{"id":57809,"date":"2017-07-17T02:03:20","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T09:03:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=57809"},"modified":"2017-07-17T02:09:21","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T09:09:21","slug":"dont-take-photography-too-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/17\/dont-take-photography-too-seriously\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Take Photography Too Seriously."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Hanoi, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

Some friendly advice: Don’t forget that photography is supposed to be fun — don’t take it too seriously.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you’re not having fun in photography — why are you doing it?<\/p>\n

Photography should be fun and joyful, just playing like a big kid, with a sense of wonder, curiosity, and glee.<\/p>\n

\"eric
Bangkok, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the past, I took photography too seriously. I tied my self-ego and self-esteem to the quality of photos I made. I was trying too hard to show off how clever I want, or how I was a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photographer. I felt insecure, and wanted to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153prove\u00e2\u20ac\u009d my haters wrong…that ERIC KIM was a really good photographer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now, I have realized the truth:<\/p>\n

\n Living a good life is more important than making good photos.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I know too many photographers who are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153try-hards\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. They look silly. They are like people who try too hard to show off with luxury clothes, watches, and cars. Because they \u00e2\u20ac\u0153try too hard\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201c they actually look less<\/em> cool.<\/p>\n

The real cool people don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t try. They don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to impress anyone. They show their coolness through their CONFIDENCE.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Marseille, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Have confidence in your own artistic and photographic vision. Disregard the need to get people to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153like\u00e2\u20ac\u009d your photos. Why do you care whether others like your photos or not?<\/p>\n

If you like your own photos, isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Paris, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, we still want to refine our craft. A good way to improve is to ask others,<\/p>\n

\n Please help me kill my babies.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Join ERIC KIM FORUM<\/a>, and ask people to help you kill your babies, by posting photos that you are unsure about.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dinner at my friend Yves home with my mom and Cindy. Marseille, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also, remind yourself when you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re making photos or sharing photos:<\/p>\n

\n Am I having fun?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Treat photography like playing. Kids don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t play with LEGO bricks to impress their peers. Rather, they follow their own natural curiosity, and seek to make creations that bring them joy. They can care less what their peers think…until they become puberty age and become self-conscious and lose their creative innocence.<\/p>\n

\"\"
My mom and Russell Halmunee. Berkeley, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So friend,<\/p>\n

To sum up, make photos like you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re dancing in the streets. Shoot like you would never show the photos with others. Shoot photos like if you got 0 likes on Instagram. Make photos that show what is inside your own mind\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eye. Show your own subjective reality through your own photos.<\/p>\n

\"\"
My sister and mom. Berkeley, 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos…only \u00e2\u20ac\u0153authentic\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153inauthentic\u00e2\u20ac\u009d photos.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Are you true to yourself?<\/p>\n

BE STRONG,
\nERIC<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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\"\"
My mom helping at my first workshop in SF, 2013<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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\n

PHOTOGRAPHY 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

\"Seoul,<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

If you’re new to photography, start here:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Free Photography Bootcamp<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. The Ultimate Beginner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Guide to Photography<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. 100 Photography Tips for Beginners<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Photography Inspiration<\/h2>\n