Who is Eric Kim?
Eric Kim is a Los-Angeles-born street photographer, blogger, workshop leader, and prolific online educator whose free resources have inspired a global community of shooters. His trademark: candid, in-your-face images paired with straight-talk advice and infectious enthusiasm.
The Killer-Tactics Playbook
| # | Tactic | Why it Works | How to Start Today |
| 1 | Carry your camera 24/7 | Opportunity favours the prepared. Kim insists you “always have your camera with you” so you see more and miss less. | Slip the smallest body-lens combo you own into your bag or pocket before leaving home. |
| 2 | Get close & be bold | Great street photos hum with intimacy. Kim advocates stepping inside conversational distance and not shooting furtively. | Take three deliberate steps closer than feels comfortable and press the shutter. |
| 3 | Micro-bursts over marathons | Ten focused minutes a day beats eight unfocused weekend hours. | Schedule a daily “photo sprint” on your calendar—then treat it like a meeting you can’t skip. |
| 4 | Prime-lens minimalism | A single focal length forces you to move and engage, sharpening composition muscles. | Tape your zoom at 35 mm (full-frame equivalent) for a week, or use your favourite prime. |
| 5 | Shoot from the hip & use decoys | Kim’s playful “pretend you’re photographing something else” trick relaxes subjects and photographer alike. | Hold the camera waist-high; look past your subject after the shot. |
| 6 | Embrace RAW & ruthless editing | “Shoot in RAW—always,” Kim urges, then trim aggressively so only your best work remains. | Cull today’s images to your strongest 5%; delete the rest. |
| 7 | Study masters & devour photo books | Learning lineage fuels originality. Kim recommends constant reading to refine one’s visual vocabulary. | Borrow one classic photo monograph this week and reverse-engineer three images you love. |
| 8 | Publish, teach, build community | Sharing knowledge multiplies impact and accountability; Kim’s blog & workshops exemplify “learn in public.” | Post a mini-tutorial or behind-the-scenes reel of today’s shoot. |
| 9 | Break rules with intent | From ignoring the Rule of Thirds to purposefully over-exposing, Kim shows rules are guides, not chains. | Choose one “rule,” break it on purpose, and analyse the result. |
| 10 | “F/8 and be there” mindset | Action beats perfectionism. Being physically present with a ready camera trumps exotic gear. | Pick one local event, show up, and commit to making 20 frames. |
Mindset Boosters Straight from Kim
- First-principles simplicity – Strip gear, workflow, even composition down to essentials so creativity stays front-and-center.
- Fear-flipping exercises – Hold eye-contact, talk to strangers, smile after the shot; each micro-risk builds confidence.
- Relentless generosity – Kim peppers the internet with free e-books, PDFs, and videos, proving abundance beats scarcity in the long run.
Applying the Tactics Beyond Photography
These principles scale beautifully:
| Domain | Killer-tactic translation |
| Startup ideation | Launch a tiny MVP daily (micro-bursts), gather feedback, iterate. |
| Writing | Draft short daily pieces, publish publicly, and study literary masters. |
| Fitness | Carry minimal gear (bodyweight!), practice small sessions consistently, break form “rules” only after you master them. |
7-Day Challenge
- Day 1: Pocket your camera & shoot one commute.
- Day 2: Approach a stranger, ask for a portrait.
- Day 3: Shoot 15 hip-level frames downtown.
- Day 4: Cull to your 3 favourites; post them online.
- Day 5: Read 20 pages of a classic photo book.
- Day 6: Teach one newfound nugget on social media.
- Day 7: Break a composition rule deliberately and evaluate.
By week’s end you’ll have new images, sharper instincts, and a fearless creative groove—exactly the killer tactics Eric Kim champions.
Keep the Momentum Rolling
Bookmark Kim’s free resources, re-visit the challenge monthly, and remember: curiosity + courage = unstoppable creative joy. Now, grab that camera (or notebook, or sketchpad) and let’s make something awesome—today! 😊📸