Practical YouTube Growth Tips for Filmmakers and Photographers (and other creators lol) 🎥

As a Las Vegas filmmaker and photographer, I know that growing your YouTube channel can feel overwhelming. You may have tried the usual tips that promise fast growth but saw little results. In this post, we'll focus on practical, usable, and sensible advice that can help you build a sustainable filmmaking photography channel.

Passion-Driven Content: Build Around What You Love

Your YouTube channel should be something you can see yourself doing for a long time. Whether it's gear reviews, tutorials, or just entertainment, focus on what excites you. This passion will fuel your content, making it easier to stay consistent. Remember, the best way to grow your filmmaking channel or photography channel is by starting with what you genuinely enjoy, not only what you think will get views.

Authenticity is Key: Be Yourself 🌟

One of the most important aspects of building a successful channel is being you. No one else has your exact combination of personality. Embrace your individuality! This is what sets your YouTube channel apart from the rest. Audiences connect with creators who are authentic and true to themselves. Don't stress about trying to replicate someone else's success—focus on what makes you, you. 

Post Multiple Videos to Help YouTube Categorize You 📈

When you're starting out, don't just post one or two videos. Post a batch of content to help YouTube’s algorithm (I know you probably heard that a billion times) understand your niche. By offering a variety of videos—whether they're about filmmaking tips, camera gear reviews, or photography tutorials—YouTube can better categorize your channel and show it to the right audience. This strategy increases your chances of being discovered by viewers interested in this type of content.

Use Tools Like VidIQ for Trending Topics 🔍

If you want to create videos that align with current trends, use tools like VidIQ or Tube Buddy. It can help you find trending topics in filmmaking or photography, giving you the chance to create videos that meet existing demand. For example, if you notice a high demand for "how to film yourself" or "camera gear reviews," you can tailor your content to fit those trends. This increases your visibility and helps grow your channel.

Generating Video Ideas: Engage and Explore 💡

Running out of ideas? Start by asking your viewers what they'd like to see. Engaging with your audience can spark fresh ideas. You can also turn to AI tools or simply consume more content to trigger inspiration. Another way to look at getting an idea is from the wise words of Neil Gaiman: “Ideas come from confluence.” In other words, ideas come from one thing that's seen, heard, or thought plus another thing that's seen, heard or thought. Finding new ideas is as simple as staying open to suggestions and exploring what's out there. See how you can take what's already out there and put your own twists on it.

Keep Viewers Engaged with Hooks Throughout Your Video 🎣

One of the most effective ways to grow on YouTube is to keep your audience engaged. Instead of just focusing on the opening hook, treat each part of your video like a mini hook. For example, if you're doing a camera gear review or explaining how to grow on YouTube as a filmmaker, drop in small hooks every 30 seconds to keep the audience interested. This increases watch time, which is critical for YouTube’s algorithm to push your videos to more viewers.

Patience and Consistency: Growth Takes Time ⏳

Finally, always remember that YouTube success doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency is key. If you're not able to post frequently, focus on making high-quality content that showcases your best work. Whether you decide to prioritize quality or quantity, what's most important is sticking to a schedule that works for you. Once you find that schedule, stick with it. It will get really tough and discouraging but you really do not know how close you really are from the top of the hill! So grab your camera, embrace your unique style, and start creating content that matters to you!

Hope you guys enjoyed my first blog!