{"id":52392,"date":"2017-06-07T17:08:19","date_gmt":"2017-06-08T00:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=52392"},"modified":"2017-06-07T18:14:47","modified_gmt":"2017-06-08T01:14:47","slug":"how-to-give-a-fuck-less-in-your-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/07\/how-to-give-a-fuck-less-in-your-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Whose Fucks Matter to You in Photography?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I used to give one too many fudge ice cream sandwiches what others thought of me, my photography, and my life.<\/p>\n

Now I can give one fuck less.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What changed?<\/p>\n

I started to have confidence in myself, what I do, who I do it for, and why<\/em> I do what I do.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example, I finally have ‘real’ self-confidence in myself, my life mission, and why<\/em> I do it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To explain, I blog to empower others. I blog to empower you. I create information that I wish I had access to at age 12, age 16, age 18, and even now. I certainly know that I am not going to help everyone, but if I can help empower one other photographer, my work is worth it to me.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Who do I not<\/em> work and hustle for? I don’t work for people who hate equality, democracy, and access to information. I am an Eagle-scout, a true-blooded American, who loves democracy, freedom, capitalism, yet with Swedish-socialist tendencies, and enough Karl Marx in my blood to balance out my Mr. Monopoly tendencies. Like Peter Thiel, I always enjoyed the capitalist tendencies of Star Wars over Star Trek.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I want to be useful, certainly first to myself, and then to others.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For example, I still think there is a desert of information regarding photography, entrepreneurship, money, finances, marketing, branding, and influence. It seemed like everyone was hoarding these secrets to themselves. I have finally sort of figured it out for myself– how to crack the code of earning really good money from photography. I feel like I want to share this secret with others in my Photography Entrepreneurship 101 series<\/a>. Because I do believe that you can follow your passion in photography, and actually become rich<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I genuinely believe I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve done more for the field of street photography<\/a> in the last 6 years (2011-2017) than any other human being alive. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve certainly created the most useful information on how<\/em> to shoot street photography<\/a>, how to make better compositions<\/a>, how to conquer your fears<\/a>, and I have certainly have written the most free ebooks on street photography<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The biggest problem I think we have as photographers is this: we care too much about what others think of ourselves, and our photography.<\/p>\n

The question to ask yourself:<\/p>\n

\n Why<\/em> do I care about what others think of my photography?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have no idea how to answer for you \u00e2\u20ac\u201d but for myself, I used to care because I had low self-esteem. I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t sure why I made photos \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and for whom I photographed. Now I realize that I photograph for myself. To avoid boredom, to make photos to delight my soul, to express myself, and to showcase beauty from reality \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to hopefully inspire a (few) other people.<\/p>\n

Why<\/em> Give Less Fucks in Photography?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Okay, so the reason why<\/em> to give less fucks in your photography is this:<\/p>\n

When you give too many fucks what others<\/em> think of your<\/em> photography — you will have less courage to publish photos you truly believe in.<\/p>\n

I believe as a photographer, you have a unique gift to give to the rest of the world. If you care too much what others think of your photography (in a debilitating, negative way) — you will lose confidence, power, and momentum.<\/p>\n

I want you to become the best photographer you can, without having society hold you back.<\/p>\n

Whose fucks matter to you?<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

For me, the only people whose opinion really matters to me include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cindy’s opinion<\/li>\n
  2. My mom’s opinion<\/li>\n
  3. My own opinion<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So sorry for the confusion — it isn’t about not giving any fucks about nobody else’s opinion — it is about knowing whose opinion really matters to you.<\/p>\n

    Homework assignment: Whose 3 fucks matter to you in your personal life?<\/strong> Who are your top-3 people in your inner-circle, whose opinions truly matter to you?<\/p>\n

    \n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    I used to give a fuck of what others thought of my photography,
    \nBut now I can give a fuck less
    \nTo me success is inspiring a few other folks,
    \nNot to gloat about my likes on the gram<\/p>\n

    I am proud of making a stand by speaking my mind,
    \nTo rewind the wings of time, to remind myself why<\/em> I make photos
    \nAnd for who
    \nTo paint my own Picasso-Blue reality
    \nTo realize that photography is a fight against the fatality of life and death
    \nTo keep shooting what is important to me,
    \nUntil my last breath.<\/p>\n

    To keep building my photography breadth and expertise
    \nTo ignore what \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchaters\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 say through their teeth
    \nTo ignore what others say about me, like a wide sieve.<\/p>\n

    To make photos with meat and soul,
    \nimages that are warm and full of gold.<\/p>\n

    So friend, capture your own world and reality
    \nAnd always challenge me.<\/p>\n

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

    \n

    STOICISM ><\/a><\/h2>\n

    \"eric<\/p>\n

    Become invincible:<\/p>\n