of VSCO and their mobile sharing platform, at least the interface is more focused on sharing your work, than trying to become a slave to get more likes or comments or followers.<\/p>\n

V. Welcome to STREET CLUB.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I found more fulfillment in photography by building communities. For example, Cindy and I made the ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>; a new home for photographers, to get honest feedback on photos, and a community of mutual learning– not just getting pointless likes and more followers.<\/p>\n

\n Enroll in STREET CLUB >\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I also found more personal fulfillment, shooting photos of Cindy, and those I love. I also started to find more fulfillment by making more self portraits of myself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153artistic selfies\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I like the idea:<\/p>\n

\n Honor thy selfie.<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

VI. Make meaningful photos even in a boring suburb.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also, I found more fulfillment photographing everyday life, even not street photos, instead of wanting to always shoot in an urban area. I also care less about traveling now for the sake of it. Which means, I can make meaningful photos even in the suburbs, at a Costco, or In and Out burger.<\/p>\n

VII. Make more photos.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I also care less about the photography equipment I use. Of course I still care, but I just care less.<\/p>\n

Which means, less worries about my camera, and more focus on making photos that are meaningful to me.<\/p>\n

VIII. Program mode is great.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also, caring less about technical settings has helped me. For example, I just shoot all my digital photos on center point autofocus, auto high ISO, program (P) mode. I just point and click. Or, I just:<\/p>\n

\n Set it and forget it!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

IX. JUST SHOOT IT.<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Also now, I doubt myself less. I just do it like Nike:<\/p>\n

\n JUST SHOOT IT.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Don’t over-think your photography. Follow your gut and intuition. I see street photography as a zen meditative experience, to stop thinking and to channel your inner child.<\/p>\n

X. BUY PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Of course, these are my personal remedies to finding more personal meaning in my photography.<\/p>\n

To find more personal meaning in your photography, I recommend picking up a copy of PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a>; to journal about why<\/em> you make photos, and for whom<\/em> you shoot your photos for. PHOTO JOURNAL won’t make you a better photographer, but it will make you a more self-reflective photographer. And I created PHOTO JOURNAL<\/a> with Cindy, as a guide that I wish I had five years ago.<\/p>\n

XII. Do you like your own photos?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To sum up, always ask yourself whether you like the photo or not before sharing it.<\/p>\n

Because if you don’t like the photo, why try to fool others?<\/p>\n

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

\n

Personal Photography<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Find more purpose in your photography:<\/p>\n