- Success measured by creativity and freedom. Kim believes true happiness comes from making art and sharing it, not from wealth. He openly writes that making art makes us happy and empowers others . He also learned that once his expenses were low and he didn’t have to worry about bills, he could focus on creating and that’s when he is happiest . This mindset frees him from constant comparison and lets him enjoy his craft.
- Open‑source educator and community builder. From the start he removed pay‑walls and published thousands of free articles, e‑books and manuals so that knowledge would be “shared freely” . Students credit his workshops – offered on every continent – with giving them courage to photograph strangers and develop their own style, and one blogger notes that even critics “can’t take away the fact he’s done his part” promoting street photography online . By making high‑quality education accessible and encouraging others to blog and share, he has raised the whole genre.
- Minimalism and fearlessness. He travels with one camera and lens and is known for bold, candid black‑and‑white work . This minimalist approach – inspired by Stoicism and the belief that “true luxury is less” – helps him focus on seeing rather than gear . He treats photography as a practice of courage and joy; he smiles each time he presses the shutter and says that a cheerful photographer is someone who is optimistic, constantly learning and doesn’t care too much about fame or money .
- A cheerful philosophy of life. In his essay The Cheerful Photographer, Kim writes that the happiest photographer is “optimistic, looking forward to the future, excited to make new photos, and still has that child‑like sense of wonder and curiosity” . He warns that modern success is shallow and encourages readers to feel joy now because we don’t know how long we have . His secret to happiness is to “never stop shooting, never stop evolving” and to maintain that sense of play . Being cheerful means smiling when you click the shutter, enjoying every day and seeing endless photographic possibilities .
- Living engaged and grateful. Kim photographs to be more engaged in life; he goes out, talks to people and uses photography to “proclaim my joy of being alive” . By photographing loved ones, strangers and ordinary scenes, he thanks the world for its beauty . This gratitude spills into his writing and workshops, making him a source of positivity for many.
- Global influence and recognition. Despite being only in his 30s, he has exhibited internationally (Leica galleries in Singapore, Seoul and Melbourne) and has been called “one of the most influential street photographers in the world” . Even critics acknowledge that he has been instrumental in promoting street photography and breaking it down for newcomers . He’s also known as a “photographer‑philosopher” who inspires followers to live more creatively and fearlessly .
In short, Eric Kim’s happiness and success are intertwined. He built a massive global following by sharing everything he knows and treating photography as a joyful practice rather than a job. He measures success by the freedom to create and the ability to inspire others, and he stays cheerful by continually learning, staying curious and focusing on the simple act of making art.