My thoughts on YouTube photography channels - do you Agree?

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

I'm hoping to hear some feedback to help improve the channel!

[@ryansalasphotography]

do an off camera flash portraits at midday using nd filter with a cheap flash. I’ve been doing this for a while now and i’m enjoying it but most amateurs are struggling on this. it’s fun and i love the dramatic look on it.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Ooohhh - that just sounds masochistic! 🤣. I can understand struggling with that! Many use HSS with cheap flashes but I would do what you’re saying; not sure how much flash horsepower it would take. 🤔

[@ryansalasphotography]

@@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk HSS has limitations like cutting your power to half, overheating, banding and draining battery fast. i find ND Filter the best option and get a good result. i’m using canon rp with nisi true color nd filter paired with ad100 pro and a translucent white umbrella. i don’t even use full power even though the light is bouncing everywhere using umbrella at midday which is amazing.

[@jimbruton9482]

I just discovered your channel and I appreciate your approach. You being a professional photographer with a studio, it's good to listen to someone whose photography experience and knowledge can be shared. I don't need to listen to someone who only wants to showoff their new expensive camera they just purchased and why you should buy one too. To me, the most successful presentations on KZbin are of those that either teach improving technique, understanding the technical parts of exposure, dynamic range, etc., etc., and simply demonstrating the joy and satisfaction of creating a wonderful image.

[@jackthair8311]

One thing I like about your videos is the amount of understandable information you pack into a short time. Other channels take 20 or 30 minutes for a video and I didn't really get anything out of it.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks so much!

[@jimmyhinAK]

Hi I am not a professional photographer I am a hobbyist who is sometimes plagued by gear acquisition syndrome but always trying to improve my photography. I like the fact you don’t bash brands in favor of what you use to get the job done.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks!

[@RichardBO9]

I watch your channel because you are someone with actual business experience that knows what it takes to make a living from your craft. I also appreciate your conservative and pragmatic "use what I have" approach to gear. I'd say trust your own internal "content compass". I think too many photographers get caught up in their specific genre. But honestly the principles of lighting are pretty universal. I like videos that help me think through evaluating how to light and get the shot. You are doing a great job.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

really great feedback, thank you!

[@cphilipcarlson]

It has almost been 3 months since this video was posted on YT, and there’s only been one other post since then. As an amateur photographer myself, this has been one of my favorite “go to” channels to learn from. I sincerely hope you keep posting and post again soon! And I’d love to see what you do with oil painting and photography.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thank you so much!! I've just had a little bit of 'life' happen here... I'm not gone - I'm gonna get back to it within a couple weeks I think. 👍

[@johannesschroeder5117]

Hello Hayward, I was some days off the KZbin content and I‘m missing your content. After watching this video, I like your style of presenting content and also the real work of a people photographer with a studio. Also your work outside the studio is great. I would say that 99% of all KZbinrs/ photographers are reviewing gear. The practical tips to shoot videos on Canon or your process to shoot photos is an eye opener for me, even I‘m only a hobby photographer. Thank you for your videos and views. Take care. Best regards from Germany

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@peterbrown7057]

I really appreciate your discussions about the practical use of on and off camera flash as it is a subject I struggle with. The other subject I would like to hear more of is the use of light meters to improve my photography. I really appreciate how you share the lessons you've learned during your career. Thank you

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@TonyElen]

I discovered your channel through your flash videos. I am especially looking forward to knowledge regarding the use of a flash. I also think that you present your knowledge in a pleasant way. That's why I say: Keep up the good work!

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thank you!

[@loganz]

I enjoy your real world photography/business advice and perspective. Its a lot more insightful than following camera influencers pushing the latest greatest working with instagram models.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for watching!

[@melissafaria5386]

I definitely feel like flash is my weakness. I'm a very hands on learner so videos that are more step by step are helpful for me. I would like to eventually get more experience with off camera flash but just getting started with on camera flash would be absolutely amazing

[@jeffreylane7647]

I very much like the videos you do on gear that you use that does not break the bank to purchase. I am a hobby photographer and have no real way to justify the purchase of expensive equipment. I also like the fact you keep your content short and to the point.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@Rowdy216]

I subscribe here because the content is educational, delivered in a way that I understand it, you're net telling to buy a camera or lense that I can't afford every other day. I like that there's also no square space advertisement.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Omg, the squarespace really made me laugh - I’m so sick of that as well! Thanks!

[@HoggetBlanker]

I love what you do already. Mostly techniques and principles, glad to hear you want to minimize gear reviews. If there's one thing I'd like to see more of, it would be about the portrait taking process. Specifically, what do you look for in a pose? What makes a good pose or a bad one? That kind of thing. Thank you for your awesome content, please keep it up!

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks so much for the feedback, this seems to be a bit of a trend, looking for behind-the-scenes of portrait sessions - thanks!

[@1956wm]

I think I've seen all your vidieos and gotten something from each one of them. I remember you doing one on off camera flash / with ambient light (outdoors). I did my first shoot this pass weekend and it wasn't bad but I'm looking for any tips - I'm retired and do this for friends mostly but I still want my work be the very best. Thanks for all the time you put into making these.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thank you!

[@gregfisher216]

Your content is honest and practical. One of my favorites was the review of the now discontinued EOS R which I and my wife shoot with. I am thinking maybe a challenge video .maybe where the subscribers submit portraits, or maybe product photography and you critique them and offer tips and suggestions. Maybe you could do a video where you do a portrait session and maybe we get a feel for what this is really like . We could submit questions and you could answer them. This maybe will get you something to chew on. I think I set a record for the word maybe!!!!! in a short paragraph!

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve done some portrait sessions partially, but i could definitely do a longer form. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesollis]

I thank you for your videos!! I really love the flash videos. Off or on camera! Flash seems to be the hardest thing for me to get a grip on. Honestly, all I use now is on camera, but I want to learn off camera and be able to incorporate it when and where it's needed, correctly. So the more you post the more I learn 😁

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

I always found on camera HARDER than off camera! 🤷‍♂️🤣. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesollis]

@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk I can honestly see why! LOL. Yes, sir! Thank you for your willingness to give us lessons with your expertise. I thoroughly enjoy them and look forward to every new video post.

[@charliejg]

My thoughts about why the on camera flash was highly rated: I think there are lots of amateur photographers like me who can't realistically sink a lot of money into lighting equipment, modifiers, and other studio equipment. So, we are very interested in how we can achieve good results inexpensively. I think it's good to keep the idea of teaching photography in a "generic" manner. By that I mean, not about specific camera/lens brands. Rather, how to do photography regardless of brand. How to think through a shot you want to make in order to make good decisions about best focal length, settings, perspective in order to make the best result. BTW, as a guitar guy I love that intro music! Have a great week!

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@kennypringle4580]

In response you you asking what our interests are; I’m interested in lighting, positioning, composition, how to photograph events, weddings and ……….. I’m a Nikon and GODOX user, not interested in hearing about Canon or Sony cameras. But more important is knowing what brand of coffee you drink🤓👍

[@ShutterNChill]

I have a baby photography channel that is quite new, and a small audio channel that is 4 yrs old and approaching 5K subscribers. I have noticed that sadly the views are generated by going with what YT alrogythm has deemed successful in the past, and when I do videos that my subscribers are interested in, my actual view counts go down. Well, those few who see it love it, but YT will not be recommending it to anyone, even to my subscribers, unless they specifically check my channel home page for new videos. YT has lately been going super aggressive on short videos and gear reviews... :( Quality content takes a dive in count, and also in coffee donations. I have been following your channel for about a year now. I love the diverse content, and will keep on watching no matter where you take it. I have a lot to learn, and I am glad that you cover diverse areas. Two areas that would be interesting to me: one is the on camera flash.. ugh. There are just so many cases when I have to depend on the on-camera flash (Canon 10D in my case), and I just have a lot to learn on how to get more out of it. The other area that interest me is the EF lenses on the mirrorless Canons. I have noticed that they make the photos look much more natural than the RF lenses do, which render as if the photo was photoshopped to the extreme already. If you can show the range of your EF lenses, how they image on your R, to see which lenses have the best synergy for the mirrorless, which lenses to keep out a look for. Thank you! Cheers, Janos

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

So interestingly, this video is getting orders of magnitude more interaction than my others, yet it’s not being shown as widely. Just FYI….

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

I’d love it if you could email me at the address on the channel with a couple of use cases for on camera flash you like to hear about. As to the EF lenses, I see no difference in their performance on mirrorless than on my mark 3. They work as well as they ever did.

[@ShutterNChill]

@@CoffeeandPhotographyTalkThank you much appreciated, I will email you! I'm glad there's a lot of interaction on this video, shows you have a solid base of followers who care. Thank you for the information on the EF lenses!

[@diamondshark11]

Honestly, I subscribed because the video I happened to see while researching a particular topic was extremely well done and thought out, with good practical examples and tips from the trenches. It was a technique video, not gear related. This probably won't help you target anything, but you got my subscription by producing a well done video on a photography topic and style I was interested in at the time. Next thing I'm looking for is guidance in extremely high contrast low key photography,l with dramatic shadows and lighting that lands only on the model and essentially nowhere else, so if you have anything on that... Other than that, posing guides. Keep on keeping on, and good luck!

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Thanks for watching!

[@gilles6238]

Hello, i would like to see where are you at, in your business career, what makes you living, show us some photos that you sell: Dec 2nd 2024 ! i hope to see on the channel with great basics you find helpful for casual photographers! Cheers and you a good ending year!!

[@guyphoto9437]

My take on what you said and what you do on your channel. On camera flash: on camera flash info is useful to wedding photogs, event photogs and in general any photog who gets caught up in a situation where they don't have access to off camera gear. Off camera lighting information: helpful to anyone who shoots with off camera lighting. Discussions about off camera lighting regarding using ETTL vs Manual and how you set up both situations. Again, very useful for some photogs. I've shot for a long time but still look at how some KZbin people show how they do it. Most do it wrong, but hey, that's just me. Gear Reviews: Suck. Period. If you're interested in a particular item, buy it or try it out. Don't take some shills word for it, they're getting paid to rave about it. I skip over all gear reviews. Using a reflector. I've shot many model portfolios and graduating senior portraits with an assistant or two holding a reflector or two. Most people who show how to use reflectors on KZbin show it wrong. There's a right way and wrong way. Anyway, those are my takes on what, I think, people would like to see.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

Great feedback- thanks! I’m interested in what you’re talking about with using reflectors wrong.

[@guyphoto9437]

@@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk I see people holding it with one hand or having the subject hold it. This bounces light up into the subject. A reflector should emulate the sun, which puts a shadow downward not up. I’ve yet to see someone on KZbin show how to “feather” a reflector to soften and shape the light. I take a ladder with me for my assistant to stand on and hold a reflector. You need to be above the subject to simulate sunshine. There’s more but if I tell more I’ll have to charge for a workshop. :)

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

@guyphoto9437 that’s a low bar, but definitely worth a video 👍🤣

[@ShowMeTrucker]

on camera flash... would love to find out more. Basic lighting, light meters, anything to become a better photographer, but excluding cameras reviews... Yuck

[@petermcginty3636]

Please do not become a gear review channel. Your best gear review video was when your Godox flash busted. I bought that unit after that video. I really like it when you teach photography techniques.

[@CoffeeandPhotographyTalk]

I have no intention of focusing on gear reviews solely- that’s not really about photography. Thanks!