I started a photography YouTube channel in 2024 | The mindset it took to get me there
Hey I'm Tracy from Red and the Wolf Photography, and you're in the right place today if you are thinking of starting a YouTube channel of your own (whether that's photography related or just in general) - especially if you're really anxious to get going and have put it off for YEARS like I did!
And this is not another “how to” - this is a real "pull up a chair and grab a coffee cos we're going to go deep episode" and get your mindset right - not just the logistics.
If you're serious about starting a youtube channel, but you haven't pulled the trigger yet - I'm going to guess you're like I used to be - you know "everything" that you need to do, but you're still mentally sitting at a stop sign.
Ergo - this has become a mental game, not a logistical one.
And even if there are things you're not quite sure about, like "how to upload to YouTube correctly" or "how to edit in Premier Pro" - there's a million videos on that. The logistics are not beyond you. And if you have any questions - reach out in the comments and I'll help you figure it out.
Right - so, support, check, now just lets hit: GO.
I want to share some of my ups and downs and mindset changes that helped me finally pull the trigger, and turn that red light into a green light - AND the power of knowing the exact comments and feedback you want in your comments and DM's. We're focusing on the wrong end of the stick most of the time.
So - grab your coffee, pen and favourite notebook, and lets get into it!
MINDSET
I had to make a huge mindset shift when I finally got my YouTube up and going this year.
And if you watched my last video on the biggest lesson I learned in the first 6 months of doing stock photography - you'll know that I actively went into this year with no ego. I came in with an open mind that it was TIME for me to LEARN and INTEGRATE the lessons, So where I've failed this year, I've failed quickly and got back on the horse.
Lesson number one: Mindset is what sets you apart from where you are right now, to where you want to be. THAT'S the magic pill you're looking for in all the wrong places.
It's MINDSET.
Not how clever or not you are, or how pretty or not you are, or how smart or not you are - cos that one got me. I'm like, "I consider myself to be fairly intelligent, why can't I figure this out?". I was smart enough to get the logistics, but it's a different skill to uplevel your mindset. And I know I'm not the only one because I've seen this exact comment in different facebook groups I'm in. "I'm intelligent, why are others able to do this and I'm not? - WHAT AM I MISSING".
Mindset.
I tried to start this channel about 3 years ago, but I could just never relax into it, and the few videos I did make and release - I was never really - "proud of" isn't the right word - I was proud of myself for not having a complete and utter panic attack when I was in front of the camera, which is how I'd been up till that point - so that was HUGE - But I just wasn't sure about them. And that level of being unsure led me to procrastinate about making more - and not feel that it was solid enough to make a real priority. AND it came across on screen which I- I personally believe - heavily contributed to my low viewership - I'm basically at the same amount of videos now, and I'm 10 times ahead of the point I was then.
I just kept watching more "how to" videos in hopes it would help.
It didn't.
It wasn't till I did the harder mindset work - which truthfully, I actually got to because my whole nervous system was shot after "the big bug that no one likes to talk about" - not that specifically, but because of a lot of factors leading up to and during that time like my father in law having dimentia and eventually passing and not being able to get the support we needed cos of "the big bug" and family issues that came with it, etc.
I had to admit to myself that I needed to get back in control of my mind, rather than my monkey mind controlling me (you can find the books that helped me get back on track here), to get to the point that I finally pulled the trigger this year with youtube and stock and all the other things I'm starting this year. I'm no more intelligent specifically this year than I was 3 years ago - I've just got a completely different mindset.
The second lesson and massive mindset shift for me was going from thinking I had to lead a conversation, to the idea of contributing to a conversation.
One puts pressure on you to be the authority and not screw up - which can be really scary and brings out the big bad imposter syndrome monster.
The other allows you to simply participate in a conversation. It's an excellent stepping stone - we're joining in, rather than being "the authority".
Just as an aside - if you are struggling with imposter syndrome I did a video + blog about it a few weeks ago including a worksheet to help you feel confident in your skillset. It's like finding a rock to stand on in the middle of mental quicksand.
I mean, there are days we need a specific answer or a better strategy, right? We look to "the guru's" in our area for "the answer".
But some day's we just want support and to see someone else who's struggling with the same things we are. Sometimes we're after conversation, going deeper, looking from a different viewpoint.
And that's where I wanted to go with my channel - to be a voice in my age group that talked about more than just how a camera works. There are so many tutorials, and I probably will do some myself at some point if I'm excited to share something I've learned - but it's just as important to see the thought processes behind why people are driven to do things, and the mental strengths and skills that help them move into action.
Also - it's really important to remember that some channels you enjoy watching - and some you don't.
Y'know when you're watching TV, and you're like "nope, it doesn't look horrendous, but I just can't watch "that" actor". Will Ferrell is "that actor" for me. I just can't stand watching movies with him in it, I'm on edge every time he speaks. Not that they're bad movies or he's a bad actor - I just …can't.
And it's the same on YouTube.
You look something up, click on a video, start watching it... and click away in the first 10 seconds - not cos it's not the right information - but you just cannot listen to that person for the 5 minutes of that video. And I can guarantee that there's lots of people like that with me, judging by the drop off rate in the first 30 seconds of my videos. It is what it is.
But you lovely people are here, and I know there's still a couple of hundred people watching till the end of some of my video's - so that's mind-blowing in and of itself.
Basically, we all have people that we're attracted to watch but also the opposite. Just like in life.
So when you're thinking "isn't the platform saturated with photographers already"? Well, to some extent, yes and no.
But it's the same concept about TV and movies you watch.
If you like watching house renovation shows, you're probably going to be watching Love it or List it, plus Unsellable Houses, Masters of Flip, etc. And if you're like me you head onto YouTube to find old episodes of them, and then start down the tiny house route with one of my fellow kiwi's, Bryce, with Living Big in a Tiny House...
And yes, New Zealand is small, but no, I don't know him personally. ;)
The point of this? You don't just pick one of those shows - you'll probably watch AND LOVE at least a dozen in that genre. BUT it doesn't mean you'll like every format.
Or every presenter- case in point - I LOVE the love it or list it Canadian version, I love watching Jillian and Todd, but I just cannot get into the American version. And I think that perfectly illustrates the fact that it's essentially the same show - but I will watch one and not the other, because of the hosts.
So out of the hundred home renovation tv shows - you'll have your own personal top 10 favourites.
It's the same in the photography niche - just cos you watch my video's, doesn't mean you aren't watching 20 other photography related channels.
And, on that topic - I came across my new favourite small youtuber today when I was trying to figure out what to title this episode - so go check him out - his name is Patrick Gerard Photography.
And this is another great thing to mention - I don't really want to be doing talking head videos. I want to be doing video's more like his - where he's out and filming and there's a fantastic visual journey you're going on too - but right now - I need to fully script things first. I'm starting where I'm at and I've still got a long and exciting way to go.
And this comes back to my point - don't let it put you off that you have to "be the next Peter McKinnon" and lead the pack - you can simply join in the conversation where you are, at the skill level you are. Patrick made a great point in his video - sometimes those big creators can be overwhelming when you're starting out - sometimes you want someone that's just a few rungs up. Maybe you're at the perfect point in your photography journey to inspire someone that's just starting out.
And just to nerd out on you for a moment - cos I'm a girl that likes to do my math homework - If you get to monetisation level - which is only 1000 subscribers - you're in the top 9% of creators. Think about that for a second. That means, that over 91% of channels aren't even really serious or have given up too early.
All of a sudden, you realise that if there's 100 people talking about photography - only 9 of those are serious enough to even get to 1000 subs. And it's not uncommon to take a year or two to get those first 1000 subs.
And if you can get to 1000, you can get to 10,000 - putting you in the top 1.75% of creators.
And if you really want to take a jump up - people who get 100,000 subscribers and that silver play button? That's apparently only 0.28%. And we see silver play buttons "seemingly" all over the place, but it's actually a fairly small amount.
All you have to do is hold on when others fall off and KEEP GOING and KEEP IMPROVING SLOWLY. And realise the value that you're bringing to those who are now following in your footsteps, that you're inspiring.
And this leads to our next big mindset shift - are you mentally prepared for the marathon?
I don't want to put anyone off - I'm here to encourage and say that yes - you should shine your light brightly - but you need to understand that you'll need to seriously commit, if you seriously want to succeed. The numbers are in your favour.
And just so I don't lead anyone astray - you also need 4000 watch hours in conjunction with the 1000 subscribers. But, looking at my channel, I've got 240 subscribers from 7 videos, and my last video alone did over 30 hours watch time in it's first 48 hours.
So - point being, if I can do it - and my videos are basic, scripted, pretty boring talking head videos, YOU can do it.
I'm 7 video's into this channel, and I've come from 6 years ago when I wanted to first start recording content just to put on my blog - having panic attacks and crying and shaking and not being able to record. I felt really silly that I couldn't do it when so many others were doing it AND my other half was an actor. So, it's not like I had to feel silly in front of him when he'd record all his auditions in front of me.
MINDSET CHANGE NUMBER... ARE WE UP TO 5? I lost track:
You start to not trust yourself when you repeatedly betray your own goals. Ok, that's more like the opposite of the correct mindset - that's the problem, and you need to correct it.
You really need to NOT set yourself up for failure and self-betrayal. If you can't trust your own word, you'll stop accomplishing anything. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, working on improving that, legitimately - daily still. So be realistic about the targets you set yourself. Set smaller targets, but be rigid in keeping them to yourself and build that trust muscle. Don't expect to jump from where you are to lofty heights straight away - cos that'll do a number on you too.
I record my stats daily so I can see where I'm going - kind of like reading a road map so you know how far you are from your destination and that you're still on the right road.
But I also know that it's going to take time to get to my destination.
If I travel to Auckland, it takes around an hour and a half. If traffic is slow, it can take 2 hours. If there's an accident, it can take 3 hours and a detour through the countryside. On the worst day over Christmas when everyone's heading home - it's been recorded up to 4 hours for the same trip in the midday sun.
If I'm planning on catching a plane or something important - I leave home 4 hours early.
Point being: If the average channel takes 15 months to get to 1000 subscribers (and that's at like 1 long form video a week) - I'm going to allow for 2 years. I'm going to aim to do it by the end of this year, but I'm PREPARED for it to take longer. Allow for the true length of your goal or target, so you don't have unrealistic expectations and betray yourself again.
Mentally prepare yourself for a journey, and look forward to all the amazing new sights you're going to see over that time. If you were going to road trip across the states and take in all the sights you could - you'd allow way more time than if you were just focused on getting there the fastest - in which case you may as well take a plane and see nothing along the way.
Allow yourself the same for YouTube. A lot of the "big YouTubers like Mr Beast" say - you can't even say a channels really even started until they're at 100 uploads. So grab a strong coffee and a box of snacks, turn on your favourite tune and just chill and enjoy the ride.
I'm at 7 longform videos - like this one - and one short.
I'm still figuring out shorts, and if I like them or want to do them.
I'm still learning to edit.
I'm still learning to adjust my audio settings.
I'm still figuring out my flow.
I haven't started on colour grading my footage or using c-log yet.
And I haven't even figured out the right setup so that I don't go from light to dark to light when clouds are constantly passing by the giant window behind me!
For the record, none of these are beyond me - simply that I'm giving myself a year or two to get "there". I have the inclination, but not the time to improve as rapidly as I'd like cos I have a family and we homeschool and y'know, adulting in general - so to keep moving forward but avoid burnout I'm just making sure I stay consistently doing one step better each week. And as time passes, I'll upgrade some of my equipment too so I get better sound, or better lighting, etc.
This is a journey. Start with the mindset of not having to "win" every episode. Just make them, get them up, see what you like doing, and improve.
Here’s 2 other ways to think about it:
In 100 years, none of the people you're worrying about seeing it now, will even still be alive. If Mozart worried if his friends or family liked his music, we wouldn't still be hearing it today! What if you inspired your great, great grandkids though? Give them a giggle at where you started and impress them with where you ended up? That's a different mindset.
You are going to be here on this very date, god willing, in a years time. And 2 years time. And 3 years time. Will it be like the movie groundhog day? Another year, same thing? Or will you say "this is the year I LEARN and INTEGRATE the lessons, instead of continuing to stumble over them forever? Big lessons, big slaps in the face by the universe when you mess up (sometimes publicly). Drop your ego, get over yourself quickly, build a bridge, take a concrete pill, suck it up cupcake and get on with it.
Stop watching YouTubes on "how to start a YouTube Channel" and start watching "how to improve your mindset to achieve your goals".
That'll absolutely transform it into a real growth year. It might take you 3 years to be "winning" at YouTube - whatever that looks like for you, like if you want it to be your main thing, or support your physical photography business. But if you don't get in the car and go - you'll never get to your destination.
Now I want to quickly chat about how it's affected my life, too.
My whole life, genuinely, has changed.
I've had to put structure back in my days and - y'know how ALL the youtube or any social media guru's always say "consistency is key to growth".
Well I've realised that consistency is more than just for your viewers, it's for yourself and your sanity.
Having a YouTube channel has helped me redefine my time and be intentional about big chunks of my day.
Which has led to other things like:
It helps force my creativity when I know I've got time limits.
It makes me feel good about the time I'm spending doing it cos I've scheduled in time for this and time for Kids.
I don't feel so guilty about where I spend my time, because I've budgeted my time better.
My turnaround time for client work is getting better because I'm in "doing" mode more, rather than "procrastination" mode more often - being organised for YouTube is rubbing off on lots of other area's of my life.
Don't get me wrong, I've still got a LOT Of refining to do, but I'm heading in the best direction I have in years.
The new normal in our household is being quiet for Mum to film on a Tuesday at some point, and not screaming around the house when Dad goes on Twitch for his game development lives.
The kids and my other half are proud of me for stepping up and doing something I said I wanted to and have struggled with. And I feel better about my time with them cos I know I'm still achieving my goals as well.
And even though I focus on content creation over consumption these days…
…(which is another big mindset shift) - I still do watch a decent amount of YouTubes. The other day I was watching a video by Leila Hormozi - she's a multi-millionaire completely outside of YouTube, but does YouTube videos too. And she talked about ACLIMATING to a new situation. You just need to wait through it - and I thought, that's perfect for what I'm talking about today.
When you start a new job, the first few weeks are exhausting. It's not that you're specifically doing more work, but you're having to work full-time in "on" mode. There's no autopilot yet. Even if you're basically doing the same job you were in your last role - there's new people, new names, a new culture in the organisation, the coffee cups are in a different place, and you don't know which one you're allowed to use and which one belongs to the cranky lady sitting 3 desks down... it's the same when you start YouTube.
It will be uncomfortable, and it will be tiring.
My biggest piece of advice is just to start simple. Script a video, record it, do a basic edit on it, and upload it.
I, am a quick writer/thinker. I process through writing.
I'm the kind of person you can insult, and I'll come up with the best response ever... at 2am the next morning… Or next week. 🤷♀️😅
I think better when I write. So, you can either script the whole video, which is what I do, and then read a line at a time and do lots of editing.
Or if you're a quick speaker / thinker (like a news anchor) - then just outline the main points you want to make, and go from there. Either way, you go in, chop up the video and take out the bits where you stumble over your lines, choose the best takes, and put it together.
There's a TONNE of videos online of how to edit - so don't let that overwhelm you.
Export, upload. Don't forget a good thumbnail.
And do that for your first dozen videos.
Then, each time you make a video, your scripting will get faster, because you'll find your rhythm.
You'll record faster because you're feeling more confident not only about yourself but your equipment.
You'll start to edit faster and find shortcuts and quick keys and special tricks your software can do.
And you'll upload easily because after doing it a dozen times, it's starting to become part of your weekly routine.
You need to allow yourself time to acclimate to your "new normal" - which involves doing it 100 times till it's just second nature. THEN you can start to work on improving your concepts or leveling up your content. You've got to allow yourself time to get passed the uncomfortable bit, to get to the comfortable bit.
And it's tiring. Filming days are exhausting for me. I put makeup on, and mentally prepare myself, go over my script, wait for the kids to be on their computers and knowing what they're doing... set up the equipment, and finally sit down to record. Then it takes me 5 minutes to open my mouth and let sounds come out. So the first part of my videos are normally a few minutes of me just mumbling my first few lines. Finally I relax, get into it, and if I'm tired you'll see lots of cuts, and if I'm doing ok, my sentences will generally be longer between cuts.
I'm 43. I have 3 kids - two teens and a 7 year old. We homeschool. Plus I have big goals this year. I am tired. A lot. I'm trying to figure out my food and see what's causing some health issues including fatigue which sux - but I ACTIVELY DECIDED that this was going to be a priority. So it is. I'm telling you this cos I want you to know that you're not alone. You're NOT to busy. There's tones of youtubers who record with their kids around, so that's not an excuse. You're not to old, or young, or tall or short.
MAYBE if you're busy that means that you can only release one every 2 weeks. BUT IT'S STILL POSSIBLE.
As at this weeks YouTube recording, I have 255 subscribers and 7 videos up. I put up one in February, 2 in March, then family needed to become a priority during April and May - so no uploads. 3 in June and 1 so far in July (excluding this one). Plus a short two weeks ago. Sometimes life or family does become priority. Or perhaps I want to do a really awesome video and take my time - so if I'm putting up 3 a month - I'm still happy with that. But I'm focusing on it every week. I've got topics scheduled out till Christmas.
I promised one other thing in this post - and this is one of my favourite things - when I started my channel, I wanted to share my experiences, so I could inspire others to shine their lights brighter. To take the sparks of inspiration they have in them that they're passionate about, and to fan that flame. And to do activities along side me, and we can learn together - rather than feeling like everyone was on their own. And to leave breadcrumbs behind if I fail or succeed for others to learn from.
And my comments section? Oh my goodness - you guys leave the nicest notes. And this morning I even got an email from one of my subscribers who said they had been inspired to move forward because of my videos. I mean, really? Does that really happen? How freaking cool is that?? Someone from the other side of the world, reaching out.
But my comments section is the EXACT thing I wanted.
It’s opening conversations, people are asking questions, and some are saying that what I'm sharing inspires them. That they feel like what I'm talking about resonates with them. And that yes - adulting sometimes totally gets in the way of doing what lights us up - because as "rational" adults, we find "rational" excuses.
Just think forward a little bit - what do you want your comments section to look like?
Ok, well - as you can see - I REALLY love to chat about this stuff - so let me know your thoughts in the comments. Tell me what you think I can improve on in my videos (I genuinely want to get better, so I have to drop my ego - so go nuts).
And just like I say in my stock photography videos - there is always room in the YouTube landscape for your unique voice and take on life.
And I'll catch you guys in the comments section.
