What do you guys look for out of a photography YouTube channel?

Interesting thanks

I think photographers and models use Instagram way more than you think. But yeah I need to show how cool the space is. I cant get in until may but I cant wait to set up and take shots of everything I think that will sell it

DThriller wrote in post #18609259
I think photographers and models use Instagram way more than you think.

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I really wouldn't know what photographers or models use. . I just know what the everyday person in my little community uses, and that isn't Instagram.


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what do I expect?


the gear to be put to work and create something different.

Im sick of gear reviews by people who cant put that gear to good use....or gear reviews overall.

First and most:

Do not waste my time.

'Way too many photo videos are unplanned, meandering, and take half the video to get to the point. I don't want to hear about your life. I don't want to know about your day. I don't want to listen to you chattering while you drive to a location. I don't want to watch you walking down the street with the model. I don't want to listen to your taste in hip-hop music.

Take the time to learn how to shoot a video--or find a friend who does. Do it right. Make it clear, don't make me dizzy, do good audio. If you shoot professional-level stills, don't show me a casual amateur video. Your video audience deserves professionalism just as your still audience does.

One of my favorite channels isn't about photography (much) but more about audio: Curtiss Judd. His videos are right in my ballpark (he knows I'm not trying to film another Avatar). He teaches what I need to know, he tests what I'm likely to buy, he's clear, professional...and he does not waste my time.

Curtiss Judd is a model for such videos.

I don't mind a little fluff from certain channels.
But for example Ted Forbes of The Art of Photography, lately has been adding a vlog style edits to his videos , you know with all the broll and music.
And quite honestly I love his channel and his contents but I just don't like it when he does that it's just like this is not what I came to see you do or say

Using YouTube for marketing is a brilliant idea. Letting people see what your personality is like will definitely bolster your brand.

Asking anyone for suggestions for content. Terrible idea. All you'll be doing is adding to the digital noise already out there. You'll be lost among the countless others doing the same thing.

Making content that stands out from the crowd is part of the equation but you can't dismiss production value and charisma.

Personally, I'm searching for something similar. I don't have the charisma and my speaking voice sucks, in my opinion, but I understand the value of video in today's market. I could easily go down the instructor path and put out the obligatory 'how to' stuff (which I do, for private individuals who like my teaching style) but, again, that would just add to the pile of crap already out there. Instead I am experimenting with little insights into my work day. Your idea of behind the scene stuff will do more for your brand than a how to.

You have to think about who you really want to market to. If it's other photographers, as you say, do you think they care about you teaching them the exposure triangle? If that's the case, then good luck having those types of photographers rent studio time. Instead, invest your time and efforts attracting the kind of clients you want to work with. A photographer looking for rental space would be more interested in your work ethics over your teaching ability. Money spending clients, on the other hand, want to see what to expect and what kind of results manifest from that investment.

Let the big companies do the product reviews. They have the money and resources for that. Stick to what you know, gear it to what you want to achieve with your business and you'll do just fine. Just remember to up the production value and make it entertaining.

Thanks I appreciate that

"Using YouTube for marketing is a brilliant idea. Letting people see what your personality is like will definitely bolster your brand."

Yeah I think that is my plan. Its hard to shoot a video by yourself and make it perfect but I think Im getting better

I feel your pain. The learning curve is big but most of all, for me, is getting comfortable in front of the camera and keeping what I have to say straight in my head so I don't ramble. My best suggestion for you is to find a friend you are comfortable with who's willing to help you out and work with that person. It will make your progress easier and faster. You can bounce ideas, share the workload and allows you to concentrate on what you have to do without worrying about the stuff you delegate to your friend.

It's not a n easy gig but it's definitely fun creating something, isn't it?

Count me odd, but YouTube is about the last place I'd look for reviews. When I am considering new gear, my first stop is the manufacturer's user manual. Reading that gives me a really good idea of WHAT the gear can do. Then a professional review or two can clue me in to how WELL it does what it does. Last stop it to Google: Item name + (problem/issue).

That said, a few comments on your posted videos. I watched the one about focal length, and 1/2 the 135L video. No comments about the content, other than: by the time folks are buying this kind of gear, don't you think they just might have some idea of what they are doing and why?

To the videos themselves. The focal length video shows an awful lot of you sitting at a your desk. Forgive me, but that doesn't seem at all related to focal length. Give me something interesting to look at. Make a point with your video content. It may also improve your videos if you were to script and rehearse them. The number of "uhm, like, maybe, etc." filler noises is more than a tad distracting. From a viewer's perspective, why am I watching this if YOU don't even know what you want to say.

-Duck- wrote in post #18610663
It's not a n easy gig but it's definitely fun creating something, isn't it?

For sure

^^^ thanks Bassat for the comments

Overall I dont really think I want to focus on videos explaining basic topics anymore. Thay are pretty boring anyways. I enjoyed doing the challege videos more.

Word of advice- DONT continually say "As you can see..."

Just to clarify- I havent seen any of your videos- this isnt a criticism- just some advice "just in case" as the "as you can see" phrase uttered every four or five sentences in many YT vids tends to turn me off!

With regard to marketing, IMO there are three types of videos I think do a photographer well (and I don't consider this an exhaustive list):

1. The "About Me" video. "About Me" has been demonstrated to be very important for retail (portrait, wedding) photography. Easily ninty percent of retail photographic buying decisions are made by women, and women typically want to know about the photographer as a person.

I think the "About Me" can be done in a documentary fashion. That's a rather expensive proposition to be done right, more often done by a commercial photographer. It's the kind of think you see done for photographers like Annie Liebovitz--a video about the photographer, not by the photographer.

Or it can be done in a direct-to-the-customer conversational video, with the photographer talking to the camera about himself.

Or it can be done as an interview, as though there was an interviewer just off camera who we never hear, but who is asking the photographer questions about himself (that we don't hear) and the photographer is giving answers to the interviewer. I think that kind of "About Me" is probably the most effective and easy to produce.

The About Me video should not be longer than a minute, although having several really short videos covering different points (like FAQs) can work. It needs to be top professional quality in camerawork, editing, and audio. I've taken the last three years learning how to shoot and edit just a simple interview--and I know my limitations.

2. The testimonial video. Testimonials are important, and video testimonials are by far the most effective. They're going to take coordination with the client, obviously a client satisfied enough to want to do something significantly positive for the photographer. The testimonial can be either praise of the experience or praise of the product or both. The photography can be a bit amateurish--makes it seem more naturally off-the-cuff--but always, always, always do the audio with a clear professional touch. Put a lav mic on the subject(s) and record into a pocket recorder (sync in editing with the video), but never try to use the audio from the mic of the camera you shot the video with. Testimonial videos shouldn't be more than 30 seconds.

3. Branching off from the testimonial video is the "experience" video, like those Vanity Fair BTS videos of Annie. Again, no more than thirty seconds to a minute, and they should be very, very professionally produced. The production quality of the BTS video will represent to the retail client the quality of work to expect from the photographer, as well as the quality of the experience.

RandallB wrote in post #18611049
Just to clarify- I havent seen any of your videos- this isnt a criticism- just some advice "just in case" as the "as you can see" phrase uttered every four or five sentences in many YT vids tends to turn me off!

can you place a link to a video where this is a problem?
i watch a lot of youtube.. and haven't noticed this being a major issue.. i'm just curious where/when it been an issue for you