Your channel is probably one of the most underrated for Photographers. Always very helpful and you are just a genius of light. I hope this channel will really lift off. I enjoy those videos most that get to the point faster (or even better several points), and I think your analysis in this video comes to a similar conclusion. And I do love seeing the great results every time, it never gets boring. Thanks!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Hopefully this strategy will lead to more people seeing the videos too.

@tonyroscaphotography

6 ай бұрын

You are absolutely right!. This channel it is one of the best photography channels on YT. Keep up with the good work John and have a great 2024!

Love your work, John! I appreciate your teaching style and the level of detail that you share 👍

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind words 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Happy New Year John. Thanks for all the great content ❤

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Happy new year! Thank you!

Your amazing, polished work is what brought me to your channel in the first place. Your soothing voice, clear speech, and patience when explaining elementary and advanced topics in your videos are things I wish I had starting out in photography. But even now, trying to come back to photography after changing industries during the pandemic, I feel like I learn something new watching all of your videos. You don't even have to speak much but watching your workflow and your thought process is inspiring and educational. I like to look at photography as creative problem-solving, and there are few people who could do it better than a talented, experienced photographer like yourself, especially working alone like you do in your videos. It's great that you set goals but you're also being too hard on yourself. Your videos are more helpful than you know and you're community is inspired by your hard work and dedication. I think I can speak for the larger group here, but we're grateful for your time and generosity in sharing your knowledge. In my experience, the photography community can be beautiful and supportive, or toxic and overly competitive. You make sure it's the former. Keep up the wonderful work!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! I too look at photography as a problem solving exercise. I have come across so many selfish photographers over the course of my career. Most of them are afraid that someone will steal their clients. But I think what they don't realize, is that clients come to you for your artistic skills, but more so because of your personal network, not some tidbit of information that you possess.

Appreciating your channel John. Thank you for taking the time to put out valuable content. Demos, behind the scenes are great learning sources. I think many of us may agree that many photographers are visual learners so watching you work with equipment and explaining why you’re choosing specific gear is useful.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! It's my pleasure. I am sure that will be a component of videos going forward too.

Your channel is the best i've ever seen here in youtube . Tones of details that others don't care/wanna talk about . Best regards from france .

@JohnGress

2 ай бұрын

Merci beaucoup!

Love your channel. One thing I’d love more of, is stuff! I love gear: grip, lighting/mods, backdrops, articulating arms, everything! Can we get more videos about your coolest studio stuff?

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! You might enjoy this video kzread.info/dash/bejne/p42n1ball5bZj84.html

I love your content. I wish you a great 2024!!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Best of luck in 2024!

Yes love the idea of longer more polished videos! Signed up for your pre-con class at IUSA--look forward to seeing you in Louisville!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Great! CYA soon Tara!

Great vid! I haven’t watch your channel in a while. Coming back, I immediately noticed a major improvement in your video quality (colours, contrast, white balance/no-color-cast). Looks great! Best to you for 2024. Looking forward to reconnecting with you (your content). Thanks!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! Welcome back!

I enjoy your videos!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much !

All of your content is solid. Whatever helps you to be consistent in uploading will be great.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

i love the video quality coming out of the pocket 3! yes keep creating in-depth lighting tutorial breakdowns please.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks. You got it!

Sounds good. I enjoy your content.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!

Plan for 2024 is great in my opinion. As for the camera, it's interesting seeing your use of focal lengths, however I'm a Sony shooter. However, focal length is focal length... Looking forward to hopefully attending one of your workshops in NY. Cheers

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! It would be great to have you there. One of my Sony triggers will be waiting for you!

Well ... just saying coz you asked lol. I'm here almost since you start, you had less than 5k when I got here. There are two types of channel enterntaining and technical. You were always on the second type and that what brought your 50k subs here. You are a wonderful person and an amazing photographer and I would watch anything you put out. That said yes in depth less frequent... setups can be shorts and reels I saw some of them and they fit short content very nice. I hope you had great hollidays and wish you the best in 2024 dude!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Alex and thanks for your support over the years! I have a hard time not giving nuance but I’ll figure out the 60-90second limit!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 happy new year!

John, I'm an early adopter of your channel. I come and I go. I don't wait with baited breath on x-date at x-hour for your newest release of what you can teach me. I'm as fickle as every other subscriber. What draws me back is who you are. Your presentation, your perspective, and your approach to sharing. If you want a direct subscriber request: photo sessions with 'live' models, what is the theme, why the lighting chosen meets that goal, how to manage and coach the subject etc. There are multitudes of channels propounding hard/soft/specular set-ups. The non-technical (artistic) end is a pretty lonely field here in youtube-land. Keep it coming and I'll keep coming back.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your support over the years. I think this is the second time I have heard something similar so I am going to and an idea like that to the lineup! Thanks!

Thinking back over your videos of the last year, I’d say this is a good plan. I enjoyed the longer form videos which showed a lot of different ways to approach a particular topic or technique to be the most valuable. They put each individual technique illustrated in the video in the context of all the rest of the information, and that made them much more informative for me than a short video, just showing one specific concept in isolation.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Bob! That is what I was hoping someone would say. Happy new year!

@bobsykes

6 ай бұрын

Oh, yes. Happy New Year to you, too! @@JohnGress

Happy new year! First, love the jacket. 😆 Second, I've always been about quality over quantity, so I felt you shared the right amount of content last year. I totally get having a goal though. Lastly, I love your long form content.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Happy new year!! Thanks G! I am working on two of them today.

You are producing excellent content and helped me a lot so far. I learned so many things in this channel.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. That is great to hear!

@andreak4280

6 ай бұрын

+1 👉🏼🙋🏻‍♀️ on this comment!! 🙌🏼🙏🏼love your content John … always appreciate your vids & teaching style !! best wishes to you in 2024 & beyond!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thats great. thanks! Best of luck in 2024!

I personally enjoy the pro workflow stuff you do. I think that those are valuable to someone at my experience level. I’m not the type to watch a “composition 101” video or “shutter speed guide” I like the side of john that shows he obviously has decades of experience and how he’s performing in his niche. Maybe show some BTS of your KZread ventures and how that’s changed what you focus on. Things that are unique to your experience and profession. On the other hand, I do think the evergreen tutorial is worth making because in the long run, they will bring newer peeps to your channel over time. Regardless, good luck!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Saul! I appreciate your feedback.

I rather have quality instead of quantity. I like your video’s and style. 💪🏻👍 and HNY🎉

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! Happy new year!

I appreciate all the work you put into your videos and have learned a lot. As someone who enjoyes the education side, quality is always preferred, though length isn't as much an issue. I actually got the same Titan stand and love it (When I was talking to the distributor we talked about how you had one haha). Unrelated question for you if you don't mind, I'm building my posing boxes out of 1/2 in plywood and to make them more useful I wanted to paint 3 sides white and 3 black so I can flip them around. I am also considering going with Thunder Grey paint instead of black as that's what I expect to shoot on more often as a backdrop, but my concerns are do you think 2 colours on one box would work, and if I go with grey instead of black would that be more or less versitle (especially if I shot on a black backdrop)?

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much. My camera stand is one of my favorite things! It’s such a pleasure dialing everything in just how I want it. I’ve not seen someone do three sides in one color, but I think that’s a great idea. Gray seems more versatile as you can make it black in post but you can’t really make black gray.

It really depends on what the ultimate goal is and what you like to make. Making any sort of content is a marathon so building up a cadence of things that you enjoy making is really critical because ultimately when an algorithm shifts and things don't get seen it becomes very easy to second-guess yourself and get demotivated. Some things need an internal drive as a buffer. If it helps I signed up for one of your workshops because of the really in-depth videos so maybe taking a look at your goals and which types of videos move each specific needle along each journey would help you decide which parts of the business need a boost. For example, looking at your analytics and the successful signup page and finding the referrer URL will tell you which videos drove people to a completed signup page. If you assign each video a type you can group those into more general directions. It's better because people will say they'd spend money or will like certain things but people are terrible at predicting even their own feelings even 5 seconds into the future. That being said I'll probably be a fan no matter what you put out there. Best of luck!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your invites Chris. I do prefer making the deep dive videos so I think that will be the way to go in the future!

I have the DJI pocket 2. Its the best quick grab the shot and go camera I’ve had. Totally thinking about upgrading.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Awesome, I think it's better than what you see in this video. I was a little shaky talking and recording at the same time, plus I need to use manual exposure next time.

I think it's a great idea photographers and strobists even more so are a technical bunch and it would definitely scratch the edutainment itch

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! Happy new year!

FWIW, I like both. I do prefer the fish teaching more though. One possibly option for the watching fish? Could you get your clients to engage? Perhaps a short introduction of them explaining what they’re here for that day. And maybe some of their reactions during? And then a concluding sound bite from them?

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks. I’m thinking about doing a video that wedding compass that and some other of the ideas that I got this week.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

🙏🏼🙏🏼

It's alright John we still love you.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks David!

That 99Wh small rig battery is a tad over priced for what it is. Will take a look at the studio titan stands, I have been looking for used Salon stands for years. Also had my eye on the Pocket 3 but can't bring myself to spend £620 on it with having 4 GoPro's already.

@JohnGress

5 ай бұрын

The small rig was probably greatly reduced for Black Friday.

Man I follow you on Instagram and you share so much good content there. I know the KZread content is going to be THE BEST!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! I appreciate that!

It’s absolutely nothing wrong with any of your videos!!

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Nice video 👍

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

Hi John. I love the educational content :) I was thinking, that you could do follow-ups, maybe 4-6 weeks latter, based on pictures from viewers, where you show some "perfect" ones and some who needs a bit of adjustment, and that go through was went wrong - The idea is to strength the interaction from viewer + deepen the educational value of your content :) I hope that you can use my input, as I can surely use your videos :)

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! Maybe that would be good for a live session.

@hansholck5982

6 ай бұрын

@@JohnGress, it could very well be, even though I was just thinking as a follow-up video :) But you probably know your channel and viewers better than I do ;) 🤣

My 2 cents. Focus disproportionately on the lower end, as in the people at the top of the learning funnel, and taper off the higher end pro content (but still keep it). For the beginner content, make it very A to Z and easy to navigate. Most people don't know what to buy to get their first great portrait, and when they figure out a starting kit, their results are probably crap, even if they watched a lot of videos. Get that audience, and get them to take their first great portrait, top to bottom, without having to fish around all over youtube and try to guess which videos they should be watching without missing anything, and giving them enough info to troubleshoot. That's probably multiple videos, but as long as it's some structured series that is easy to follow, no problem. Once the subject they have been experimenting on (probably a non-model girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/kid) gets one GOOD portrait, the photographer starts to look and feel like they kind of know what they're doing, and that's where the hook is. Not only is this a huge boost of confidence, but other people are now more comfortable letting you make them look good, instead of highlighting all of their insecurities while they look like a deer in the headlights standing for a jail booking photo. Get me to feel like I don't suck at this so I can justify continuing :) And although this inevitably takes SOME trial and error, minimizing that process is hugely important, because every failed shot is more discouraging, and your "model" will quickly become annoyed with having your junk all over the living room and having to sit for hours of bad photos. Then, help that person build on this. More lighting styles, more lights, more creativity, more techniques, and so on. The people willing to let them take their photo increases, they can justify charging some modest fees, and are now on the path to building out a studio and leveling up. This momentum is easy to build on but hard to start. My favorite video of yours was actually the 9 lighting styles one. I picked a couple of those and tried to nail them. I did ok, but I still feel like I had to rely on editing too much to cover mistakes. I do really like when you have simple tips to confirm you're doing it right. Where shadows should or shouldn't be, size/shape/position of catch lights, etc. Being able to diagnose and troubleshoot specific objective criteria is incredibly useful for someone who doesn't yet know "good" when they see it - or worse, people who think they know "good" and fail to recognize all of the mistakes they made.

@EH-pm1ke

6 ай бұрын

As for the content I like the least, and this applies to photography youtubers in general, not necessarily your own - sponsored content. There is so much dishonesty on youtube with people taking product or commissions and doing "reviews". Affiliate links for products you actually use is fine, sponsored giveaways is fine. But it seems like companies like Luminar have paid off every pro youtuber to do a review and make it seem like they actually use their software, and I'm pretty sure nobody actually does, because frankly, it's not very good. Topaz is also guilty of this, although it's at least a little bit useful in some cases. I'm sure these brand deals are more lucrative in the short term, but nothing makes me distrust a channel faster than when I get the vibe that they're pitching stuff they themselves don't use. I think I've seen some videos where you might have dabbled in this, and I have no idea if I can trust any software reviews from anybody, so I basically ignore them. Unless it's a lightroom/photoshop technique or something, because I can assume everyone is using photoshop, and adobe probably isn't sponsoring people. I'm tired of feeling like a sucker for buying the next killer app that over promises and under delivers, and that nobody serious is actually using. There are some exceptions of course, and maybe I'm the only one that feels this way, but I think unbiased trustworthy advice counts for a lot. OTOH, if I actually did use something as a creator and wanted to do videos about it, I wouldn't want to plug someone else's product for free either, so I get that it's a tricky situation.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. You’ll probably like my next video but not the one I’m editing now! The first one is more beginner and the second is more advanced. But I know what you mean about catering to the largest audience and I will keep this general idea in mind when making future content.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

I always clearly say when something is sponsored and I always disclose when I have been given the gear I’m featuring, but actually yes it in real life. I always get suspicious when get the vibe someone is getting paid to make a video and they aren’t telling the viewer. I have turned down sponsorships and promoting gear or software I don’t use. Which is probably why I have only had two paying sponsors. Evoto Ai has sponsored videos and I use and like their product. The professional photographers of America has also sponsored content and I am a member of their organization. I hope I didn’t forget someone.

6:58 UK?

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

I might go to Europe this year too. If you would like to be the first to know, please signup for my mailing list here - johngress.com/workshops/ =)

Hi John!, I've always loved your videos, they are amazing and give lots of insight! Personally, I agree with your proposal: quality over quantity. Whatever you choose, please make sure you enjoy it too.

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Thanks! I really enjoy the deep dives myself because normally I learn something through the process. =)

Ciao John, i don't think that you failed, but with this last decision i think that you won, it is time to think about quality not quantity, ut is better.... Saluti dalla Sicilia

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

Gratzie Mille!

@antoniocilona6392

6 ай бұрын

@@JohnGress ❤️

I think you have some G.A.S. :p

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

That may be true! I am always tinkering

I can't win because I don't know how to edit my pics

@JohnGress

6 ай бұрын

You can't win if you don't try. This video may help too kzread.info/dash/bejne/pmprxMWOf93egMo.html