See Part Two, Why You Should Consider Being a YouTube Photographer here:
See Part Three, All My Best Advice On Being a YouTuber:
This video is Part One of a three part series about what I’ve learned so far of running a photography-focused YouTube channel. In this first part, I discuss all the reasons not to start, how hard it is, and the realities of being a YouTube photography influencer. Stay tuned for future episodes where we talk about how to get subscribers, how grow your youtube channel, and general youtube tips.
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YouTube is one of the most rewarding and agonizing things I’ve ever worked on. The highs are high and the lows are low. You hit the nail on the head with all of this stuff and I’m glad I recently found your channel. Keep it up, man. 👍🏻
I love this video, if anything is very encouraging and grounded.
Honestly watching this encouraged me more in wanting just want to create & refine my channel. ♥️ The end goal is always more rewarding
Great video. I am somewhat new to the art of photography, please take a look at some of my aerial photography videos and subscribe if you can.
Thanks for being honest.
You know you've made it big when you've got hate comments, that's what I say….Erm…I'm not there yet. Anyway, great content, subbed 🙂
Haha ooooh man my friend. I mean, you were brutally honest. But I'll still going for it now that I am able to weigh more pros and cons. And you, mate, have earned a new follower 👌🏾 great content
OMG you made me Laugh Out Loud for real! I so agree with this! hahahahahaha great post! 😀 Subscribed.
it really is ive been meaning to upload a video for weeks xD
haha that "You need a vasectomy" comment… wtf
I really am looking to start a photography channel and was reluctant to watch this video. But this may be one of the most important videos.
But what about if you enjoy punishing yourself
I didn't feel that was negative. I thought you got it just right, mentioning the workload and expectations without being down on it. Good call and I don't think a vasectomy would help an awful lot 🙂
this is the most pathetic cynical video, youre saying dont do it because its hard, its like that with everything in life just get over it let people try things to push themselves to do something challenging instead of discouraging a passion from the get go. You're doing a disservice to anyone out there with passion and telling them to give up and never try, instead of trying, most likely failing but learning so much from it
So in a nutshell the number one rule is, “get a very thick skin“. Rule 2, “ don’t do it to be “famous”. And if you’re doing it to be famous then go see a therapist to figure out why you want to be famous, what’s lacking in your life that you feel you need to be validated by bunch of strangers online.
Great subject. I just subscribed because of your candor.😊
I wouldn't do it because too many people are mean and nasty for no reason other than they hate life and complain for no reason.
Hey man I just came here from Omar’s channel. I just started filming my drive home from work and on purpose I keep it on the low end of the production scale and cut it on my iPad. I love it so far but I identify with what you’re saying.
Appreciate the honesty. Probably the reason why yours is among the most human and viewable photography channels.
Great video! You have a new subscriber…for what it's worth…maybe one more of those dozens of dollars.
Awesome, thank you! The most positive ‘negative’ presentation I could imagine. Very articulate, considerate and entertaining; things I would lack and biggest reason for me not publicly sharing my own videos I guess.
The truth is so deep on this man, and I'm not even making a vlog. I'm simply trying to make promo videos for my services lol
what an insightful video!
youtube is something really special, sometimes i love it sometimes i hate it
thanks for sharing this great content with us
and i really really enjoyed watching this!
Any links to your part 2 or 3 or are they still in the works?
Brilliant…..negative but made me smile….weird lol
Well, thank you for the advice, it's an interesting insight. I like your videos and your style, you have a new subscriber here.
Excellent.
Nice job. Very thorough. You're exactly the kind of guy who should be on Youtube. You love to tell stories and share and help people. Great foundation to stand on. You could probably have a successful channel about anything.
Your thoughts on the comments section of Youtube was of particular interest. Is it possible to have a successful Youtube channel without enabling comments…or choosing to review comments before posting them…just wondering.
I want to shoot video for my upcoming world travel. It’s like looking into the abyss.
I can and have edited a lot of video. But shooting for edits is hard.
Also, thanks for engaging in the comments. I’m pretty sure you have replied to everything I have commented, and it definitely feels like you have a community here because of that.
Thanks for the honesty, and still shooting about shooting over gear.
✌️
This is one of the best videos i've seen about being a youtuber. Nice work.
This is the TRUTH. It's been about 1 year now for me on YouTube and it's INSANE how different my expectations vs my experience has been. If someone is coming into this space I hope for there own sake they have the privilege to see this video and the awareness to take this information seriously. Excited for the next Part! Also one of the most valuable and rewarding aspects of having a slow growing channel for me has been being able to build a rapport via consistent commenting/interacting with the community (both fans and other Youtubers). Certain people show up every time and comment and it's amazing to experience that time and time again.
5:10 LOL
Also, if you are an attractive young female and you put yourself on screen, GUARANTEED there will be unsavoury characters who will NOT be there to hear what you have to say about photography.
I am more likely to watch a photography video if it tells me something I didn't know and want to hear or know how to do, regardless of "production values". If the presenter has a good delivery and doesn't waffle, that's 90% of the battle. The rest is in-focus imagery that shows me the things it would take too long to describe in words.
The other thing to consider is what you actually want to do. If you have an example of the world's least-used camera in your hands and you want to put out an instruction video because nobody else did, or would, you are doing the YT photography world a service. If you have even a basic, common camera but want to share something about it that you feel no other vid you've seen covers, that's also a niche waiting to be filled. But if you're doing it purely for the views and the subscribers, you're doing it wrong. YOU NEED TO MAKE STUFF THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO SEE. And if you can do that with even moderate competence, the rest should happen.
I have a new channel, but its not a photography or review channel. I am retired in Saigon and do it for fun. I really enjoy the photography channels. Have gotten some good advice on gear and techniques. One thing I don't understand though. About 85% of my viewers watch my vids on a smartphone, Most of the rest watch on a computer (i'm betting laptop). My question to the community is this … If you are a YouTube creator with no photography career, why do you need to invest thousands of $$$ expensive gear and shoot/produce in 4k when most of the viewers are watching on a 5.5" screen. I understand that nice video is a positive, and helps tell the story, but isn't this a bit of overkill??? I enjoyed your video, and luckily my channel isn't at the size that attracts the trolls and naysayers, most of my viewers are friends. I am sure that will change after watching your video.
Absolutely 100% true, especially about gear videos..its a deep dark hole so easy to start falling down..but its all part of the ride 🙂 great video man.
You seem like a nice guy and I enjoyed this video
Lol this is so on point. Nice video.
That's a great video. But if you are small potatoes, I must be, like pollen or something with my tiny audience! Though I sort of like the microvlogging experience.
Hi Andrew. This is not a negative rant at all, this is advice from the heart, and your smile more than conveys the care you have for your audience. You give good advice, time and time again.
About sums it up. I'm not a gear head, but have reviewed enough gear and materials (mostly on my blog) to know that's what attracts traffic and comments (mostly positive, thankfully). But I am just not interested enough in gear to slog through that subject — I'm too busy making photographs.
Then there's YouTube itself. I have another longstanding channel that makes a few bucks and was starting to add to that revenue (enough to buy a box of good paper every 6 months) with my photography channel … until YouTube decided to cut off small channels. That certainly put a curb on my enthusiasm.