{"id":53096,"date":"2017-06-18T03:37:39","date_gmt":"2017-06-18T10:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=53096"},"modified":"2017-06-18T03:56:02","modified_gmt":"2017-06-18T10:56:02","slug":"photography-experience-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/18\/photography-experience-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Photography Experience Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Let me share some ideas on this brave new world of the “Photography Experience Economy.”<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Basic concept:<\/p>\n

In today’s world, we are investing a lot of money to have memorable memories and experiences.<\/p>\n

Teenagers no longer care to buy a car anymore. They want interesting and novel experiences– like trying out a new coffee shop, camping in Portland or braving the ice in Greenland.<\/p>\n

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When I go into an Apple store, I’m actually not interested in the products. I’m interested in the experience– how friendly the staff are, how the aesthetic sensibilities of the Apple store architecture will affect my emotions, and how being in an Apple store makes me feel<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Let me give you another example: most artists and musicians make a bulk of their money from touring, doing concerts, and live shows.<\/p>\n

For example, I went to the YEEZUS concert, to see Kanye West in person, and have the experience<\/em> of being at a concert. I’d rather have the experience of seeing Kanye live, instead of just watching YouTube videos at home, or listening to his music on my headphones in private.<\/p>\n

I was impressed with the Kanye concert: he made the music a listening experience<\/em>— he made a mountain erupt with crimson-red LCD lava, the bass hit you heavy in the heart, and at one point, he put on a disco ball mask, where the green lasers would refract into the crowd.<\/p>\n

In other words, it was a fucking cool experience, that I still remember.<\/p>\n

Photography workshops.<\/h2>\n

So the reason I think my photography workshops are so successful is because people want an experience. We know how to make the photos, and we can download the free ebooks, read the articles, or watch the YouTube videos.<\/p>\n

Yet, we want the experience of shooting with ERIC KIM on the streets. To see how ERIC KIM shoots in real life. To get practical 1:1 help, advice and encouragement. We want to feel the passion of ERIC KIM in person.<\/p>\n

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Experiences are everything; everything is an experience.<\/h2>\n

For example, reading a book is often an experience<\/em>. I love the experience<\/em> of reading a paper back book, sitting on my couch. I love the texture and the haptic response of the crimson pages against my fingers. I love the smell of the book. And best of all, I love the solid \u00e2\u20ac\u0153flap\u00e2\u20ac\u009d sound when closing a book, when you finish the book experience, then put it back on the shelf in triumph. No ebook or kindle can give you that experience.<\/p>\n

Cindy publishes HAPTIC books, which are compact, and live with you. You open them when you need inspiration. You write in the books, you interact with the book. The book is your friend, guide, and mentor. But you are also the book. You can fold the pages, highlight pages, and make it your own.<\/p>\n

Even with leather products or raw denim, you have an experience with them. For example, my HAPTIC bag has lasted me 3 years. Her cognac leather has worn to my body over the years. The more I use it, the more I like it. The same with the patina and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153brassing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of my film black paint Leica MP. The more rolls of film I put through my Leica, the more she shows her character. Her edges turn a bronze gold, and I feel proud. There is a sense of progress.<\/p>\n

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Consider this: when you go to a fancy restaurant, you’re not paying for the food. You’re paying for the experience.<\/p>\n

This is what struck me when Cindy and I went to a $$$ Yelp restaurant in San Francisco. It was fucking expensive, like $200 USD between both of us. Yet, we sat, chatted, and ruminated on life for around 4 hours. Therefore, if you think about it, we just rented the seats to have the privilege of experiencing the vibe of the place.<\/p>\n

So to make myself feel better, we each spent $100 for a 4-hour experience. That is around $25 an hour. Which isn’t horrible.<\/p>\n

A movie at a theater: around $10 a ticket for a 1.5 hour movie. Add popcorn or a drink, let’s say another $5. So $15 a person for a 1.5 hour movie. That’s around $10 an hour for your movie watching experience.<\/p>\n

If you spend $500 a night at a hotel, you’re not really paying for the room or the bed. You’re paying for the hotel experience<\/em>— the courtesy of the staff, the experience of the nice architecture, and aesthetics. The experience of being treated like royalty.<\/p>\n

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For myself, when I start to think about reality and the economy in terms of experiences<\/em>, things make a lot more sense.<\/p>\n

Why spend $1,000 on a Gucci jacket? Not to own a $1,000 piece of cow skin that was made in a factory in Italy by an immigrant. No, you’re paying for the experience<\/em> of hanging out in a Gucci store, feeling fancy, and the experience<\/em> of feeling fancy, and showing off to your friends or other social acquaintances.<\/p>\n

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So let’s take this to photography:<\/p>\n

1. Sell experiences<\/h2>\n

I realized: my workshops aren’t workshops– they’re experiences<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The experience<\/em> of shooting and hanging out with Eric. The experience<\/em> of learning from Eric. The experience<\/em> of being in a cool foreign city, and making new friends. The experience<\/em> of drinking espresso, drinking beers at a loud pub, or partying in a Japanese Izakaya with smoked beef skewers with Eric.<\/p>\n

What I realized was this:<\/p>\n

\n If I’m selling an experience, not just a workshop, I can charge more money. Because I’m offering a greater service.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example, in my workshops, I hang out with the students after the workshop is over. I eat dinner with them, enjoy beers with them, and share my life with them. I’m sharing my soul with them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And to be honest I fucking love my students. I see them as my peers, my fellow friends, and also my teachers. I learn as much from my students, as much as they learn from me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I always loved and believed this saying on teaching:<\/p>\n

\n When one teaches, two learn.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So when you’re teaching a workshop– rephrase it. Consider,<\/p>\n

\n I’m curating an experience for the student.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What kind of experience are you creating? What I try to create:<\/p>\n