From street photography to travel narratives, here are some of the best photography channels on YouTube right now.
2020 was a weird one, there’s no denying this. However, one thing that I noticed was an influx of YouTube channels taking off. With creators stuck inside, out of work, or sitting at home on YouTube all day (or in my case, all three), many creators hit the ground running, creating some truly out-of-this-world content. And consistently, too, I might add.
So, excluding some of the bigger names that I’ve written about in years past, I decided to try and showcase some of the smaller, newer channels. These channels aren’t just for photographers, either. Learning about light, how lenses work, exposing and composing images is something that can benefit anybody interested in working with a camera, regardless of whether you’re capturing video or an image. So, here are some of the best photography channels on YouTube right now.
1. Ulysses Aoki
With a focus on street photography, Ulysses’ channel is ultimately a masterclass in inspiration and technical prowess. Even if you’re not interested in the art of taking strangers’ photographs, this channel can help you overcome any fears you might have of going out into the world to take photos.
2. Faizal Westcott
With a strong focus on street and city life photography, Faizal mostly uses a Fujifilm X100V to show the power of light and composition in an extremely unpretentious way. There are plenty of tutorials for dipping your toes into this style of photography, as well as editing, exposure, and composition tips. This channel is only going to get better with time as Faizal becomes one of the new, inspiring street photographers on the American East Coast.
3. T. Hopper
Every photographer should subscribe to this channel. No matter the field you’re interested in, there’s a video for you. These videos are deep dives into famous photographers and cinematographers‘ work, looking at how the images were made and why they’re special. Get ready to be inspired after watching one of these, and watch out for this channel. It’s going to be huge.
4. Sophia Carey
This channel has it all. Whether you’re interested in gear, technical insights, creative inspiration, editing, film, or just learning how another photographer works, Sophia can do it all. And, to top it all off, she’s really good at documenting everything. This is a photographer’s channel, through and through. I originally found this channel from a recommended “behind-the-scenes” video of a portrait shoot she did, and after seeing the results, I was immediately hooked.
5. Bryan Birks
Bryan Birks is building an impressive body of work. With a focus on large-format portraiture, each video is a look into his process, but also photography, in general. There’s a lot to learn here and you don’t have to be into film photography to benefit. Between the process of getting ready to go out and shoot, to looking for subjects, there’s an insane amount of precision that goes into these photos. Check it out, you won’t be disappointed.
6. Chris Chu
Another relatively new channel, Chris Chu is taking cliché topics—like self-portraits, client work, and creative inspiration—and adding his own energy, while taking some pretty incredible photos in the process. With videos on both digital and film photography, this channel is for anybody needing a shot of creativity to get them off the couch. I can’t wait to see where this channel goes.
7. Diane Villadsen
These videos are so good it’s ridiculous. They’re precise, informative, and so much fun to watch. These product demos are cheap and really really good-looking. If you’re in need of some inspiration for using colors, lighting, and set decoration in a new way, Diane’s channel is an absolute masterclass in visually eye-popping commercial work. I use this channel as a reference if I need an insert shot for a video or ideas for any type of product shots, regardless of the brand or color scheme.
8. Brian Lackey
I found this channel late into 2020 and I’m so glad I did. Brian’s approach to photography is clean, tasteful, and timeless. The format of the videos are something we can all relate to as photographers—driving around, hiking around, wandering around with a camera by yourself. It’s nice to know there’s still real passion out there for photography and Brian’s work is no exception.
9. Steve O’Nions
Why doesn’t this channel have more subs? This guy is a great photographer and his videos are so well made. There’s no fast-paced editing, crazy motion graphics, or super-fake energetic personality, it’s just really solid information with exceptional photographs. It’s like what YouTube used to be and I love it. His videos are mostly film, but more than anything, they’re about composition and exposure, which can apply to any type of photographer.
10. Vuhlandes
Vuhlandes is one of the better photography channels on YouTube because he just does what he wants, and shoots what he wants to shoot. Don’t expect to find anything here but good photography, vulnerability, and deep dives into what makes good photos . . . good. He focuses on both film and digital, documenting his daily life, portraiture, and gear reviews.
Cover image via Guitar photographer.
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