I have thought about a YouTube channel for quite a while. That possibility always seemed very far away though – I don’t have time, I don’t know where to start, I don’t know much about videos, no one will watch them anyway. These were some of the limiting beliefs that were holding me back, and that possibly many people will relate to.
I don’t know exactly what changed but quite unexpectedly on a random night one month ago I created a YouTube channel. The week after I ordered a shotgun microphone and recorded an introduction video and posted, without thinking much about it.
Why YouTube?
I have been creating short-form videos for quite a long time now on Instagram. Despite being primarily a photographer, my mission has also always been to share information on birds and bird photography. And I immediately realized that video format unlocked huge opportunities to convey my messages in a more direct and efficient way. Soon enough I faced a big challenge: the time limit. Currently the maximum Reel duration is 90 seconds – which are actually not many if you want to talk about a complex topic or tell a story. I guess it has been a good learning opportunity as I had to learn how to summarize. But still, at times I just wished I had more time to fully explain what I want to say.
So I am now really excited about the opportunity to share longer videos!
The other major factor bringing me to YouTube is to finally make use of the bird videos I recorded! Yes, of course I could use them also for Reels. But it is always challenging to crop a video originally shot in landscape orientation to a 9:16 format.
Lastly, but not least I was really curious to explore YouTube as a new platform from a Content Creator perspective. The functioning of YouTube is extremely different compared to all the other social media I ever used.
What to expect from my Channel
Vlogs: I will be bringing you in my bird photography sessions close to home or for my travels.
Bird/Wildlife Photography Tips, Tricks and Tools
Bird Photography Conversations: discussing different topics from technical to ethical ones
Gear reviews
My first Videos
The plan is to post a video every 2 weeks, normally on a Sunday. So for now, I have posted 3 videos:
- Introduction: I introduce myself, how I started bird photography and my reasons for joining YouTube
- Looking for the Southern Cassowary: my first vlog on my (frustrating) search of the huge australian bird with exclusive photos
- Social media for wildlife photographers: a conversation on the available apps to share wildlife photos/videos, their pros, cons and my experience with them!
First thoughts
Honestly it has been a fun journey! But let me tell you… the learning curve is steep! Talking in front of the camera was not too bad (I guess I had enough training with the short videos), but… I could never imagine how long video editing could take! There are just so many new aspects I never had to think about that are actually crucial for YouTube! Lights, musics, effects, thumbnails… it’s a completely new world. But until now, I am enjoying the adventure.
If you don’t want to miss my first attempts at YouTubing , you can subscribe to my channel.
Your support means a lot to me!