Advice from a street photographer: Be prepared for YouTube death threats

The post is meant to be a letter Kim is writing to himself when he was 18, when he first received a camera from his mom as a high school graduation gift. The letter is partly a recollection of memories from his first experiences in photography, but he also offers plenty of advice on what and what not to do, if he was given a chance to do it all over again. Of course, much of what he writes will apply to any aspiring street photographer, or any type of photography, for that matter.

The first tip Kim has is to keep shooting, and shoot a lot. He tells his younger self that he will encounter support as well as those who “hate what you’re doing.” Kim recalls being called “a sell-out, someone who is ‘tarnishing’ the purity of street photography. You’re going to be mocked, ridiculed, and given petty death threats on YouTube. You’re going to fall into a creative slump– and not pick up a camera for several weeks from all the negative feedback you get.”

Kim says not to be discouraged. “Realize that the secret to failure is trying to please everybody,” Kim writes. “Just speak openly, transparently, and don’t front – speak truthfully with your heart.”

While digital cameras allow us to take as many photographs as we want, Kim suggests spending time editing them and posting the ones that show “your best work.” He advises against immediately posting everything you’ve just shot, and he also tells his young self not to get caught up by the “likes” and comments from the “social media treadmill.”

Whether you’re using an iPhone or you’ve just bought your first DSLR, check out the rest of Kim’s letter for some encouragement.

(Via Eric Kim Photography)