Like many photographers around the world, I watch a lot of YouTube. Whether it’s for inspiration, gear reviews, news, or beautiful cinematics, YouTube has changed the photography world. But should you start your own channel? Join me as I discuss some of the good reasons you should.

There are a lot of benefits to having your own YouTube channel for photography, and I am sure there are probably some downsides too, but I feel that the benefits can far outweigh the negatives here. Let’s take a look at some great benefits!

Global Reach

The numbers greatly vary depending on the source, but according to Wikipedia, YouTube has 2.5 billion users. That is a lot of potential viewers which your content could reach! Of course, there are lots of variables to consider such as great titles, tags, and a great thumbnail to attract as many of those viewers as possible, but the possibilities are endless.

With global reach, comes great opportunity! If you are fortunate enough to publish great content, which gets picked up by the masses, this could lead to amazing opportunities such as sponsorships, ambassadorships, more clients, trips, and more.

Major companies are always looking for great collaborators or ambassadors, with YouTube they can watch you, see what type of persona you have, and what type of content you produce. Consider YouTube almost like a job interview, put on your best performance and see where it takes you.

We have all seen the photographers who get invited to amazing photography experiences such as trips around the world, the best gear, and brand deals. If you wish that was you, then all you can do is give it a go yourself. I know I get a little jealous seeing some of the amazing things YouTubers get for free, whilst I am still working the daily grind.

On the other side are potential clients. If you are a wedding photographer such as Taylor Jackson, for example, you could record behind the scenes on certain wedding shoots (real or staged) and use that as an opportunity to attract new couples who are looking for a photographer. Sometimes people want to see more than a website, or Instagram page. Using YouTube in this way, can help you connect with potential clients in a far more personal way.

Behind the Scenes

One very popular format for photographers on YouTube is to show the behind the scenes of capturing their favorite images. If we take landscape photographers, for example, they will often take you with them on their adventures to places all over the world, and will talk you through exactly what they are doing while they are taking the photo.

Seeing the final image being created in real time can have so many benefits, especially now with the rise of artificial intelligence. Have you ever taken a photo, put it on social media, and had people say it was fake? I have!

In July 2020, we had the amazing Comet Neowise in our skies at night and I ventured out at 2 a.m. in the morning to capture a shot of the Comet over the Liverpool waterfront. The image went viral, and sadly because of that, I had quite a few people being a bit mean and saying the image was fake. Fortunately for me, I always keep the raw files from every shoot but filming the behind-the-scenes experience at the same time can cut a lot of that negativity out if they choose to watch it.

With any negativity, it is important to not take it to heart, but sometimes you will. I did, but I knew how to fight my corner and prove the image was real. Just like an old math exam from school, it is great to show your work.

With artificial intelligence becoming a major product now, recording behind-the-scenes footage could become very beneficial to you. This can absolutely help separate you from some of the others in the marketplace.

Meet New People

When I was publishing regular YouTube content about photography, I had the opportunity to meet lots of interesting and like-minded photographers/creators. I remember one subscriber followed me due to some Icelandic content I published and they then followed my Instagram, eventually, we got talking and became online friends. A couple of years later, we both were in Iceland at the same time and we managed to meet up and photograph the northern lights together. It was an amazing experience, and without YouTube, I never would have met this person.

Of course, you can have the same experience with any social media channel but the more you have, the more potential there is to meet new people and audiences.

Confidence

In a recent article, I discussed how to push your limits as an introverted photographer, YouTube is certainly another avenue you can take to help build your own confidence, especially when it comes to public speaking. 

Whether you are out and about vlogging, recording behind-the-scenes footage in front of general members of the public, or connecting with your audience via replying to comments, messages, etc., then YouTube is a great opportunity to gradually become more comfortable with people.

As I touched on previously, with any social media, there is a chance you will receive some negative comments, and it is important not to let them bother you. You can delete them or report them if they are bad; you do not have to take being bullied!

In this online world we live in now, sadly there are trolls, but the vast majority of viewers are absolutely lovely and appreciative of the efforts you put in. Never let these trolls phase you, just focus on the story that you want to tell with your content and enjoy the experience; this is when you will gain confidence and it can really pay dividends in your life.

Added Extras

YouTube can be an incredible way to upsell your own products and services. Do you sell prints or run photography workshops locally or around the world? If you can grow your YouTube channel, you could sell even more prints or spaces on your workshops, or even Lightroom presets.

Go for it!

Summary

By no means is this an exhaustive list of potential benefits for starting your own YouTube channel as a photographer, but I hope it could give you some good ideas on where to take your journey next. You can indeed be the creator of your own story and use YouTube to reach new audiences around the world which could benefit you in so many ways.

YouTube is not easy, and I certainly do not want to give the impression that it is. The potential, however, is massive and it cannot be ignored as it is another leg on that octopus which can lead you to new places.

Everyone fortunate enough to have a window seat during a flight knows first-hand how beautiful the world can look from the skies. However, photographers also know how hard it is to actually get good photos from a plane, especially a commercial flight, even if the views are spectacular.

Professional photographer Graham Washatka recently traveled from Chicago to San Francisco and then San Francisco to Denver for a commercial photo shoot and took the opportunity to capture some stellar aerial shots, proving that photographers can capture great photos from a commercial airliner.

Lightroom Saves the Day

“These are all processed in Lightroom and most of the settings were not different than my normal editing,” Washatka tells PetaPixel. “The big difference from my normal edits are the Dehaze, Texture and Clarity.”

The photographer set the Dehaze and Texture sliders in Lightroom to around +50. The Clarity slider was set to around +20.

“These photos came out really flat in the RAWs and on the back of the camera. I had no idea I got images of these stunning scenes until the right settings clicked together in Lightroom.” He also used Adobe’s AI-powered LR Denoise for some of the photos.

How to Give Yourself the Best Chance for Success

Now that the photographer knows how great images shot from planes can turn out, he has some practical advice for other aspiring aerial photographers. Washatka says to research the airports you’ll visit on your journey and determine which side of the plane will work best for the time of day and location.

Beyond avoiding a seat near the plane’s wings, the photographer also recommends picking a seat on the north side of the plane, if possible, to prevent the sunlight from disturbing others around you and to reduce the glare on the window.

“You won’t have the dramatic effects of backlighting, but the terrain provided plenty of the drama and the focusing and composing is easier in this direction,” Washatka explains.

The Nikon Z8 in a Plane is Different From Washatka’s Typical DJI Drone

The commercial photographer is no stranger to aerial photography in general, as he is a licensed drone pilot and does some professional photography work using his DJI Mavic Air 3. “I probably used a drone on 5% of my jobs last year,” Washatka says.

Since he doesn’t use a drone all that much in his professional work, he can’t justify spending the money on a drone with a very high-end imaging system, like DJI’s Inspire series.

Camera Settings and Advice

For these new airplane photos, Washatka went with his trusty Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera and the Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens. He says about 90% of the photos were shot at ISO 400 with a 1/1250s shutter speed. “But at 120mm, I don’t think the 1/1250s shutter speed was fast enough… I didn’t factor in the 600 MPH speed of the plane enough. I think I missed a decent shot of the merging of the Green and Colorado rivers because of it, and other interesting compositions.”

Washatka originally planned to just snap a few photos during takeoff and landing. However, during the flight, he was in awe of the landscape below him and spent more than an hour shooting continuously.

“I took over 800 photos and was constantly looking for an interesting composition… I had zero idea they would turn out so good!” Washatka says.

Your Next Flight Is a Great Chance to Take Photos

For any photographer with air travel on the horizon, it is well worth planning, scouting the flight path, and picking an ideal seat. While weather and lighting are unpredictable, it’s immediately apparent that taking great aerial landscape photos from a commercial flight is possible.

With thoughtful planning, good compositions, a bit of luck, and some Lightroom magic, it’s amazing what can be accomplished. And hey, the worst-case scenario is that you found a fun way to pass the time on your flight.

Image credits: All photos © Graham Washatka.

Graham Washatka is a commercial photographer based in Wisconsin. He also recently founded a non-profit photograph organization, Photo Opp, alongside John Adams and Mark Ferrell. The organization has a large studio, event space, and darkroom in a newly renovated 100-year-old synagogue. The organization hosts events, including photography workshops, photo walks, film development nights, and gallery shows.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, was admitted to The London Clinic on January 16, 2024, where she underwent abdominal surgery for an undisclosed medical condition that was not cancer-related. On Sunday, March 10, 2024, she released a photograph which she later admitted was edited on a Mac along with the text: “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C”

Kensington Palace said the photo had been taken by her husband, heir to the throne Prince William, last week.

Michael Holden for Reuters:
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Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, issued an apology on social media on Monday for “any confusion” caused by an edited photograph which had been issued by her office Kensington Palace the previous day.

Several leading news organisations including Reuters withdrew the picture of Kate, 42, posing with her three children after post-publication analysis showed it did not meet their editorial standards.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” the message on X said, signed with a “C” meaning it was sent by Kate. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

A royal source said Kate had wanted to post an informal picture of her family to mark Mother’s Day, which was celebrated in Britain on Sunday, and had made minor adjustments.

Broadcasters with access to the original image said an examination of its metadata showed it had been saved in photo editing software Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac.

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MacDailyNews Take: The mystery deepens!
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Celebrity photographer and acting coach Kenneth Howard Dolin was arrested last Monday on suspicion of sexual assault. Now, authorities believe there may be even more victims from his past.

The arrest came after Dolin, who is 64 according to authorities, allegedly sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman in his Wilshire Division home/studio, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Police believe there are more victims, who they are encouraging to come forward, after a further investigation found two other sexual assault accusations from 2017 brought by two separate women, according to NBC.

Dolin has significant connections in the entertainment industry and is known to seek out models online, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement.

All three known incidents began similarly, police say, “with professional contacts that led to reports of Dolin touching women inappropriately during photo shoots when they were alone in his studio.” The arrest was for penetration with a foreign object, though no other details were released. Though Dolin was booked, it’s unclear if he faces formal charges at this time or if charges may come in the future. He has since been released from custody, police said, “pending further investigation.”

The LAPD released an image of Dolin to help identify and speak with any other possible past victims.

“These victims felt trapped and had to comply with his advances,” Detective Brent Hopkins, a supervisor with the Special Assault Section, said in the statement. “There’s a huge difference between art photography and sexual assault. We want to make sure we know everything that happened and make sure that line does not get crossed again.”

“If you have been a victim or have information about this investigation, you are urged to contact Officer Richard Podkowski, Special Assault Section, at 213-473-0447. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247),” the LAPD said in its statement. “Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.”

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

By Amelia Rodriguez

Amelia Rodriguez is San Diego Magazine’s Associate Editor. The 2023 winner of the San Diego Press Club’s Rising Star Award, she’s covered music, food, arts & culture, fashion, and design for Rolling Stone, Palm Springs Life, and other national and regional publications. After work, you can find her hunting down San Diego’s best pastries and maintaining her three-year Duolingo streak.

INDIANAPOLIS — Recognized for their families’ longstanding commitment to agriculture, 103 Indiana family farms were presented the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair from Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb. “The Hoosier Homestead ceremony is always a highlight of the Indiana State Fair for me,” said Crouch, […]

It’s that time of year again to celebrate some of the community’s best shutterbugs.

Winners of the Halton Hills Camera Club’s annual PhotoArt contest were recently honoured at an awards night, with their work now on display at the Halton Hills Cultural Centre.

The juried photography competition, show and sale is open to both amateur and professional photographers, with a goal of promoting photography as an art form. 

Winners were selected from almost 300 images in a variety of categories, including ones open to children, youth and adults.

To view their work, visit http://photoartcompetition.weebly.com/ or the Cultural Centre at 9 Church St., Georgetown until April 1.

Today my mother-in-law texted me to say, “Can’t trust any photo.” Why? Kate Middleton.

The stunning admission that Kate Middleton edited a photo of her and her children has sent shockwaves around the world and undermined the already dwindling trust in the still image.

As an amateur photographer herself, I imagine Kate would be sad about all this.

Is This the Moment All Trust in Photographs Evaporated?

The popularity and endurance of the royal family can’t be understated. Therefore, the concession that they released a doctored photo really is huge and it means that people like my mother-in-law are now fully aware that photos can’t inherently be trusted.

It’s hard to disagree. Putting out edited photos has become par for the course for many celebrities. But as my colleague Jeremy Gray points out, “there’s something quite different about this instance of image manipulation compared to other celeb portraits.”

When Khloe Kardashian posts an edited picture of her kid on Instagram, it is not also given to The Associated Press (AP) who circulate it to the world’s media.

The doctored image forced the AP to put out a rare “kill notice” on the picture. The agency’s tagline is “Advancing the power of facts, globally.” The photo they put out yesterday was advancing lies, globally.

Will the AP and other huge agencies like Getty, Reuters, and AFP, now have to scrutinize future pictures released by the royal family? You would imagine so.

What is going on with Kate Middleton is currently a mystery. Before the misleading image was released yesterday, the Princess hadn’t been seen in public since December.

But whatever drama is happening inside the walls of Kensington Palace, a huge blow has just been dealt to the idea of the photograph because if Kate Middleton has the audacity to put out a manipulated image, anyone does.

We Desperately Need a System

If only there was some sort of provenance system that could provide irrefutable evidence that a photo is genuine and not digitally altered.

Luckily there is one coming in. If William, Prince of Wales (who allegedly took the photo) had used the Leica M11-P to capture the Mother’s Day snap then we would be able to use the Content Credentials system to see what edits have been made. Soon, Nikon, Canon, and Sony will have their own systems in place.

However, both parties — the image taker and the image receiver — must fully opt-in to use this system effectively. Content Credentials is not designed to be a universal fake image detector; it is a program for news organizations such as AP to be able to chart the history of a photo so it can be better trusted.

It means that, for now at least, we live in a world where photos can’t be believed because supposedly venerable institutions such as the British royal family are putting out doctored photos of themselves.

What’s next? The Pope releasing a picture of himself wearing a puffer jacket?