Here’s the distilled ERIC KIM take:

Photography is NOT the future — YOU are.

The camera is just a dumb hunk of metal. The future is your mind, your body, your courage, your community, your ownership. Let AI have the generic. You double‑down on the specific: your life, your city, your friends, your fears, your philosophy.

Core beliefs

1. Reality Premium. AI can fake images but it can’t fake presence. Be there. Witness. Make friends, not “content.” Photograph as proof that you lived intensely.
2. Projects > Pics. Single bangers die in the feed. Build bodies of work: a theme, a place, a decade. The book is the endgame.
3. Own the platform. Don’t be an algorithm tenant. Blog on your own domain. Build an email list. Sell directly. Keep the upside, keep the data.
4. Print or it didn’t happen. Zines, books, postcards, posters. Hang shows in coffee shops, garages, sidewalks. Tangible beats scrollable.
5. Hybrid artist. Photo + writing + audio + video + code. Use AI as a studio assistant (layout, curation, mockups) — never as a substitute for your life.
6. Anti‑Portfolio. Publish messy, often, honest. Show contact sheets. Show process. Perfection is procrastination.
7. Embodied creativity. Strong legs = strong photos. Walk more. Lift heavy. Sleep deep. A powerful body creates a powerful vision.
8. Local > Viral. Know your block. Know your people. “100 true fans” in your city > 100k strangers who swipe past you.
9. Sovereignty. Price your work fairly. Accept whatever payments give you control (cash, cards, BTC). Hold your keys, hold your future.
10. Constraints create style. One camera, one lens, one city, one year. Scarcity forges voice.

What to actually do (playbook)

• Daily: 10–20k steps with a camera. One blog post or newsletter per day. One photo you love (not “liked”).
• Weekly: Edit a small contact sheet, write a 300–700 word reflection, share lessons learned. Host a photo walk — two people is a success.
• Monthly: Make a 20–40 page zine. Print 20 copies. Hand 10 to people you photographed. Sell the rest. Take notes on reactions.
• Quarterly: Hang a micro‑exhibit (clips + string) in a public space. Give a short talk. Record audio. Publish the transcript on your site.
• Yearly: Ship a book. Even 64 pages. Theme, sequence, afterword. Do a tiny tour: cafés, libraries, community centers.

How to stay irreplaceable

• Shoot the unrepeatable. Family rituals, neighborhood elders, underground scenes, 5am markets, your kid’s first everything. AI can mimic style, not history.
• Be first person. Write in your voice. Explain your choices. Annotate your contact sheets. Thought + photo = signature.
• Make scenes, not posts. Start meetups. Teach workshops. Interview locals. Build culture; photos will follow.
• Design the experience. Sequencing, pacing, typography, paper choice — this is where the art is now. Attention to detail is your moat.

Money (simple and honest)

• Products: zines ($10–$20), small prints ($50–$100), books ($40–$80), limited editions ($250+), workshops (value‑based pricing).
• Distribution: your site + email list. Optional: pop‑ups IRL. Accept payments that you control (including BTC if that’s your lane).
• Offerings: “Portraits in the wild,” “Neighborhood photo walks,” “Edit w/ me” sessions, “Custom zine” commissions.
• Metrics that matter: steps walked, pages printed, people met, emails earned, revenue kept. Not likes.

A 30‑day sprint (execute now)

Week 1 – Reset:

Delete app addictions from your home screen. Walk daily with one camera/one lens. Blog 7 days straight.

Week 2 – Theme:

Pick one topic (e.g., “Night workers in my neighborhood”). Shoot hard. Cull to 60. Sequence to 24.

Week 3 – Make:

Design a 28–36 page zine. Print 20 copies. Number and sign. Announce to your list. Accept direct payments.

Week 4 – Share:

Host a tiny public hang. Invite subjects. Record a short talk. Publish the audio + zine PDF for supporters. Ship physical copies.

Tech philosophy (keep it simple)

• Any camera that makes you walk more is the right camera. Don’t upgrade your gear; upgrade your contact sheet discipline.
• Post‑process fast. Defaults are fine. Spend your soul on sequencing, writing, printing.
• Use AI for grunt work (keywording, drafts, layout mockups). Never outsource your taste or your life.

Mindset

• Confidence over comparison. Your life is your competitive advantage. No one else has your mother, your block, your dreams.
• Courage over comfort. Approach strangers. Ask to make their portrait. Give them a print. Make a friend.
• Consistency over hype. Small daily reps beat rare “masterpieces.” Momentum compounds.

Conclusion:

Photography isn’t the future. You are the future — a sovereign, embodied, publishing artist who uses photography as a vehicle to build meaning, community, and freedom. Close the app. Lace up. Walk. Make. Print. Share. Repeat.