These days, it's possible to become a fantastic photographer using nothing but free resources. And one of the best places to learn and gain inspiration for your next photoshoot is YouTube.
In recent years, several photographers have taken to the platform to document their journeys and share the skills they learned along the way. Some have also either made it their full-time job or generated a decent level of additional income from YouTube.
If you're stuck on who to subscribe to, we've got you covered. Below, you'll find eight photography YouTubers you should check out.
1. Evan Ranft
Evan Ranft is a photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia. He's posted over 300 videos since 2016 and has surpassed the 300,000 subscriber mark.
Ranft's channel is a well-rounded mixture of videos that you'll find helpful if you want to start your own photography business. He documents his journey in vlogs, tests new photography gear, and shares tips related to the craft and business side of things.
In addition to YouTube, Ranft is also active on Twitter and Instagram—both of which provide extra unique insights into his life.
2. Sean Tucker
Sean Tucker is a photographer from South Africa, but he's been living in the UK for a while. In 2021, he relocated from London to move to Yorkshire in the north of England.
While many of the YouTubers on this list share mainly vlog content, Tucker's channel primarily features sit-down videos. He discusses photography from a philosophical perspective, and many of the tips he shares apply to everyday life outside of the craft.
Besides being therapeutic, another benefit of Tucker's videos is that you don't necessarily need to "watch" them; they're just as valuable if you listen to them like a podcast.
3. Joe Allam
Joe Allam is a British travel photographer who lives in London but has a fondness for Japan. The majority of Allam's videos are vlogs with a strong photography focus. Many of these are from abroad, but he also posts content of him exploring his hometown.
In addition to the travel vlogs, Allam shares helpful tips on structuring travel photoshoots and various photography gadget reviews. You'll also find several useful videos that offer advice on the post-production process.
Like Sean Tucker, Allam is relatively active on Instagram and Twitter—so it's also worth following him on both of those platforms.
4. Pat Kay
Another photographer with a strong affinity towards Japan is Pat Kay, who lives in Sydney, Australia. Kay is a travel photographer who has captured images in several countries, including Norway and New Zealand.
Kay began his YouTube channel in 2020 and has attracted more than 80,000 subscribers in just over a year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he hasn't been able to do much traveling recently. As a result, many of his recent videos have been him sharing helpful tips and tutorials.
Kay goes deeper into the technical aspects of what makes an excellent photo. He discusses several subjects, including color theory and contrast in pictures. On top of that, he also talks about gear and more.
In late 2021, Kay mentioned that he plans to move to Japan and wants to create more laidback content while exploring.
5. That Icelandic Guy
That Icelandic Guy is a photographer and YouTuber who, as you might have guessed, comes from Iceland. He lives in Sweden with his girlfriend and their child and has several vlogs from both Stockholm and his homeland.
On his YouTube channel, That Icelandic Guy has an extensive catalog of excellent tutorials for editing photos in Adobe Lightroom. In addition to that, he also shares tips on putting together better videos with Adobe Premiere Pro.
That Icelandic Guy also shares valuable tips on monetizing other areas of photography, along with how to grow an audience on social media. And speaking of social media, he's active on both TikTok and Instagram, in addition to YouTube.
6. Alen Palander
Alen Palander is based in Canada and is a creative director alongside his photography and YouTube work. His photos have a very distinct moody feel, and his films are set up to evoke the same emotions.
On his channel, Palander shares a wide selection of videos. You'll find tips for editing on Lightroom, in addition to his commercial photoshoots and the behind-the-scenes of these.
Palander also shares advice on becoming a better YouTuber, with a few vlogs thrown in for good measure.
7. Pierre Lambert
Pierre Lambert is a French photographer who now lives in Chicago. As of December 2021, he has over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Lambert shares fun videos covering a wide range of photography genres. His challenges are entertaining and include things like taking pictures of strangers and five-minute photo challenges from across the world.
Alongside the challenges, Lambert shares helpful tips for beginner photographers—both for taking better pictures and editing them afterward. He also has several portrait and street photography tutorials.
8. Chris Hau
Canada is a hotbed for successful YouTubers, and Chris Hau is one of the best when it comes to the photography side of the platform. He has shared over 200 videos and has more than 520,000 subscribers on his channel.
Hau shares various product reviews related to both professional and smartphone cameras. He also gives his insights on Instagram trends, providing a balanced opinion in the process.
Hau also has several valuable videos on YouTube monetization and running a business in general on his channel. If you scroll through to his older content, you'll also find cinematics if that's your kind of thing.
Get Inspiration From the Best Photographers on YouTube
Photography is one of the best ways to discover awesome people you never otherwise would have. And while you can gain inspiration from the likes of Instagram and Pinterest, neither are necessarily as good for absorbing valuable information as YouTube is.
The photography YouTubers we've listed in this article share a lot of valuable insights, along with providing entertainment and showing the behind-the-scenes of their daily jobs. Once you've watched and subscribed to all of them, why not try to become the next big hit yourself?