HOW TO BE A BETTER PHOTO EDITOR

Taking pictures is one thing. Going back and looking at the thousands of photos you shot, picking out the best ones, and putting together a coherent story is another. Editing your photos is an essential step all photographers must make when building up their body of work. The photo shoot might be over, but your job is not done. You now need to become your own curator, decide what it is you want to share with the world, and make sure your selections align with what you want to say. 

Here are 10 steps you can take to improve your photo editing:

1. Trust your gut. Photography is this magical, ethereal thing that despite having done this for so many years, I still find it hard to verbalize what truly makes a good photo. However, I noticed the best photos make you feel something, usually something you can’t describe. They make you stop, even if it’s just for a split second. These are usually your strongest photos.
   

2. Know yourself. And be aware of yourself. You can’t select your best photos if you don’t notice the way you feel when making your selections. You need to know when you are moved by an image. You also need to know when you are not moved at all. It’s a very subtle difference, but it makes all the difference.
   

3. Edit fast. Go quick! Especially for your first round. Don’t think too much. When we think too much, we start to invent reasons as to why a certain photo is worth keeping. This prevents us from sticking to our gut. It also wears us down. Go quick for your first round. You can slow down and specify later on.
   

4. State your intention. Be crystal clear about what you are editing for and what you’re trying to say with your images. For example, the way you would edit photos for a personal project would be totally different from how you would edit a project for a commercial gig. Be clear about the intention of your photos, and let that be your compass. Otherwise, it can be really easy to get lost.
   

5. No excuses. Photography is hard. You might have spent years of your life and tons of your money trying to get that one shot. You might have flown across world. You might have even risked your life. But effort alone doesn’t create a great image. Don’t make excuses for yourself. If it’s a bad photo, then it’s a bad photo. Nobody cares about the backstory unless it’s a great photo to begin with.
   

6. Just because you shot it, doesn’t mean it’s a good. There’s a general bias when it comes to critiquing our own work, and that bias is the belief that because you made it, it’s good. Perhaps our parents and teachers were a little too kind to us back in the day when they would ooh and ahh over our random scribbles as if they were masterpieces that belong in the Louvre. Who knows. Whatever it is. Just because you made it, doesn’t mean it’s good. It may have been good in stretching your creative muscles, but that might be it. Detach yourself from your inner ego. It’s not good just because you made it. Sorry to burst your childhood dreams.
   

7. Step away. Once you’ve made your selections, step away for about a week or two. Then see if you still feel the same about them when you return. You may find that some images may have lost their appeal. Hopefully, most of them kept their pizazz. Sometimes our excitement about having finished a shoot skews our vision, making us think our images are greater than they really are. By spending time away from your beloved work, you can clear your head, come back thinking straight, and make the proper adjustments.
   

8. Live with your images. After you’ve narrowed down your selections, it is best to spend some serious time with them. Print your pictures out, and hang them on the wall. Maybe even in different sizes. Keep track of how you feel about your selections. Which ones stand the test of time and provide long-term fulfillment? Keep those. Discard the rest.
   

9. Find a challenger. By this, I mean a second pair of eyes of a colleague you trust. This person understands you as an artist and challenges your work. They ask you questions you’d rather not answer. You will need to answer these questions, fight back, and prove yourself to your challenger. This part is quite difficult. It’s hard to talk about your own work, but I’ve found it is very helpful when it comes to making sure my work is really as strong as I think. (PSA: A giant hug at the end of a session always helps.)
   

10. Reflect and revise. Take a look at your final selections, and reflect on whether or not your images align with why you started the project in the first place. Is it saying what you want it to say? If not, what’s missing? Do you need to shoot more? Or go back, and revise your edit? Sometimes the project we are left with is completely different from the one we intended to create. No worries. It’s all part of the creative process. What’s most important is you now have a foundation you can stand on and refer back to as you make your finishing touches.

Editing photos require us to take on many roles. We have to be technical, sensitive, and assertive all at the same time. It can be a rather daunting task requiring so many decisions to be made that we may be paralyzed into not making any decisions at all. I’ve certainly delayed many personal projects because I couldn’t come up with an edit. But one of the best things about being a photographer is being able to share our work with the world. I hope these 10 tips help you get there because I want to see your work too!

by Jason Lam

ON PHOTOGRAPHING CELEBRITIES

I’ve had conversations with colleagues of mine who talk about how they want to photograph celebrities. It’s like if they don’t have celebrities in their portfolio, then they are a failure. But I think that’s a waste of time. 

Why not find your own celebrities?

All the people I photograph are people I admire. They aren’t celebrities in the traditional sense, but they are famous to me. 

You don’t need to be photographing people everyone else is photographing. 

You need to be photographing your people. The people you think are special. The people who are famous to you. 

Forget celebrities. 

Make your own celebrities.

by Jason Lam

1 SECOND EVERYDAY - 2016

A transformative year to say the least. 

I found my smile again. Along with my heart.

Thank you 2016.

by Jason Lam

MICRO-PASSIONS

Finding your passion is hard work. People spend their entire lives doing so. I must admit, I find it a little annoying at times because people talk about it as if passion is out there hiding under a rock. Look hard enough, and one day, you’ll find it. Who are you kidding?

For many people, that day is never going to come because a lot of people don’t have just one burning desire. Most people just have a lot of interests, and that’s completely fine. There’s nothing wrong with you because you don’t have that ONE passion. In fact, to believe that everybody must pursue their one and only passion is to neglect all the little things we enjoy no matter how big or small. Instead of pursuing your passion, I suggest pursuing micro-passions instead.

Micro-passion – (noun) – Something that you are interested in that may or may not align directly with your ultimate goal in life.

I set up a personal challenge for myself for the year of 2016, and that was to learn a new skill every month. This is what I did:

• January = Make videos

• February = Learn screen printing

• March = Write a book

• April = The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing

• May = Design an art book

• June = Learn to sing

• July = Learn to swim properly

• August = How to deadlift

• September = The discipline and confidence to go my own pace in life

• October = Photograph a ballet school

• November = How to change car oil

• December = Learn gyrotonic

Are any of these things my passion per say? No, but they are definitely things that I am interested in and find a lot of joy doing. By the end of the year, I will have learned 12 new skills. Instead of pursuing just one burning desire, by the end of the year, I will have created for myself a multifaceted passion. 

Have you been stuck trying to find your passion? Try doing the little things you enjoy instead, and see where it takes you. And if you’re up for it, join me and let’s tackle a micro-passion each and every month.

by Jason Lam

YOU CREATE YOUR OWN WORLD // YOU ARE WHAT YOU'RE NOT

Within the four corners of the frame, you create your own world. You create connections other people otherwise would not see, had you not blanked everything else out. 

Photographers are curators who are saying, “Look at this!”

And by saying, “Look at this!” you are also saying, “Don’t look at that!”

Photography is just as much about concealing as it is as about showing.

Thus, you are defined not just by what you choose to show but also by what you choose not to show.

Most people may think of photography as placing a spotlight on a certain element of life, but we can also think of photography as turning the lights off as well. 

Highlight by subtracting.

Show by hiding.

Reveal by obscuring.

by Jason Lam

GRATITUDE IN PHOTOGRAPHY

Photograph like you’ve been given the gift to peer into a new world. One that is special to you. One that you’ve been waiting to see for your whole life.

When you do so, your approach will change.

More love. More care. More respect.

Try it. 

Imagine as if you were given this gift.

This one chance to show how much you care.

The photo above is of my mom’s wedding shoes.

by Jason Lam

ON DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS: FILL IN THE BLANKS

When you first start a documentary project you’ll be very excited and shoot everything. That’s good. Get that out of your system. In this initial phase, you must allow yourself the joy of being in this new environment, working on a new project, and run free.

But eventually, you’ll have your basic framework built. The broad strokes are in. It is at this point where you must get clear about what you’re really trying to say with your work and hone in on the details. 

I call this filling in the blanks. These are the little final touches most people might not notice but make all the difference.

Like chocolate thin mints housekeeping likes to leave on your hotel pillow. Or the freshly chopped chives atop a fresh bowl of tomato soup. It is these little moments that allow you the opportunity to show who you are. To show how much you care. To show that you went the extra mile. Not because you had to, but because you wanted to.

I spent the past two months photographing the LINES Ballet Training Program, and like any photographer, I started off taking a bunch of pretty photos of dancers flying in the air. Who wouldn’t? They’re beautiful. But after a couple weeks, I had more than enough of that. So then I began going deeper into the work and started photographing other minor details about a dancer’s life that may often go overlooked. For example, the funky socks dancers wear, the injuries, the food they eat, the in-between moments when they’re not dancing. Life, essentially. I wouldn’t have been able to do this if I didn’t first let myself get the ‘broad strokes’ out the way - because this is what built the framework that allows me to insert the finer details.

Point being, whenever you are shooting a documentary project, when you think you’re done, you’re most likely not done. If anything, you’re just getting started. Go beyond. Look further. Take stock of what you have. Most importantly, take stock of what you’re missing. Then go out and keep shooting. Be bold. Show us how much you care. Fill in the blanks. 

by Jason Lam

PHOTOGRAPHY AS A PRACTICE IN LETTING GO

I miss moments all the time. It sucks and I often try to recreate a moment but it’s never the same.

The reality is the moment has gone and life will not give it back.

But the peculiar thing is when I come to embrace this cold hard fact and understand that I have no choice but to move on, it makes the act of letting go much easier.

I have no choice but to continue moving forward in life.

In addition, the fact that I have these near-misses makes me more confident. They give me hope and belief that other moments will arise. 

And they always do.

While the act of letting go can be quite hard to bear and even sad at times, it is also a practice in the belief that the ‘tide will turn’ and better things will always most certainly come.

by Jason Lam

HOW TO EVOLVE INTO YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

If you feel yourself evolving, it is in your best interest to let it happen and take you where it will. Be it a new hobby, a new hairstyle, moving to a new country, or simply buying new clothes. I say follow your evolution wherever it goes because no matter how odd, embarrassing, or out of the blue it may seem, this is your body exploring new lands and reaching beyond its comfort zone in order to grow into its highest potential. 

Those who love us most may think the new horizons you’re exploring are too weird, out of the ordinary, or even irresponsible. They may feel compelled to stop you and keep you right where you are. Our environments act very much like the clothes you wear on a daily basis. They hold your identity in place and remind you of who you are and the role you play in society. But when the time comes to shed your skin and evolve into who you must become next, you must have the courage to stay true to yourself, even if that means leaving the people that care about you most.

Take into account all the things you’ve collected throughout your journey and reassess whether or not those things still serve you. Often times you will find many of the things you hold onto have already achieved their purpose, and you are more than ready to let them go and move on. Like an old sweater, I encourage the disposing of old items, ways of thought, and surroundings to make room for things that better suit who you are now and who you are to become. 

I have been feeling an immense change in myself. I realized I have been clinging onto negative thought patterns that have only served to hold me back. I was, in a way, addicted to my own self-loathing. I was never good enough, and therefore, not good enough for others as well. I didn’t love myself, and as a result, I also never allowed myself to be loved. I expected and accepted disappointment with open arms. Opportunities came my way, and I’d push them away. People came my way, and I wouldn’t let them in. Happiness was constantly beyond my grasp. I was convinced life never gave me a chance when in reality I just never gave myself a chance.

These thoughts no longer serve me. 

Nor do the physical manifestations of these thoughts. 

In order to move on, I had to go through all the emotional baggage I collected in my life. I shone a light at all the problems I’ve been running away from, the terrible coping habits I’ve formed, to the dystopian world I built around it. I began breaking down these walls by forgiving those who hurt me in the past. I also forgave myself for the mistakes I made, along with the mistakes I will continue to make in the future. I let go of notions of having to be flawless and began acknowledging the possibility that despite all my imperfections, I am enough.

This wasn’t easy, but avoiding my anger, my damage, and my grief wasn’t getting me anywhere. I had to face them head-on. I had to spend time in the dark. Alone. Asking questions I couldn’t find the answers to. Feeling helpless. But it was only by acknowledging the pain that I was then able to finally let go and move on. Perhaps you, too, will have to spend some time alone to make sense of all your disappointments and upsets in order for your metamorphosis to truly take shape. 

Nobody else can do this for you.

When you sum up the courage to face your demons and let go of the things that no longer serve you, a new space will be created. And it is in this space where you will grow into the person you were always meant to become. 

Your body will begin to react.

As I began growing into the greater version of myself, my body began to form a different relationship with the physical world around me. My clothes. My hair. My car. The conversations I was having. The weather. The food. The way I rolled out of bed. The way my feet hit the pavement. Everything began to feel different and that was because I was now operating in an environment associated with a world that had a sadder, more insecure and fearful me that no longer exists. 

I was evolving.

I donated my old clothing, sold my furniture, and redesigned my entire living situation. With this new space I created for myself, I began taking photographs the way I wanted. I began dancing the way I wanted. I began wearing the clothes I wanted. Most importantly, I began allowing myself to be myself and live the way I’ve always wanted to live.

Letting go is not wasteful, nor is it neglect or giving up. Letting go can be a powerful act of acknowledging all the invaluable lessons you’ve learned from the people, places, and things that have come into your life. Let go with pride. Let go with confidence. Let go with the understanding and respect that though you may have outgrown certain things in your life, these very things, even the darker periods in your life, are what prepared you for this very moment to grow and prosper.

We are ever-changing and evolving in more ways than our physical manifestations can perhaps keep up. Evolution is not about finding a final resting place where we can finally sit back and relax, but about cultivating a habit of allowing oneself to change as our mind and bodies call for it. Sometimes these changes may feel difficult because we’re forced to face inner demons that we’d much rather avoid or it requires physical changes that might clash with our immediate environments. There is a reason why we fuss over little details like the color of our bathroom walls; it’s because deep down we know the greater impact our physical environment has further down the chain of events from mind, to body, to our entire lives.

Life takes so many twists and turns. Evolution can feel like a filthy mess. But when it comes to growing into our most authentic selves, I truly believe that deep down, our body already knows. We just have to listen to it.

by Jason Lam

A DASH OF SALT

You only need a dash of salt in order to bring out the flavor in your food.

You only need to work out a little to reap the many benefits of physical exercise.

You only need a few minutes of quiet every day to center yourself.

I know sometimes it’s hard because our inner perfectionist knows and believes we are capable of so much more. And you are, but often times it’s the little gestures in our lives that make us great. Everything doesn’t have to be so grand.

A few of mine:

• Writing - To share knowledge. Even if it’s a little blurb on twitter.

• Swimming - I’m not the best swimmer but I enjoy the challenge and it keeps me fit.

• Reading - Satisfies my curiosity and maintains my intellect.

• Watching the sunset - Helps me keep calm and reminds me of what matters in life.

• Napping - Life can be quite busy. Designated downtime keeps me functional.

Now it’s your turn.

What’s the dash of salt you can add to bring out the flavor in your life today?

by Jason Lam

WRITE LIKE YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR DRAGONS

For me, the process of writing is very much like trying to capture a glimpse of a dragon. I’m patient, I allow it to reveal itself where it may, and then I follow its scales as far as I can see. But often times I lose sight of where it begins and where it ends. My thoughts and my words disappear as they soar into the mist and the clouds, and I am left to pick up the pieces. It’s all a little frustrating but exciting at the same time. It is the fact that I have never seen these dragons in its entirety that keeps me going.

by Jason Lam

28 THOUGHTS ABOUT TURNING 28

It’s July 1st. I turn 28 today. Some thoughts:

1. I may be getting older, though I don’t feel old at all.

2. When you get older, you have no choice but to stay in shape. That said, I’m probably in the best shape of my life.

3. Time really does fly, and sometimes it may seem as if I have achieved nothing, but I’ve made it a habit to congratulate myself for achieving even the little things.

4. For the first time in my life, I’m a fan of my own work.

5. Social Media > Fancy website

6. I truly believe that if you had the opportunity to end the day by going to the beach and watching the sunset, you’ve had a good day. I’m glad to have been able to do that quite often this past year.

7. Much of how we live our lives are based on the stories we’ve been told. It is my priority to focus on not just the popular stories, but also those that are most authentic. Lest we risk leading our lives astray simply because we’ve been reading the wrong script.

8. If you can’t stop thinking about it, go do it.

9. There’s a huge difference between an explanation and an excuse

10. I’m super!

11. Photography is hard, but if it was easy I probably wouldn’t be doing it.

12. So happy I had the courage to jump in and finally take some voice lessons

13. A simple rule to life by, “Make good stuff you’re proud of”

14. Reading is great. Taking action is greater.

15. Believing in yourself is hard. Surround yourself with those who love and care about you in order to make it out the gauntlet more or less intact.

16. Most of us define our own terms of success but still allow others affect how we feel about it. To set out and do what we need to do, we must mute the unhelpful ones, even if you seem quite stubborn.

17. Never compare yourself to someone else’s highlight reel (ie: their social media accounts)

18. Don’t just say what you’re going to do. Do what you’re going to say.

19. Pronoia > Paranoia

20. Good enough = Good enough

21. Love is a skill rather than an enthusiasm

22. Most good things in life start with shaky beginnings. Unfortunately, most of us quit too soon.

23. “If you lose, don’t lose the lesson” – Dalai Lama

24. Luck is real

25. Respect > Status

26. You can’t please everyone

27. Always try to be part of the solution

28. Still an underdog. Still not quitting.

by Jason Lam

MADE IN AMERICA

I was born and raised in America, and growing up I was only able to speak Chinese at an elementary level. But I’ve always felt a desire to get back to my roots. As a kid, I would do things like martial arts, dragon boat, and lion dancing because it made me feel Chinese. Maybe I was stereotyping myself, but regardless of that fact, I always felt a disconnect, and I was bent on reconnecting it. 

As I got older, I would make trips out to hang out with my friends in Chinatown every weekend. We spoke Chinese, hung out at the Chinese Playground, and ate Chinese snacks. It felt right. I felt at home during those moments. When I went to college, I studied filmmaking and wrote stories about the Chinese-American experience. When I graduated from college, I studied abroad in Spain for two months but still managed to find a Chinese restaurant to go to for dinner every now and then. After that, I purposely went to live abroad in Taiwan for over a year to learn Chinese. I really enjoyed my time out in Taiwan. I felt at home. Despite it being a bit challenging at times to get around with the language barrier and all, things felt right. When I left Taiwan and moved to New York City, I still managed to find my way back out to Chinatown to buy groceries or treat myself to an egg tart. Before long, I ended up moving into Chinatown in Lower Manhattan and began photographing a local lion dance group while studying at the International Center of Photography. 

Now that I have returned home to San Francisco, it is still very much a part of my identity. I went back to visit Taiwan recently, and I will do so again in a few weeks. I need to feel connected to my culture as much as I need to breath. Listening to Chinese music, making a trip down to Chinatown, or even something as simple as ordering food in Chinese makes me feel closer to … myself. But it's not that simple. Half-American. Half-Chinese. Too American. Too Chinese. Who knows. Chinese-American is the term we often use. Sometimes I feel really American, really Chinese, or just none at all. One thing’s for sure, I love my culture and where I come from. It’s just that sometimes it can get a little confusing.

by Jason Lam

WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP ALL YOUR DREAMS IN PLAY

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been feeling like I have to be more selective with the things I want to do and stopping myself from following my impulses. When I was younger, I had no inhibitions about uploading silly videos of myself onto the internet for the sake of sharing it with my friends and having a good laugh. Now? I have to consider all these things like, OMG, it’s going to be on the internet forever. How will this affect my professional career? Does it align with my current brand image? How will everybody think of me? Everybody’s going to judge me! And so what happens? I don’t let myself make spur-of-the-moment videos. I don’t let myself follow my intuition. I don’t let myself have any fun. But it’s all for a greater cause I say to myself. Because by not wasting time and energy on the inessential, I get to focus all my energy on one goal and be that much more effective.

This is a rather widely accepted notion. Famous quotes like, “Jack of all trades, master of none” seems to run quite rampant in the motivational quotes arena, but I think there is something missing here. There's this idea that it’s bad to have multiple interests. Because someone is a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, we make the false assumption that this is all he will ever be. We neglect the fact that this is precisely the path one takes when discovering mastery. Some people just take a little longer than others. 

“All knowledge leads to self-knowledge.”
- Bruce Lee 

The more you get to explore, try new things and follow your curiosity, the more you know and the more capable you are of being fully equipped and ready to tackle that one thing in life. But if you pigeonhole yourself too early on, you end up learning less about the world and less about yourself.

Energy has the capability of feeding back into itself, but when you don’t allow yourself to flow, that energy is never used. It is not recycled or redirected toward your ultimate goal; it is simply sitting there, holding you back, and growing stale. 

Solution:

Let it all flow. Keep everything in play. Don’t cut anything out. This is how you live a rich life, and this is how you maintain your momentum, progress, and growth. 

“Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.”
- Albert Einstein 

Your interests, impulses, and intuition manifest themselves in different forms. Energy can feed back into itself, get stronger, and eventually morph into something absolutely beautiful, but not if your energy is blocked.

If you look at how rivers form, they do not start as giant streams. They start as a collection of tiny segments – a master of none, if you may – but if you look closely you will find that these seemingly tiny streams start to build momentum. The flow becomes stronger, bigger, faster, all the way until they naturally find their way together, raging with power and becoming a force to be reckoned with. This is made possible because the individual streams explored other avenues and strengthened on their own. By following through with each individual path, the collective whole of the river is made stronger when they finally join forces. Your interests are not as disconnected as you think.

You need to trust that all your seemingly disconnected interests will lead you to somewhere great. If not, believe that it will at least make you a better person with every step you take. Don’t cut anything out because when you do, you are cutting yourself out.

I make fun little videos, and I do it because I get a lot of joy out of them. I also take design classes, swimming lessons, and even started taking voice lessons recently. They do not align perfectly with who I am as a professional. Some of you might even think it’s a waste of time. I admit that it’s very much a sidetrack to what I’ve become known for – photography. It’s random. It’s unedited. It’s raw. If anything, it’s much closer to the real me.

These seemingly random hobbies feed into each other. It doesn’t take anything away. In fact, it makes me feel more alive. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to learn to trust all the pieces in play and to let my interests take me where it will. I let myself be free. I believe that life has something far greater and brighter planned for me than anything I could ever imagine, but first I have to be open to it, and it starts by allowing myself to take these chances.

Stay curious. Keep looking. Keep changing. And let life flow through you.

by Jason Lam

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD ALL OF THE TIME

I have this unnecessary burden – when I feel like what I’m doing isn’t bettering humanity in some way, I start to stress out. I feel like I’m not good enough and deal with many sleepless nights because of … Well, nothing, really. 

It’s quite stupid when I think about it. You know, stressing over the fact that maybe the words I write aren’t good enough, or the YouTube videos I make aren’t funny enough, or the fact that I am just not a superhero despite my superhero intentions.

If I could, I would free all people from unhealthy relationships, make sure every child grows up with positive role models, and release the shackles of all those who slave their entire lives away in these obnoxious things we call cubicles. But I can’t. And it stresses me out because I can see the fatigue and loneliness in the faces of my peers. It pains me that I can only do a little, but maybe I need to relax.

I watched Deadpool a couple months back (awesome movie). I was enlightened by the ending, when Deadpool finally has his archenemy, Ajax, in his hands and is ready to kill him for all of eternity … Until Colossus steps in with an incredibly insightful speech.

“Four or five moments. That’s all it takes to be a hero. Everybody thinks it’s a full-time job. Wake up a hero. Brush your teeth a hero. Go to work a hero. Not true.”

That struck a chord in me because I felt like I had to be good all the time. I felt like I had to do good all the time. I felt all these feelings of good intention, only to hate myself because I realize how much of a flawed human being I really am and, unfortunately, will probably always be. 

But I realize there’s nothing wrong with that.

And when I accept how I will never be the superhero I’ve always wanted to be, I finally get to be free and do simple things like go about the day not saving the world and not feel bad about it.

Because superheroes don’t have to be good, all of the time.

In fact, I’ve come to believe that this makes for a better superhero. One that allows an individual to give into one’s inherent vices every once in a while for the sake of doing better when he needs to. It’s a part of my journey that my inner perfectionist left out of the final screenplay of life, but I’ve now penciled it back in.

I stopped being so hard on myself. 

Nowadays, when I wake up in the morning and look at myself in the mirror, I say to myself, “Relax, you don’t have to save the world… all of the time.”

by Jason Lam

INSECURITIES AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

The thing about insecurities is that we don’t ever grow up thinking there’s anything wrong with us. It’s not like we come out of the womb, look at ourselves in the mirror and then make a checklist of, “Things I should spend the rest of my life worrying about.” 

No. Insecurities are placed on us by other people and always without our consent. I, for example, never thought of myself as skinny, slow, or stupid. These were all things others have told me. But oddly enough, when harmful comments are repeated enough times, we somehow make them come true. There’s a false train of logic that says, “So and so has told me these things before, so they must be right.” We neglect the fact that we’ve also come across tons of other people who have never mentioned these aforementioned insecurities. I guess it’s easier to notice when people hurt us than to remember when someone simply accepts you for who you are. 

These things happen at such a young age before we’ve had an opportunity to build up our mental defenses. We were vulnerable. And as we grow older, it’s almost as if these insecurities become embedded in our DNA. It becomes a part of our lives, like a checklist of things to do whenever we wake up in the morning. Take a shower, brush our teeth, worry about insecurities, overcompensate, and pray that nobody says anything about it. And when we try to deal with our insecurities, it gets even harder. It’s like trying to peel off an old sticker, only to find that it’s near impossible to do so without leaving some residue. No, Goo Gone doesn’t work on our emotions. 

It sucks. There are days when my insecurities still manage to creep up past my defenses and make me feel absolutely pathetic. I guess we just have to deal with it. But that’s a little too somber for my tastes. If there’s anything we can do, it is to remind ourselves how silly it is to live in fear of who we are due to how other people see us. It’s such a waste of time. Instead, keep your head up high and keep marching forward regardless of the naysayers. If there’s anything to fear, it’s to fear allowing such meaningless comments become permanent excuses for why we are not living a life that is true to our authentic selves. Do not die with your song unsung.

by Jason Lam

ON PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE

When it comes to style, one should remember this piece of advice by Persian poet, Rumi:

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

Executing a multitude of styles isn’t difficult. And now, with the internet and the ability to learn a new photographic technique with just a click of a button, being able to do multiple styles doesn’t differentiate you. It just makes you look unsure of yourself. And when you are unsure of yourself, others will be unsure of you. 

Think of style as a friend. We want friends who are consistent. Why? Because consistency means reliability. However, if you’re constantly switching around, then you become unpredictable. You’re here one day, but you’re gone the next. We never know where to find you. We never know what to expect. We can’t trust you. Nobody wants a friend like that.

If we take a look back at the greatest photographers of all time, you’d be hard-pressed to find one who constantly changed his or her style. Daido Moriyama is known for his stark black and whites. William Eggleston for his color. Bruce Gilden for his flash. Salgado for his epic landscapes.

What do people think of when your name is mentioned?

Maintaining a consistent style goes way beyond talent and skill. It’s about integrity. It’s about staying true to whom you are, believing in what you represent, and proudly showing up day after day and doing the work regardless of what others say. 

Granted, as we grow as photographers, it is only natural that our styles will change. That’s normal, but eventually, you’re going to have to make a decision and commit. This is not to say that you are incapable of doing more, or that you are any less of a human being because you choose to do less – it’s about standing for something you believe in, which, first and foremost, should always start with yourself. When you do so, you will find that others start to believe in you. 

It’s not about doing more, nor is it about doing less; it’s simply about doing what is uniquely you.

by Jason Lam

THE JUST DO SOMETHING APPROACH

Forget passion.

Just do something, and you will find passion along the way.

Passion does not have to be a prerequisite for taking action.

I can't say I was passionate about photography when I first started. I was just curious, and then I grew passionate about it later on.

One thing I've learned is the better you get at something, the more passionate you'll become.

Stop searching, and just do something.

by Jason Lam

10 MORE ALTERNATIVES TO FINDING YOUR “PASSION”

I still don’t like the word “passion.” I still think it’s a loaded word, but everybody still seems bent on finding it, so here we go:

1) What conversations do you enjoy having? The types of conversations we want to have determine the types of friends we make, the work we do, and ultimately, the person we become and the contribution we make to the world. I particularly enjoy having conversations about why people do the things they do and how a greater understanding of the self can lead to a better life. 

2) If you were stuck on Mars with 30 days left of food, what would you say to everyone? Funny how a life or death situation can remind ourselves what truly matters. What would you say? And how could you apply what you are saying to your own life?

3) What topic could you read 1,000 books on? Take a look at your bookshelf. Are there any reoccurring subjects? Maybe you’ve already read 1,000 books on a certain topic without even knowing it. What topics do you find yourself returning to and wanting to learn more about?

4) What’s the overarching theme between all the things you’ve been doing and all the goals you’ve been making? Take out a piece of paper. Write it down. Create a map. How does it all link back up to each other? If you look back far enough, perhaps you’ll find that everything all connects to one overarching goal.

5) What would you regret not pursuing when laying on your deathbed? I know. A little hard to imagine. This question is even a little borderline cliché but only because it’s very helpful. What would you regret? Maybe that’s precisely what you need to do.

6) What do you want your future self to look like? Take 10 minutes to fantasize what a day in your perfect life would look like. Start in the morning, and describe everything you do in detail from the moment you wake up. Where are you? Who are you with? How are you spending your day? Now, read over what you wrote. How does this future self differ from who you are now? What can you do today so this future self can one day become your present self?

7) What would you do for free? You may find that you’re already doing what you’re passionate about without even noticing it. This often happens because some of us might think that passion must be a burning desire you feel when you wake up every morning. It doesn’t have to be. It can just be something you enjoy without even getting paid for it. Maybe you really like baking, offering words of advice to friends in need, or telling stories. So ask yourself, are you already doing it?

8) What work were you doing the last time you forgot time altogether? In psychology, there is a term called “Flow.” Or in other words, “being in the zone;” a state of complete absorption in an activity where time flies. Right off the top of my head, it’s when I’m writing, performing and teaching. How about you?

9) How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning? Much of how we feel in the present is determined by what we have in store for the future. What do you look forward to? What do you want to look forward to?

10) What do you miss? As we grow older, there are more and more things we let go of for the purpose of becoming an “adult.” Sometimes, this type of thinking forces us to let go of things we otherwise would have very much wanted to hold onto. I miss high school band. I miss playing music. I miss being part of a team. I miss the camaraderie. I miss having a coach. And I’ll share a secret, when I was a kid, my dream was to be a rock star.

If it makes you feel any better, whatever you’re searching for is also searching for you. Sometimes you just need to open yourself up to the things that are already trying to find a way into your life.

by Jason Lam 

START BY STOPPING

You got problems. 

So do I.

And when we have problems wearing and tearing away at our lives, we may feel that we must add yet another layer of complexity to our lives. Another dietary supplement. Another workout regime. Another session with a therapist. But there’s no need for that.

Just stop what you’re doing.

Stop the self-deprecation. Stop the addictive habits. Stop repeating the same old mistakes. Stop “should-ing” all over yourself. Just stop.

When you realize you are on the wrong path, the only way to make any more progress is to stop.

Stopping is the gateway to changing. 

When you stop, you end the process of deterioration and allow yourself to begin the process of healing.

I’ve been guilty of over-complicating my life as well. I’ve been going through physical rehab, working with a personal trainer and a chiropractor, asking a million questions, overthinking how the hundreds of muscles in my body should be working and not making any progress aside from just tiring myself out, losing sleep, and just becoming a very negative, down and dejected person. This lasted for 5 years. I had to stop.

We don’t begin to solve the many problems in our lives by adding more things to our “to-do” list. We begin by stopping, by saying no to habits that do not serve us, even if that means doing absolutely nothing.

Stop. 

Do nothing. But notice that you are still doing something. While it may not seem that way, it is a step toward changing your life for the better. When you stop what you’re doing, you are ending negative habits, ending negative cycles, and instead creating a resting space for your life.

Oftentimes we don’t know what got us here. We’re no longer sure what will satisfy us or what we are looking for. So we think by increasing the number of unnecessary possessions, burying ourselves both physically and mentally in more things will help, but most of the time these extra things just serve to throw us into further disarray. The best way to find out what we really need sometimes is to get rid of what we don’t. 

Start by stopping.

Action Step: 

Do an inventory check of your life and the things you’ve been doing, thinking about, or stressing over. Then ask yourself, “Does this contribute to my overall happiness? Or would I be better off by stopping what I’m doing?” Start throwing things out like you would an old sweater that is way past its time.

by Jason Lam