I originally started making YouTube videos in mid-2018 as a way to offset some steam I had when it came to talking about cameras, and it worked!
For a while, I've gone through a few different waves of wanting to create videos with some breaks lasting 3-6 months but one or two lasting closer to year if not more and every time I've suddenly thought to myself 'I need to make a video about this *insert camera/film/technique*" as something I would want to see people talking about or something I feel passionate about to share. That being said, there have been plenty of other things I've thought that about and taken no action on.
Early last year (2024) , I decided to make a more concerted effort to creating YouTube content. Firstly just using my phone to film, then picking up a wireless mic that was on offer at the time, then a little hotshoe/tripod mount for my phone ,to a brand new mirrorless camera and most recently a video light. Each purchase may seem like a big and seemingly random jump but each has allowed me to try something different or expieriment in some way which I wouldn't have been able to do before.
Phone: Allowed me to be more spontaneous with making videos.
Mic: Gave me more freedom to shoot away from the camera & experiment with shots.
Phone Mount: Let me try some POV shooting and try some wacky framing.
Mirrorless Camera: Threw me into the world of LOG profiles and to play with colour grading & better image quality.
Video Light: yet to arrive but 🤞🏼 it lets me hone in on creating a more consistent "look"
This whole process is one that has not only helped me go out and take more photos, something which I was lacking and you can read about in this post, but has also opened some doors and let me see different ways of creating, which I really do struggle with as I'm so transfixed on photography (it's my job and hobby, not an ideal combo) so this allows me a way of pursuing my passion in a different way making it no longer feel like an extension of my job, and that's been pretty freeing. Needless to say not everyone will be in this same boat, some people reading this I'm sure will already be using photography as their side line hobby as a way of escapism from the 9-5 and that's fine it's an amazing a beautiful outlet to have. However I done suggest experimentation, something I am guilty of is not f***ing around and finding out enough and what's the worst that can happen? For me it's that a video doesn't perform well, photos from the lab come back not how I envisioned them. It may be a blow but it's not the end of the world, at least I tried and learnt from what I was doing.
My recommendation for anyone reading this, I'm assuming you're into photography if you're reading this, is to experiment with video. By no means do you have to start a YouTube channel like I have, it could be as simple as taking some video on whatever device you have access to and creating something with that. Frame up as if you're shooting a photo, think about everything you would normally consider; lighting, exposure, compostion, everything! and edit it together (iMovie, Windows Movie Maker, DaVinci Resolve) and see what comes of it. You don't have to talk in it, you can worry about sound later, but just expierment! I know this isn't some kind of ground breaking idea but it's something which has had a meaningful impact on my practice as a photographer and something which allows me to keep a more open mind when creating. For instance, if something isn't working as a still image, I can try it in video and vice versa.
What started as a silly little hobby for me is now passively making a small amount of pocket money on the side (okay, £12 over the course of a month isn't major but it's better than nothing🤷♂️) and of course this isn't strictly limited to video or YouTube. This can be any other form of creative outlet you wish, but something that is different from just photography. Another way to play.
If you'd haven't seen my YouTbe before you can find links for it all over my website. Or, if it's easier for you I can leave one right here and you can let me know how awful my early videos are😅.
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