Thanks for all the comments on this so far - genuinely didn't expect such in depth feedback so thank you 🙏🏻 good to know that most of you don't mind it if it fits organically. I think that it's often unmentioned, yet you occasionally see the odd comment complaining about stuff and that is what sticks with you. Keep the comments coming, will try and reply over the weekend 👍🏻
I don't click off sponsored videos but I mostly scrub past the sponsor message segments. I know that Squarespace does websites and domains ! I think audiences are actually quite sophisticated, particularly if they've been following a channel for a while. They continue to follow based on content but also on the integrity and ethics of the maker. And generally understand that sponsorship enables the channel to continue and grow. Reviews are a different matter. Completely agree re short term immediate release stuff. It's mostly fluff but again I accept that they're good for traction so help the channel. There is definitely scope for more long term reviews but even those are limited because they are always going to be subjective. Philip Bloom takes an interesting stance. Never releases on embargo day (or even close to !) but his reviews are considered, really well made and convey integrity. I think the fact you're even aware enough to make this video says a lot mate. Honesty and integrity are precious commodities. Keep doing what you're doing.
Thank you mate, appreciate that and your other comments 👍🏻 I'd never really noticed that is what Phil Bloom was doing but it now makes a lot of sense. The other benefit to doing it that way is that I'd be awful at meeting the deadlines required!
The thing about ads on the UA-cam videos I watch is this: they're not offensively mindless ads for mundane products. Ads from Squarespace, Better Help, Skillshare, etc. etc., all have something to offer to alot of people. It's not like conventional television, where the advertising is intolerable.
Thanks Rick for your video. Really appreciate your openness with all this stuff. So I’m the guy you referenced to at the beginning on making a comment on sponsorship a few videos back (your future generation camera one.)! Essentially what I was saying was that having a video starting off, or ending with “this video is sponsored by ….” doesn’t turn me off as such. What does make me question sometimes, and you mentioned it yourself as one of the factors with say a 6 video sponsor deal, is that it puts pressure on the photographer (you in this case) to make videos within a certain timeframe. You have the integrity to really want to do your best with those videos to ensure they attract viewers. Some other producers of sponsored videos I see I get the feeling they’re posting a video with not great quality just to get it out there and tick the box so to speak. Great if sponsored videos mean quality, but it’s not always the case. Of course, the reverse isn’t necessarily true either - unsponsored videos don’t necessarily mean great quality - but they are made out of interest and passion - like e.g. your future gen camera one. Bottom line - sponsored videos don’t turn me off - but they do make me more critical of the content.
Yeah, I totally get it, and I realise that I probably did rush some videos earlier in the year. If they can fit in with what I'm planning to put out anyway, that's the dream!
Depends on the level of sponsorship. If it’s just an in video ad UA-cam lets me skip by then I’m fine. If it’s just an ad that is labeled as a “review“ then I leave and potentially pull my subscription. I have been getting annoyed with square space because no one is honest about the cost and that it won’t revolutionize 95% of the photographers out there. It’s over $200 a year plus the domain 🤷🏻♂️ So being soured by them as a company leads me to being soured at all the people pushing it who get their sites for free.
well said, as always, I love to hear your views on various subjects. I worked as a vocational trainer for many years and I expected to get paid for my work. why on earth would anyone expect you not to get paid for the work that you put in to make your videos.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with sponsored videos. That said, I only watch channels like yours where the content creator has the integrity that you have so eloquently described in your video i.e. they are a satisfied user of the product and they're recommending it because they believe in it. The thing that I think will ultimately drive me away from UA-cam is the jarring way in which they squirt mid-reel ads into the video - ironically in this video I got to "enjoy" an ad while you were halfway through a word. I don't reject to mid real ads - I appreciate the hard work that goes into the videos and firmly believe that content creators should be paid for what they do and that I should not get to enjoy it for free. However, I absolutely test the way UA-cam implement it And feel that the "premium" subscription is vast overpriced when compared to mainstream streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+. For all that, channels like yours are what keep pulling me back to UA-cam. Thanks for all you do.
Let me start with the fact that I really enjoy your videos, which is why I subscribed. I like the way you present your message, and it certainly feels genuine. I have no problem with sponsored videos unless they are sponsored by the product being presented in the video. A video sponsored by Squarespace, for example, is not normally completely about Squarespace. A video sponsored by a lens or camera usually is. I follow a few channels that I would term "Gear Channels". If they are presenting a product that I might purchase, I'll watch. If not, I don't. I also respect the youtubers that say their review of a product is not determined by the manufacturer. I respect it more if the review has been done over a period of time, not part of a product launch. I also am more likely to take it seriously if the presenter is NOT a brand ambassador. I don't watch "unboxing" videos because WTF? Watching someone open a package makes no sense to me! If a creator is a brand ambassador, I am likely to take their view with a grain of salt, unless they are presenting a "how to" of a product I am interested in. In conclusion, I will not click off a sponsored video, but I might skip the sponsored message. Thanks for your content and keep up the good work.
Nice one 🙂 I don't mind the "This ad is sponsored by..." at the beginning of a video - if you can get decent sponsorship that's great, because it should allow you to be more creative, better satisfy your audience, and better satisfy yourself. As for freebies, I'm more in two minds - making sure you don't upset the brand that's given you a camera most of us can't afford, whilst being objective about it can be very difficult. However, buckling under to the brand can be an easy way out of some situations, especially if your life circumstances are currently not what you'd wish. In the end, it will be your honesty and your photography skills that save you, not owning some hideously expensive gear. Looking forward to your next video 🙂
I've no problem with the sponsorship aspect of the UA-cam "game". If is suddenly starts raining Hasselblads around here, I'll go outside with my umbrella upside down.
You raised some really great points there, Rick and I agree with you! Authenticity is extremely important when it comes to yourself and your audience. I don’t expect to see you review different types of nail varnish any time soon.😂
Really appreciate your perspective on this. I don't mind sponsored videos. What I have learned is that almost all media makes money from advertising and that's ok. But choosing to work with the right partners is crucial and making sure what ever the deal is it benefits the audience too.
I think it comes down to integrity, when I subscribe to a channel it's because I enjoy your content and that I respect your opinion, as we saw recently with the release of the Panasonic S9 people were saying how good this camera was when quite obviously isn't wasn't as good as they were saying, then you find out they received an all expenses paid trip to Japan for the launch. Not good.
Fascinating video on your thoughts about video sponsorship. Not that I have met you face-to-face, but I get the impression that the "Rick Bebbington" I'd meet down the pub is the same "Rick Bebbington" that presents this youtube channel. In other words, I think your UA-cam channel is a genuine version of your own true self. What I think I'm getting from your channel is your own genuine unadulterated thoughts on photography and the wider world. I don't think that there is any version of the Rick Bebbington with a hidden or a dark side. If I wanted to hear a sales-pitch from Square Space or Hasselblad or whoever; I'd probably hop over to the Square Space or Hasselblad site and listen to their hard-sell. Of course, we all probably know that UA-cam rewards don't pay enough of the bills for most vloggers; and commercial sponsorship is a necessity. I genuinely don't mind a quick reminder that a video has a sponsor. That said, if everyone in the photography world has now heard of SquareSpace and MPB, so perhaps hearing about them in all the detail yet again is a diminishing return for us viewers nowadays. A few seconds of a sponsorship reminder is fine by me; but when a sponsor takes up too much time or breaks up the flow of the video or is irrelevant to the subject I often hit the close button; and pick a different video to watch. The Hasselblad and/or big-name camera sponsor is interesting too. You are right that the first use of a new camera can be amazing, but it takes months for its annoyances to come to the fore. There have been a few photography vloggers who have loyally stuck with their brand for years; only to suddenly start selling the benefits of Hasselblad, just because they got a free one from a sponsor. That behaviour makes me question how genuinely truthful they have been previously. It definitely makes me somewhat more critical of their videos. I have stopped subscribing to a very few vloggers who are overly sponsored or sales-driven. By the same token; I do follow a few vloggers and never miss any of their videos. In your case, I think your channel remains inspiring because of the work you do for yourself and the collabrations with others. Hope you can contnue enjoying your photography and showing us what you create
Near enough!! I'm actually a lot more fun in real life 😂 need to work on conveying that side of me!! Thanks for your comment, that part about creators taking on a new camera and undoing all their prior work is a really interesting way of thinking about it actually. Thanks again, I will - and your comment is helpful to know that people appreciate the path I'm trying to take this channel down :)
I have no major issues with sponsored videos and most of the creators I watch have a similar ethos to yourself regarding the brands they will work with. For people who make a living from UA-cam then it seems perfectly reasonable to expect them to take on appropriate sponsorship. I watched your last video where you shared some of the products you used and took advantage of the Vivo Barefoot discount you offered as I’m a massive fan of their shoes. Seems like a win/win to me and was clearly a genuine recommendation from yourself
I was watching a video the other day and it went like, "I had a great day and now that I'm back in my hotel, I'm going to make myself a cup of tea and enable NordVPN when I'm on hotel wifi". I just screamed "YOU TRICKED ME!" It felt like a conversation with a friend and then BAM hit me with an ad. THAT kind of ad feels gross.
I like photography content on UA-cam and if someone can get sponsored doing it, I would think that can only mean more content in the future. I’m happy you can get paid to do it and find it ridiculous someone would begrudge a creator that opportunity.
Agree. He's a master at that! I think he's the only one I wouldn't skip the ad part and actually enjoy watching it. He managed to make it a natural part of his videos.
Great video Rick. I've not got a problem with sponsorship at all but you're right, it works best when a UA-camr has a genuine interest in the product or service. Otherwise it's all a bit forced and inauthentic.
It's a hit to the credibility of any creator (ESPECIALLY in the photography sphere) IMO when they will happily make "gear doesn't matter" type content and then champion a new bit of kit through a sponsored placement two videos later. If it doesn't matter, let your photography speak for itself. There are too many creators now who follow the same path. Mr X just released a video about their lovely new Leica? Sure as night follows day, Mr Y and Mr Z will drop one shortly after. Hasselblad, Nikon, Sirui, the list goes on. I get the marketing angle from the manufacturers but maybe, just maybe, if they stopped giving away so much free stuff to people who really don't need it, it would be a bit cheaper for the rest of us who have to buy it.
Yeah, I get that. I'm not sure how else that could be approached, ads are becoming more and more relevant I suppose. I get your point on it not being 'free', maybe that wasn't the best way of explaining it. I'm not directly paid by every person that watches is maybe a better way of putting it. I think there is a lot more nuance to what lies behind your final point - back pain or not, if someone offered me a £13k camera in exchange for a video where I can say anything I like about it, then I'd be all over it and I'm guessing many other would be the same.
@@RickBebbington My comments weren't directly aimed at you Rick, more of a wider observation as someone who consumes a lot of YT photography content. I don't blame anyone for saying thanks very much when Leica or Hasselblad phone them up and say "Want a free camera?", that was more speaking on them doing it in the first place thus driving the cost per unit of the ones they sell once they'd factored in the "marketing" expense of giving away a pallet full! :) I also don't bemoan people using advertising to monetise their work. It's a living after all and if the manufacturers didn't pay, we'd likely have to. I do stand by it being hard to look oneself in the mirror though and put out a video saying you don't need new gear when you know there's a video coming down the pipe where you (and I don't mean you specifically) are using that new (free) camera and extolling its virtues though.
@@Th3D4rkSh4d0w Somehow my reply to someone else ended up being attached to your comment, so apologies if it didn't make sense!! I didn't take any of what you said as a sleight against me!! Totally get what you are saying
I appreciate your content and enjoy watching your videos. It doesn't make sense, to me anyway, that you should feel you have to sell your "soul" to make any kind of "living" as a content creator. Thanks for being genuine and honest about things.
Very informative video Rick, thank you for the effort you put in to it. Basically, I subscribe to you because I like what you talk about and how you present it … this is a personal thing that involves the subject matter appealing to me, the person talking being identifiable and good at presenting their material and to some extent the things that are happening around you as you present. Some of this is not controllable by you as it’s how I subjectively respond. However, why I subscribe to a UA-camr rather than just like is because of their CONSISTENCY in doing the above Great to know we are at the forefront of your decisions but unless making UA-cam videos turns into a hobby for you then you have to crack a business model … a way of funding these videos Getting (at last!) to your question as to whether sponsorship puts me off … no … I can always ff through the spiel and often do. The fact you use Squarespace makes a difference but as I’m someone who watches several channels sponsored by squarespace and use them myself it’s hard to know what SqS are getting for their money with me watching? One final comment … is that something like Patreon would fit with someone like yourself who seems to be genuinely serving a community who, at least it’s true for me, are as much interested in learning about you and what life is like for you as much as anything you might choose to focus on in a particular video
Thanks Rob, appreciate that. Someone else asked about Patreon actually, and it is something I've thought about... I said this to them: I just need to make sure I can fully commit to putting things there regularly as this (YT) has to come first. I want to be 100% certain that Patreons are getting value for their money and I think that may require a lot of my time which may not be worthwhile, certainly at the start where I imagine numbers will be relatively low. I would love to do it one day though.
My knee-jerk reaction to the question of sponsorship for video makers is that it’s absolutely fine and understandable to want to make a decent return on the effort involved. To be honest, I’ve got so used to hearing “this video is sponsored by …..” that I just tune it out of my conscience for a few seconds. As a hobbyist photographer, I don’t need a website or to know where the accompanying music comes from , but I’ve become accustomed to just hearing blah blah blah for a few seconds and if you can make a few quid from that, then that’s fine by me.
I do not mind sponsored plugs as long as - the presenter is clear about it - I want to see the presenter actually use the product over time, not just that one video
Thanks for the candid video. No I'm not turned off because I can always change the channel. I do appreciate that you take into consideration your audience and work flow before agreeing to spend time on a sponsored video. One personal pet peeve are videos (not just by you but any creator) that makes it appear the product is perfect. They don't exist. It baffles me that creators can't just say, unless they are fearful of retribution, that this or that doesn't work or for them but this does. The other pet peeve is the "pushing" of products 99% of us can't afford. For example, for professional photographers I can see where you can justify a $10,000 camera or a $500 tripod, because these are tools of your trade. Not a fan but its a hard line to drawn creators. Anyway loved the shout out to Becca F., know her family well.
I pay for YT Premium which removes the ADs (bonus I use their UA-cam Music as well) - but if the product is directly pitched by the "talent" then I have no issue with that as I hope that person use it or endorses it...
You can have integrity, but you still have to pay the bills. Those of us that watch your videos "for free", should want you to exceed; so we have more videos to watch. I have no problem with it.
Thought provoking topic to say the least...for me, I not only understand but agree with having sponsorship - it helps to support my favorite creators as I'm not financially able to support them to the degree they deserve. Where my line gets drawn is when it impacts the content - when the topic gets lost by the relentless push of whatever or whoever has sponsored the video, or worse yet, the creator. When the creator becomes so absorbed in pushing every gifted or sponsored thing they're using, they have lost the genuineness that drew me to them in the first place...and that's when I leave. I have clicked and then left hoards of videos because they were an infomercial right from the start and never focused on anything other than selling products - one after another. I get enough of that streaming or watching television I'm drawn to those that let their passion show for the work they produce, sponsored or not. It's not only the videos they're releasing, but the activity they're presenting - it's how their passion motivates me, or teaches me, or encourages me to keep working at something when it becomes challenging, or burnout sets in, or it becomes mundane and I need a kick in the pants to get moving again. Realistically, at times that could be gear or some other sponsored item that moves me along...highly unlikely, but if the sponsored items are relevant to the activity it at least feels part of the content. Let your genuine passion show, and your genuine audience will always be there to support your work!
I don't mind videos being sponsored. You have to make a living for you and your family, so in theory if you make that money from your videos it gives you more time to make more content or better quality content. The nature of the sponsorship does matter though. If you're reviewing a product and they are sponsoring the video, or even if they sent you the item for free, it doesn't matter how much of a disclaimer you put in the video, it's hard to trust the review and the creators' credibility. It's hard to believe that there isn't some degree of "if I make a good review there's the possibility they will continue to give me money or more free gear" either subconsciously or not.
9 днів тому+1
I look forward to all your videos (how sad am I ?) and the current one, on sponsorship, hits home. I, for one, switch off most when I realise the videos are sponsored and I'm listening to a 'talking head' trying to sell something and appear reading from a script to push the product. Keep doing what you're doing because it resonates with people like me !
Thanks, I appreciate that. I don't think you are sad at all (unsurprisingly!)! I get that, but what if that sponsorship is the difference between the creator making an income and carrying on with making videos, and having to stop and get a real job? In an ideal world, I find a business model that doesn't revolve around sponsorship but we don't necessarily live in that world....
Don’t mind at all. It’s your living. And much better than the fake UA-cam adverts in between the videos! The only that bothered me recently was a raft of well known UA-cam photographers being gifted a certain high end 13k camera and lens. Didn’t bother me that the photographers received it, just that the company in question must have a huge mark up in retail price, a massive margin, to be able to dish out all that free gear. Persuaded me not to purchase it because it wouldn’t be value for money!
13K is pretty small beer when you look at conventional print/broadcast ad costs. Whatever product you buy you're always paying for the cost of advertising & marketing. The Hasselblad campaign stood out because of the cost of the camera. But in marketing terms was probably good value for money. Targeted to potential users, global and got people talking about it. Freebies are given out by companies across every sector. I doubt any serious buyer was put off buying one because of this.
@ Agreed. £13k isn’t a big marketing budget, but multiply that several times at least and add in the cost of the usual marketing channels, suggests a marketing budget based on high margins. The value of the ex-Swedish brand to the new Chinese owners and their ability to upscale production and begin to manufacture lenses in China, will definitely mean higher margins. As an aside, this looks to be a top camera, but they know people are not really just seduced by that, they know it’s about the name more than any other brand.
I feel like if they'd not done that, it wouldn't have had an impact on the cost of the camera. Every company with any product will always allocate a marketing budget which is often a huge sum of money, and it always influences the price of the product. Hasselblad just decided to spend theirs on sending out these cameras (which also wouldn't have cost them anywhere near £13k each to send out). Had it not been for that, they'd have ploughed their cash into marketing in another way.
Generally, an audience can spot the relevance of a sponsorship deal. Where it is in line with the creator and audience there will rarely be an issue. What I can't quite understand is how Squarespace keep ponying up the money for sponsorship deals. Surely they have gone past their return on investment by now!
I think it's unfair for viewers to expect to watch videos without sponsorships or gear reviews. It's the price of admission in my opinion. You're providing a service, our education and/or entertainment. We should be willing to pay a small fee. That's about all I have to say about that.
I really like Ben Horne’s unsponsored videos Rick as they are passion based and storytelling at its best. Regarding Sqspace I just fast forward through it but I know a time will come when YT will stop you being able to do that but until then FFWD!😂 One thing I don’t like is where a photographer promotes say a bag bigging it up etc then the very next week they’re back using their previous bag, imagine how you would feel after that if you’d made a purchase based on the recommendation. Quick question will you be doing any videography do’s and don’ts type videos?
I don't know if YT will stop doing allowing that, they want people to keep watching so if the alternative is that the click off, I can't see them changing things..... Totally get the point re. bags though!! Yeah, I will - aiming to do some in the new year 👍🏻
No. Not a problem an all. But keep in mind that viewers on YT see ads just by watching videos and your promotions are one more layer of ads. I do love you content, thanks. Maybe I would fancy seeing you hapier in your sessions? ;) Thanks again.
Haha - noted!! I think when I'm sat at home concentrating on getting points across like this, it can be harder to come across in that way. I have the potential to be a lot happier (and funnier) as I am in real life so maybe that can be next years focus 😂
No, I'm mostly fine with sponsored content, although at times I wish people would do the obligatory sales pitch with some variation and preferably briefly. Especially as it seems to be that the same brands sponsor several UA-cam creators and thus it feels boring to hear the same (or very similar) description of the product all the time.
Maybe the fact that we create content, our understanding and acceptance level of ads in UA-cam video differs from people who only watch videos. That said, I think it really depends on the overall feeling conveyed by the video. You sometimes can feel when a video was made just to achieve a KPI set by a contract. But sometimes, the ad can actually fit just perfectly and seemlessly. I guess this is a skill to develop and to take seriously.
I don't mind sponsorship. Like most people you and other UA-camrs need to earn a living. There's no shame in that and so long as there is transparency there's no issue as viewers can exercise their own judgement about what to buy or not.
Generally speaking I don’t stop watching a video because of the sponsorship and tend to judge content on its own merits. There’s nothing wrong with making a few quid in my opinion and nor is there anything wrong with being given freebies (chuck some my way if you don’t want them!).
I don't mind the sponsorship thing at all. I'm more disquieted about the slide into consumerism by what started as 'creator' channels as they morph into rampant GAS production! I understand the pressure from UA-cam to produce more and regular videos to feed the algorithm, kit reviews and promotion are ways to find ideas for production as well as following the 'trend' from other UA-camrs. It does mean so many channels become clones of each other and seeing an identical topic in the strapline is more likely to get me to click away. Not an easy line to tread...
No, it's really hard. Especially given the clicks that gear videos garner, which essentially rewards creators with views for making them. The last problem you address is something that is tricky, as most of the advice for getting content that goes far is to 'copy what works'. I've found this with a video I made last year that went viral - I've seen so many very similar videos released since. Again I get why creators look to do this, especially if their livelihood is based on it, but it's not something I want to chase. Ultimately though, there are limited topics so similar videos will always rise to the surface.
In my opinion it depends a LOT. *1.* If it's a review, it's likely going to be biased, in which case I'd rather see someone who spent money on the product talk about it. When I'm interested in buying something I want the opinion of another consumer, that is, no sugar coating bad things just to keep getting sponsored. *2.* If it's not a review, but the whole video is about a product, I'll only watch if it's something that I already had interest to begin with. For example, I'd watch a video that talks about a camera but not one that talks about tripods. First because I don't find tripods that interesting, but also because a tripod is a tripod, it's not going to be that different from one to another. *3.* If the sponsor shows up right at the beginning of the video it's a bit annoying but I'll keep watching. *4.* If the sponsor shows up at the middle of the video I don't mind. *5.* If throughout the video you use a sponsored product and then go "by the way, this thing you've seen me use is today's sponsor" might get me a lot more interested because it feels a more natural, non-intrusive segway. _Edit:_ A few things came to mind: *6.* Is it possible to do some live photography, live streaming the whole process and monetize both the live stream and the videos that might come from it? *7.* Have you ever thought of creating a Patron or something like that, allowing *your own viewers* to help you? Maybe you could encourage that by having some exclusive content in Patron or even give away some of the things you mentioned you have laying around you got for free. *8.* Is there a specific niche/audience in photography that is lacking in content that you can supply? For example, I live in a place where cameras are very expensive, so most people use cameras below USD$ 1000. I've looked a lot for content using cheaper and older digital cameras, from 15 years ago, but there's actually no one doing it. Maybe people are genuinely not interested in this and I'm an outlier, or maybe they don't know they are interested in it yet. *9.* People who complain about you getting sponsorships probably don't care about you and your well being and want you to survive on photosynthesis. Constructive criticism is good, but people who just complain and add nothing should probably be ignored.
Thanks for all this, I appreciate it. On your points: 6.Potentially, thought it's hard enough filming a video to be edited!! One of the most limiting factors I'm guessing would;d be that my photography often happens in places with terrible signal. I might look into this a bit more though. 7. It is something I'm thinking about actually, I just need to make sure I can fully commit to putting things there regularly as this (YT) has to come first. I want to be 100% certain that Patreons are getting value for their money and I think that may require a lot of my time which may not be worthwhile, certainly at the start where I imagine numbers will be relatively low. I would love to do it one day though. 8. Potentially. Something I will look into. I guess when making videos, the main thing it has to be for me is enjoyable, if it's not something I want to film or talk about then that makes it difficult. Using cheaper cameras in my normal scenarios though I like the sound of, so I might give that a go in the new year - thanks!
Gear cost money, and this is a Money enterprise. Since there are adverts in UA-cam, you getting paid first from a sponsorship to me is a solid financial business plan. Keep it true to yourself. Free stuff unfortunately does not pay the electricity bill.
I was a sponsee of content creators. The hidden underbelly is most videos are just advertising. The people I would have sent to people they would just sell much of the time. Most would promise sight unseen a great review. People seem to assume that the gear will make them better. It’s the opposite. It’s the constraints that make you improve. I had a friend that has won many awards and is widely known. I told hime personally I was stale. He told me to shoot every day for a year with an iPhone 4 ( the latest At the time ) I did it everyday I posted on instagram. As a form of commitment I had people wishing to buy an image after time. I learned to see. I still do it from time to time when I am feeling stale.
No, I don't mind sponsorship, but... If it is SpareSquace or similar, it helps if the video is chaptered, so I can skip it, I have my own domain with a provider that is not expensive, so zero interest. Product sponsorship is a grey area, I'll watch if I'm genuinely interested in the product, but ignore the video if I'm not, but will stop watching if it is obviously a sales drive. (yes, I have unsubscribed from too many channels who stopped producing the content they used to do, instead became glorified shop fronts) Whichever path you choose to walk, if the content is interesting to me, I'll watch, even if I have to skip the sponsor's message! (One channel, now unsubscribed, tended to produce 10 minute videos with 3-4 minutes of sponsor spiel - and the passion had evaporated in the face of commercial interests)
I'm guessing people put off by the sponsorship videos stems from their jealousy to your success in creating something companies are willing to invest money. Jealousy is a sad thing for people who are consumed by it and fail to reach for their own success.
No 🙂. 'specially not yours. We get free videos, I find it totally fair if UA-camrs can make a little or a fair amount or a lot of money off it. Sometimes it's obvious, especially with mpb, that the video theme is created around the sponsorship. But that's fine with me. BUT one time I watched a video (not photography related) with four or five sponsorships 😱, that was annoying even for me, and it was the first and last time I watched that channel 🙈. Thanks for your work and effort you put into creating your content for us👍🏻
I don't mind sponsored videos. You have to make a living, and if the sponsoring makes part of it, well I don't really care. Sponsored videos about cameras or lenses, I won't watch these, but I wouldn't be watching them if they weren't sponsored either, I don't feel the need to buy new stuff and I don't want to be seduced into buying new stuff. I've got what I need, I don't want to spend more money. And hey, every now and then there's something that catches my attention anyways. Sponsored or not.
No. The sponsorship is not a turn off. The sections are easy to jog through if you want. I watch you and others because of your take on things, your personality and skill. Being honest id the key. I turn down many things and will only feature things that are genuinely useful to me but also my viewers. As you know, videos are very expensive to make and we all need to pay our bills. The challenge is striking a balance I think. Cheers, Rick.
No, doesn't bothers me if the sponsor offers a good product, reliable after sales service and the YT person tells the truth about it. It WILL come back to haunt them if they give a glowing reference to a product/company and it comes to light soon after that they/it sucks.
Interesting video. Think we are all used to the "Squarespace" type of sponsership and realise that it must help in some way. The "free gift" bag/widget thing video can be interesting, especially if you can say why you use it and its a thing you never know you needed and I have clicked and have looked at a few. However just seen a "best of 2024" video from what I think is a good creator, watched the first couple of minutes and stopped, it felt very much like we have had all this stuff, better mention it or we may not get any more. Camera reviews fine, you get to go out more than we do, put them through more stuff in a month than we would in a year, but dont know if it would make me change my brand.
Sponsorship is not a cut and dried issue. Let's say you are a photography channel, and the sponsor is a web hosting company. That's a solid deal. It makes sense, as it's a supporting product, not a primary product such as a camera manufacturer. A VPN sponsor is not quite as connected, but it's also not something that sets off red flags either. So, fine, as it's clear that it's an advert. Let's look at a camera company sponsor on a photo channel. If the camera is from a company that has been the long-term camera company of choice of the channel creator, then it's probably ok. The problem there, however, is that unless the viewer has engaged with the channel for a long time, there is no good way for the viewer to understand that the sponsored camera is in the normal flow of the creator. So, instead of a sponsor, it becomes an advert. That's not good. The same applies to other pieces of primary kit such as lenses, filters, and post-processing programs. Even things like bags can fit into primary kit. To me, the way to deal with this is to have a video that expressly calls out the sponsorship of primary kit and then outlines the qualities of that gear. So, get shipped a new lens, call it out and give it a good going over in the video. Use cases, sharpness, specs, comparisons, and results. Make it clear that "this video is sponsored by and therefore all about X lens from Z company". Morten Hilmer does a great job of this. Anyone who has engaged with him for even a couple of videos knows he shoots Nikon. So, when he shoots with the newest Nikon body, you know where he's coming from. But in addition, he explicitly calls this out, often showing the Nikon rep delivering the camera as a way to make it clear why this body is on this video. There are many more examples of good and bad sponsorship, but it all comes down to a few rules. Call the sponsorship out. Clearly. Explain your connection to the sponsor. If the sponsor is not primary kit, move on after that. Feel comfortable in doing that and appreciate that viewers understand that sponsorship is what allows for free content. Now, if the sponsor is of primary kit, take the next steps to further detail the pros and cons of the gear and make it clear that this content is about this kit. Thanks for your concerns and clarity on this topic.
doesn't put me off but I'll typically just skip through it - if it started with a 30 second sponsor 'ad' and I didn't know the channel I probably would switch off - midway through a video I am already engaged in then no.
Hi Rick, as someone who has been critical of this in the past . . . . . Do you ever think that it is the business model that is wrong? Who gets rich regardless of how much the content creator makes? But as a consumer we are asked to pay with our time to watch adverts for products that we may alredy own, or have absolutely no interest in. The cost of this free product and sponsorship is then paid for by us, the consumer in the retail price of the product. So to say that it is "free" for us is a little misleading. Final point - when the cure for chronic backpain is carrying a medium format camera and lenses the credibility becomes lost, we, the consumers do not have to put up with everything thrown at us. We have a voice even if it does get moved to the bottom of the comments, or deleted.
Yeah, I get that. I'm not sure how else that could be approached, ads are becoming more and more relevant I suppose. I get your point on it not being 'free', maybe that wasn't the best way of explaining it. I'm not directly paid by every person that watches is maybe a better way of putting it. I think there is a lot more nuance to what lies behind your final point - back pain or not, if someone offered me a £13k camera in exchange for a video where I can say anything I like about it, then I'd be all over it and I'm guessing many other would be the same.
@@RickBebbington Hi Rick, thanks . . . There is another way, look at the "better" photographers and not just the "popular" photographers. Core audience is more useful than just views. Asking for likes and subscriptions only really helps one concern and it is not the creator. On another tip, maybe some people have other things to do than watch adverts? Creditibility - at least 4 "popular" photographers have made videos where they have downsized their kit due to weight, so unless "free" medium format cameras weigh less something does not add up (But, maybe it lightens the EGO?). However, as the camera is "payment" for a video (only one? evidence suggests, not) it must be declared as income. VAT must be paid and around 20% of the value will need to be paid as "income tax". In no way are my comments aimed at you or against you, there is very little clarity to the situation which is leading to exploitation of talent and a general misunderstanding of facts. This does seem to be the modern way. "Use your talent and do not let others use you for your talent". Additional info via my Squrespace website - how ironic is that? Best wishes. G
@@torealeyes Sorry, I meant more the advertising model in general! I'm fully invested in a place of core audience as a focus, hence my openness here and across other videos. I wasn't taking this as if you were targeting me at all, but I am friends with a Hasselblad owning back pain sufferer... I see how it might come across! Love that last quote. nice Squarespace site too, I like your work 👍
@@RickBebbington Thanks Rick for the compliment, it's a lot easier when it is just for yourself. Your friend is one of the nicest blokes you could ever wish to meet . . . . . maybe this underlines my point, what happens to nice people when we enter this "stage"? If we were to change the name of influencers, to "The Influenced" would it serve to somehow describe what really doesn't make sense to the rest of us? If you remove what is distracting from your composition, why not remove distractions from your path. it's your journey, bom caminho. Thanks again.
You have to make money to have a job. I feel like that’s the whole discussion. As long as you’re not selling out and being disingenuous, I don’t think anybody should care and I don’t.
Thanks. I think 'sell out' is banded about far too frequently which is part of the issue. If I start hawking AG1 and various mattresses, I probably deserve that title!
I don’t watch videos when the gear isn’t obtained by the channel. Even if not “sponsored”, the person wouldn’t get gear in advance unless the reviews are at worse - neutral. So, I know the reviews aren’t unbiased.
Mate I'm a builder and that's hard enough because of Internet bullshit. We passed conversation a few times between us. And if you can grow yourself by media 'you choose', but those who slag you off don't understand the effort you have to do. Bloody lazy arseholes.
I'm a professional photographer in Australia and without sounding arrogant a pretty good one and I'm a good communicator and I also teach photography as well. If I ran a UA-cam channel I would be able to get to a similar amount of subscribers. In fact I've had many people ask me to do a UA-cam channel and the reason I don't is the very reason Rick is pointing out. The whole thing is a bit of a game to be honest and I don't want to be a puppet to these companies look these companies are great companies. Don't get me wrong but I don't need free gear. I need time and I enjoy the time being out shooting or being with friends and family. I don't want to be making videos about a filter or a tripod or some other thing and I know that if I run a UA-cam channel, I would easily say yes to this gear because it's free and some of it you get to keep I get it. It sounds cool but there's always a negative side to it..... I let my images speak instead of UA-cam. When people see my photos they resonate with people. I don't need a UA-cam channel and I'm not begrudging people that do it or criticising at all.
I dont mind seeing sponsored videos, as long as I am getting what I wanted from watching. If I get the vibe that the creator isn't into what he's promoting, I'll click off. But if the creator is knowledgeable and I learn from it, that's great. For instance, I unsubscribed from a creator because she was promoting a bed brand she'd slept on for a week, and skin care products that she'd used for a few days. I don't want to see that crap. Lol
Thanks for all the comments on this so far - genuinely didn't expect such in depth feedback so thank you 🙏🏻 good to know that most of you don't mind it if it fits organically. I think that it's often unmentioned, yet you occasionally see the odd comment complaining about stuff and that is what sticks with you. Keep the comments coming, will try and reply over the weekend 👍🏻
I don't click off sponsored videos but I mostly scrub past the sponsor message segments. I know that Squarespace does websites and domains !
I think audiences are actually quite sophisticated, particularly if they've been following a channel for a while. They continue to follow based on content but also on the integrity and ethics of the maker. And generally understand that sponsorship enables the channel to continue and grow.
Reviews are a different matter. Completely agree re short term immediate release stuff. It's mostly fluff but again I accept that they're good for traction so help the channel.
There is definitely scope for more long term reviews but even those are limited because they are always going to be subjective.
Philip Bloom takes an interesting stance. Never releases on embargo day (or even close to !) but his reviews are considered, really well made and convey integrity.
I think the fact you're even aware enough to make this video says a lot mate. Honesty and integrity are precious commodities.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Thank you mate, appreciate that and your other comments 👍🏻 I'd never really noticed that is what Phil Bloom was doing but it now makes a lot of sense. The other benefit to doing it that way is that I'd be awful at meeting the deadlines required!
The thing about ads on the UA-cam videos I watch is this: they're not offensively mindless ads for mundane products. Ads from Squarespace, Better Help, Skillshare, etc. etc., all have something to offer to alot of people. It's not like conventional television, where the advertising is intolerable.
Thanks Rick for your video. Really appreciate your openness with all this stuff. So I’m the guy you referenced to at the beginning on making a comment on sponsorship a few videos back (your future generation camera one.)! Essentially what I was saying was that having a video starting off, or ending with “this video is sponsored by ….” doesn’t turn me off as such. What does make me question sometimes, and you mentioned it yourself as one of the factors with say a 6 video sponsor deal, is that it puts pressure on the photographer (you in this case) to make videos within a certain timeframe. You have the integrity to really want to do your best with those videos to ensure they attract viewers. Some other producers of sponsored videos I see I get the feeling they’re posting a video with not great quality just to get it out there and tick the box so to speak. Great if sponsored videos mean quality, but it’s not always the case. Of course, the reverse isn’t necessarily true either - unsponsored videos don’t necessarily mean great quality - but they are made out of interest and passion - like e.g. your future gen camera one. Bottom line - sponsored videos don’t turn me off - but they do make me more critical of the content.
Yeah, I totally get it, and I realise that I probably did rush some videos earlier in the year. If they can fit in with what I'm planning to put out anyway, that's the dream!
Depends on the level of sponsorship. If it’s just an in video ad UA-cam lets me skip by then I’m fine.
If it’s just an ad that is labeled as a “review“ then I leave and potentially pull my subscription.
I have been getting annoyed with square space because no one is honest about the cost and that it won’t revolutionize 95% of the photographers out there. It’s over $200 a year plus the domain 🤷🏻♂️ So being soured by them as a company leads me to being soured at all the people pushing it who get their sites for free.
well said, as always, I love to hear your views on various subjects. I worked as a vocational trainer for many years and I expected to get paid for my work. why on earth would anyone expect you not to get paid for the work that you put in to make your videos.
Personally, I don’t have a problem with sponsored videos. That said, I only watch channels like yours where the content creator has the integrity that you have so eloquently described in your video i.e. they are a satisfied user of the product and they're recommending it because they believe in it. The thing that I think will ultimately drive me away from UA-cam is the jarring way in which they squirt mid-reel ads into the video - ironically in this video I got to "enjoy" an ad while you were halfway through a word. I don't reject to mid real ads - I appreciate the hard work that goes into the videos and firmly believe that content creators should be paid for what they do and that I should not get to enjoy it for free. However, I absolutely test the way UA-cam implement it And feel that the "premium" subscription is vast overpriced when compared to mainstream streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+. For all that, channels like yours are what keep pulling me back to UA-cam. Thanks for all you do.
Let me start with the fact that I really enjoy your videos, which is why I subscribed. I like the way you present your message, and it certainly feels genuine.
I have no problem with sponsored videos unless they are sponsored by the product being presented in the video. A video sponsored by Squarespace, for example, is not normally completely about Squarespace. A video sponsored by a lens or camera usually is. I follow a few channels that I would term "Gear Channels". If they are presenting a product that I might purchase, I'll watch. If not, I don't.
I also respect the youtubers that say their review of a product is not determined by the manufacturer. I respect it more if the review has been done over a period of time, not part of a product launch. I also am more likely to take it seriously if the presenter is NOT a brand ambassador. I don't watch "unboxing" videos because WTF? Watching someone open a package makes no sense to me!
If a creator is a brand ambassador, I am likely to take their view with a grain of salt, unless they are presenting a "how to" of a product I am interested in.
In conclusion, I will not click off a sponsored video, but I might skip the sponsored message.
Thanks for your content and keep up the good work.
Makes sense - totally with you on unboxing videos 😂 thank you!
Nice one 🙂 I don't mind the "This ad is sponsored by..." at the beginning of a video - if you can get decent sponsorship that's great, because it should allow you to be more creative, better satisfy your audience, and better satisfy yourself. As for freebies, I'm more in two minds - making sure you don't upset the brand that's given you a camera most of us can't afford, whilst being objective about it can be very difficult. However, buckling under to the brand can be an easy way out of some situations, especially if your life circumstances are currently not what you'd wish. In the end, it will be your honesty and your photography skills that save you, not owning some hideously expensive gear. Looking forward to your next video 🙂
I've no problem with the sponsorship aspect of the UA-cam "game". If is suddenly starts raining Hasselblads around here, I'll go outside with my umbrella upside down.
Haha - the classic segue into turning on your VPN 😂 no trick ad reads, got it!
You raised some really great points there, Rick and I agree with you! Authenticity is extremely important when it comes to yourself and your audience. I don’t expect to see you review different types of nail varnish any time soon.😂
Just waiting for that Manscaping email to land in my inbox....
Really appreciate your perspective on this.
I don't mind sponsored videos. What I have learned is that almost all media makes money from advertising and that's ok.
But choosing to work with the right partners is crucial and making sure what ever the deal is it benefits the audience too.
I think it comes down to integrity, when I subscribe to a channel it's because I enjoy your content and that I respect your opinion, as we saw recently with the release of the Panasonic S9 people were saying how good this camera was when quite obviously isn't wasn't as good as they were saying, then you find out they received an all expenses paid trip to Japan for the launch. Not good.
Fascinating video on your thoughts about video sponsorship. Not that I have met you face-to-face, but I get the impression that the "Rick Bebbington" I'd meet down the pub is the same "Rick Bebbington" that presents this youtube channel. In other words, I think your UA-cam channel is a genuine version of your own true self. What I think I'm getting from your channel is your own genuine unadulterated thoughts on photography and the wider world. I don't think that there is any version of the Rick Bebbington with a hidden or a dark side. If I wanted to hear a sales-pitch from Square Space or Hasselblad or whoever; I'd probably hop over to the Square Space or Hasselblad site and listen to their hard-sell. Of course, we all probably know that UA-cam rewards don't pay enough of the bills for most vloggers; and commercial sponsorship is a necessity. I genuinely don't mind a quick reminder that a video has a sponsor. That said, if everyone in the photography world has now heard of SquareSpace and MPB, so perhaps hearing about them in all the detail yet again is a diminishing return for us viewers nowadays. A few seconds of a sponsorship reminder is fine by me; but when a sponsor takes up too much time or breaks up the flow of the video or is irrelevant to the subject I often hit the close button; and pick a different video to watch. The Hasselblad and/or big-name camera sponsor is interesting too. You are right that the first use of a new camera can be amazing, but it takes months for its annoyances to come to the fore. There have been a few photography vloggers who have loyally stuck with their brand for years; only to suddenly start selling the benefits of Hasselblad, just because they got a free one from a sponsor. That behaviour makes me question how genuinely truthful they have been previously. It definitely makes me somewhat more critical of their videos. I have stopped subscribing to a very few vloggers who are overly sponsored or sales-driven. By the same token; I do follow a few vloggers and never miss any of their videos. In your case, I think your channel remains inspiring because of the work you do for yourself and the collabrations with others. Hope you can contnue enjoying your photography and showing us what you create
Near enough!! I'm actually a lot more fun in real life 😂 need to work on conveying that side of me!! Thanks for your comment, that part about creators taking on a new camera and undoing all their prior work is a really interesting way of thinking about it actually. Thanks again, I will - and your comment is helpful to know that people appreciate the path I'm trying to take this channel down :)
I have no major issues with sponsored videos and most of the creators I watch have a similar ethos to yourself regarding the brands they will work with. For people who make a living from UA-cam then it seems perfectly reasonable to expect them to take on appropriate sponsorship. I watched your last video where you shared some of the products you used and took advantage of the Vivo Barefoot discount you offered as I’m a massive fan of their shoes. Seems like a win/win to me and was clearly a genuine recommendation from yourself
Thanks - good to know, and glad you could make use of the discount!!
I was watching a video the other day and it went like, "I had a great day and now that I'm back in my hotel, I'm going to make myself a cup of tea and enable NordVPN when I'm on hotel wifi". I just screamed "YOU TRICKED ME!" It felt like a conversation with a friend and then BAM hit me with an ad. THAT kind of ad feels gross.
I dont mind a sponsorship. You have to make a living, so do what you have to do.
I like photography content on UA-cam and if someone can get sponsored doing it, I would think that can only mean more content in the future. I’m happy you can get paid to do it and find it ridiculous someone would begrudge a creator that opportunity.
My preference is the organic inclusion of the add info. Peter McKinnon probably does this more seamlessly than anyone I subscribe to.
Agree. He's a master at that! I think he's the only one I wouldn't skip the ad part and actually enjoy watching it. He managed to make it a natural part of his videos.
Great video Rick. I've not got a problem with sponsorship at all but you're right, it works best when a UA-camr has a genuine interest in the product or service. Otherwise it's all a bit forced and inauthentic.
It's a hit to the credibility of any creator (ESPECIALLY in the photography sphere) IMO when they will happily make "gear doesn't matter" type content and then champion a new bit of kit through a sponsored placement two videos later. If it doesn't matter, let your photography speak for itself. There are too many creators now who follow the same path. Mr X just released a video about their lovely new Leica? Sure as night follows day, Mr Y and Mr Z will drop one shortly after. Hasselblad, Nikon, Sirui, the list goes on.
I get the marketing angle from the manufacturers but maybe, just maybe, if they stopped giving away so much free stuff to people who really don't need it, it would be a bit cheaper for the rest of us who have to buy it.
Yeah, I get that. I'm not sure how else that could be approached, ads are becoming more and more relevant I suppose. I get your point on it not being 'free', maybe that wasn't the best way of explaining it. I'm not directly paid by every person that watches is maybe a better way of putting it. I think there is a lot more nuance to what lies behind your final point - back pain or not, if someone offered me a £13k camera in exchange for a video where I can say anything I like about it, then I'd be all over it and I'm guessing many other would be the same.
@@RickBebbington My comments weren't directly aimed at you Rick, more of a wider observation as someone who consumes a lot of YT photography content. I don't blame anyone for saying thanks very much when Leica or Hasselblad phone them up and say "Want a free camera?", that was more speaking on them doing it in the first place thus driving the cost per unit of the ones they sell once they'd factored in the "marketing" expense of giving away a pallet full! :) I also don't bemoan people using advertising to monetise their work. It's a living after all and if the manufacturers didn't pay, we'd likely have to.
I do stand by it being hard to look oneself in the mirror though and put out a video saying you don't need new gear when you know there's a video coming down the pipe where you (and I don't mean you specifically) are using that new (free) camera and extolling its virtues though.
@@Th3D4rkSh4d0w Somehow my reply to someone else ended up being attached to your comment, so apologies if it didn't make sense!! I didn't take any of what you said as a sleight against me!! Totally get what you are saying
I appreciate your content and enjoy watching your videos. It doesn't make sense, to me anyway, that you should feel you have to sell your "soul" to make any kind of "living" as a content creator. Thanks for being genuine and honest about things.
Thanks Chris
Very informative video Rick, thank you for the effort you put in to it. Basically, I subscribe to you because I like what you talk about and how you present it … this is a personal thing that involves the subject matter appealing to me, the person talking being identifiable and good at presenting their material and to some extent the things that are happening around you as you present. Some of this is not controllable by you as it’s how I subjectively respond. However, why I subscribe to a UA-camr rather than just like is because of their CONSISTENCY in doing the above
Great to know we are at the forefront of your decisions but unless making UA-cam videos turns into a hobby for you then you have to crack a business model … a way of funding these videos
Getting (at last!) to your question as to whether sponsorship puts me off … no … I can always ff through the spiel and often do. The fact you use Squarespace makes a difference but as I’m someone who watches several channels sponsored by squarespace and use them myself it’s hard to know what SqS are getting for their money with me watching?
One final comment … is that something like Patreon would fit with someone like yourself who seems to be genuinely serving a community who, at least it’s true for me, are as much interested in learning about you and what life is like for you as much as anything you might choose to focus on in a particular video
Thanks Rob, appreciate that.
Someone else asked about Patreon actually, and it is something I've thought about... I said this to them: I just need to make sure I can fully commit to putting things there regularly as this (YT) has to come first. I want to be 100% certain that Patreons are getting value for their money and I think that may require a lot of my time which may not be worthwhile, certainly at the start where I imagine numbers will be relatively low. I would love to do it one day though.
My knee-jerk reaction to the question of sponsorship for video makers is that it’s absolutely fine and understandable to want to make a decent return on the effort involved. To be honest, I’ve got so used to hearing “this video is sponsored by …..” that I just tune it out of my conscience for a few seconds. As a hobbyist photographer, I don’t need a website or to know where the accompanying music comes from , but I’ve become accustomed to just hearing blah blah blah for a few seconds and if you can make a few quid from that, then that’s fine by me.
I do not mind sponsored plugs as long as
- the presenter is clear about it
- I want to see the presenter actually use the product over time, not just that one video
Thanks for the candid video. No I'm not turned off because I can always change the channel. I do appreciate that you take into consideration your audience and work flow before agreeing to spend time on a sponsored video. One personal pet peeve are videos (not just by you but any creator) that makes it appear the product is perfect. They don't exist. It baffles me that creators can't just say, unless they are fearful of retribution, that this or that doesn't work or for them but this does. The other pet peeve is the "pushing" of products 99% of us can't afford. For example, for professional photographers I can see where you can justify a $10,000 camera or a $500 tripod, because these are tools of your trade. Not a fan but its a hard line to drawn creators. Anyway loved the shout out to Becca F., know her family well.
Thanks - appreciate that. Just realised I hadn't linked her video so thanks for the inadvertent reminder!!
I pay for YT Premium which removes the ADs (bonus I use their UA-cam Music as well) - but if the product is directly pitched by the "talent" then I have no issue with that as I hope that person use it or endorses it...
You can have integrity, but you still have to pay the bills. Those of us that watch your videos "for free", should want you to exceed; so we have more videos to watch. I have no problem with it.
Thought provoking topic to say the least...for me, I not only understand but agree with having sponsorship - it helps to support my favorite creators as I'm not financially able to support them to the degree they deserve.
Where my line gets drawn is when it impacts the content - when the topic gets lost by the relentless push of whatever or whoever has sponsored the video, or worse yet, the creator.
When the creator becomes so absorbed in pushing every gifted or sponsored thing they're using, they have lost the genuineness that drew me to them in the first place...and that's when I leave.
I have clicked and then left hoards of videos because they were an infomercial right from the start and never focused on anything other than selling products - one after another. I get enough of that streaming or watching television
I'm drawn to those that let their passion show for the work they produce, sponsored or not. It's not only the videos they're releasing, but the activity they're presenting - it's how their passion motivates me, or teaches me, or encourages me to keep working at something when it becomes challenging, or burnout sets in, or it becomes mundane and I need a kick in the pants to get moving again. Realistically, at times that could be gear or some other sponsored item that moves me along...highly unlikely, but if the sponsored items are relevant to the activity it at least feels part of the content.
Let your genuine passion show, and your genuine audience will always be there to support your work!
I don't mind videos being sponsored. You have to make a living for you and your family, so in theory if you make that money from your videos it gives you more time to make more content or better quality content.
The nature of the sponsorship does matter though. If you're reviewing a product and they are sponsoring the video, or even if they sent you the item for free, it doesn't matter how much of a disclaimer you put in the video, it's hard to trust the review and the creators' credibility. It's hard to believe that there isn't some degree of "if I make a good review there's the possibility they will continue to give me money or more free gear" either subconsciously or not.
I look forward to all your videos (how sad am I ?) and the current one, on sponsorship, hits home. I, for one, switch off most when I realise the videos are sponsored and I'm listening to a 'talking head' trying to sell something and appear reading from a script to push the product. Keep doing what you're doing because it resonates with people like me !
Thanks, I appreciate that. I don't think you are sad at all (unsurprisingly!)!
I get that, but what if that sponsorship is the difference between the creator making an income and carrying on with making videos, and having to stop and get a real job? In an ideal world, I find a business model that doesn't revolve around sponsorship but we don't necessarily live in that world....
I don't click off on sponsored videos. I either let it play or just scroll ahead.
Don’t mind at all. It’s your living. And much better than the fake UA-cam adverts in between the videos!
The only that bothered me recently was a raft of well known UA-cam photographers being gifted a certain high end 13k camera and lens. Didn’t bother me that the photographers received it, just that the company in question must have a huge mark up in retail price, a massive margin, to be able to dish out all that free gear.
Persuaded me not to purchase it because it wouldn’t be value for money!
13K is pretty small beer when you look at conventional print/broadcast ad costs.
Whatever product you buy you're always paying for the cost of advertising & marketing. The Hasselblad campaign stood out because of the cost of the camera. But in marketing terms was probably good value for money. Targeted to potential users, global and got people talking about it.
Freebies are given out by companies across every sector. I doubt any serious buyer was put off buying one because of this.
@ Agreed. £13k isn’t a big marketing budget, but multiply that several times at least and add in the cost of the usual marketing channels, suggests a marketing budget based on high margins. The value of the ex-Swedish brand to the new Chinese owners and their ability to upscale production and begin to manufacture lenses in China, will definitely mean higher margins. As an aside, this looks to be a top camera, but they know people are not really just seduced by that, they know it’s about the name more than any other brand.
I feel like if they'd not done that, it wouldn't have had an impact on the cost of the camera.
Every company with any product will always allocate a marketing budget which is often a huge sum of money, and it always influences the price of the product. Hasselblad just decided to spend theirs on sending out these cameras (which also wouldn't have cost them anywhere near £13k each to send out). Had it not been for that, they'd have ploughed their cash into marketing in another way.
Generally, an audience can spot the relevance of a sponsorship deal. Where it is in line with the creator and audience there will rarely be an issue. What I can't quite understand is how Squarespace keep ponying up the money for sponsorship deals. Surely they have gone past their return on investment by now!
I have wondered similar. Ridiculous levels of budget. I feel like one day there is going to be a massive void that bites a lot of people....
I don’t mind sponsorship Rick at all as the viewer should trust the content provider to do the right thing if they don’t then I unsubscribe. ❤
I think it's unfair for viewers to expect to watch videos without sponsorships or gear reviews. It's the price of admission in my opinion. You're providing a service, our education and/or entertainment. We should be willing to pay a small fee. That's about all I have to say about that.
I really like Ben Horne’s unsponsored videos Rick as they are passion based and storytelling at its best.
Regarding Sqspace I just fast forward through it but I know a time will come when YT will stop you being able to do that but until then FFWD!😂
One thing I don’t like is where a photographer promotes say a bag bigging it up etc then the very next week they’re back using their previous bag, imagine how you would feel after that if you’d made a purchase based on the recommendation. Quick question will you be doing any videography do’s and don’ts type videos?
I don't know if YT will stop doing allowing that, they want people to keep watching so if the alternative is that the click off, I can't see them changing things..... Totally get the point re. bags though!! Yeah, I will - aiming to do some in the new year 👍🏻
@ thanks Rick I’ll look forward to that👍
No.
Not a problem an all. But keep in mind that viewers on YT see ads just by watching videos and your promotions are one more layer of ads.
I do love you content, thanks. Maybe I would fancy seeing you hapier in your sessions? ;)
Thanks again.
Haha - noted!! I think when I'm sat at home concentrating on getting points across like this, it can be harder to come across in that way. I have the potential to be a lot happier (and funnier) as I am in real life so maybe that can be next years focus 😂
No, I'm mostly fine with sponsored content, although at times I wish people would do the obligatory sales pitch with some variation and preferably briefly. Especially as it seems to be that the same brands sponsor several UA-cam creators and thus it feels boring to hear the same (or very similar) description of the product all the time.
Maybe the fact that we create content, our understanding and acceptance level of ads in UA-cam video differs from people who only watch videos. That said, I think it really depends on the overall feeling conveyed by the video. You sometimes can feel when a video was made just to achieve a KPI set by a contract. But sometimes, the ad can actually fit just perfectly and seemlessly. I guess this is a skill to develop and to take seriously.
Yeah, that's true actually. Seamless ads are where it's at, but selecting the right partners for this is crucial.
I don't mind sponsorship. Like most people you and other UA-camrs need to earn a living. There's no shame in that and so long as there is transparency there's no issue as viewers can exercise their own judgement about what to buy or not.
Generally speaking I don’t stop watching a video because of the sponsorship and tend to judge content on its own merits. There’s nothing wrong with making a few quid in my opinion and nor is there anything wrong with being given freebies (chuck some my way if you don’t want them!).
I'd have to send you all of the follow up emails I get as well in that case!!
@ 😂
I don't mind the sponsorship thing at all. I'm more disquieted about the slide into consumerism by what started as 'creator' channels as they morph into rampant GAS production! I understand the pressure from UA-cam to produce more and regular videos to feed the algorithm, kit reviews and promotion are ways to find ideas for production as well as following the 'trend' from other UA-camrs. It does mean so many channels become clones of each other and seeing an identical topic in the strapline is more likely to get me to click away. Not an easy line to tread...
No, it's really hard. Especially given the clicks that gear videos garner, which essentially rewards creators with views for making them. The last problem you address is something that is tricky, as most of the advice for getting content that goes far is to 'copy what works'. I've found this with a video I made last year that went viral - I've seen so many very similar videos released since. Again I get why creators look to do this, especially if their livelihood is based on it, but it's not something I want to chase. Ultimately though, there are limited topics so similar videos will always rise to the surface.
In my opinion it depends a LOT.
*1.* If it's a review, it's likely going to be biased, in which case I'd rather see someone who spent money on the product talk about it. When I'm interested in buying something I want the opinion of another consumer, that is, no sugar coating bad things just to keep getting sponsored.
*2.* If it's not a review, but the whole video is about a product, I'll only watch if it's something that I already had interest to begin with. For example, I'd watch a video that talks about a camera but not one that talks about tripods. First because I don't find tripods that interesting, but also because a tripod is a tripod, it's not going to be that different from one to another.
*3.* If the sponsor shows up right at the beginning of the video it's a bit annoying but I'll keep watching.
*4.* If the sponsor shows up at the middle of the video I don't mind.
*5.* If throughout the video you use a sponsored product and then go "by the way, this thing you've seen me use is today's sponsor" might get me a lot more interested because it feels a more natural, non-intrusive segway.
_Edit:_
A few things came to mind:
*6.* Is it possible to do some live photography, live streaming the whole process and monetize both the live stream and the videos that might come from it?
*7.* Have you ever thought of creating a Patron or something like that, allowing *your own viewers* to help you?
Maybe you could encourage that by having some exclusive content in Patron or even give away some of the things you mentioned you have laying around you got for free.
*8.* Is there a specific niche/audience in photography that is lacking in content that you can supply?
For example, I live in a place where cameras are very expensive, so most people use cameras below USD$ 1000. I've looked a lot for content using cheaper and older digital cameras, from 15 years ago, but there's actually no one doing it. Maybe people are genuinely not interested in this and I'm an outlier, or maybe they don't know they are interested in it yet.
*9.* People who complain about you getting sponsorships probably don't care about you and your well being and want you to survive on photosynthesis. Constructive criticism is good, but people who just complain and add nothing should probably be ignored.
Thanks for all this, I appreciate it.
On your points:
6.Potentially, thought it's hard enough filming a video to be edited!! One of the most limiting factors I'm guessing would;d be that my photography often happens in places with terrible signal. I might look into this a bit more though.
7. It is something I'm thinking about actually, I just need to make sure I can fully commit to putting things there regularly as this (YT) has to come first. I want to be 100% certain that Patreons are getting value for their money and I think that may require a lot of my time which may not be worthwhile, certainly at the start where I imagine numbers will be relatively low. I would love to do it one day though.
8. Potentially. Something I will look into. I guess when making videos, the main thing it has to be for me is enjoyable, if it's not something I want to film or talk about then that makes it difficult. Using cheaper cameras in my normal scenarios though I like the sound of, so I might give that a go in the new year - thanks!
Gear cost money, and this is a Money enterprise. Since there are adverts in UA-cam, you getting paid first from a sponsorship to me is a solid financial business plan. Keep it true to yourself. Free stuff unfortunately does not pay the electricity bill.
I was a sponsee of content creators. The hidden underbelly is most videos are just advertising. The people I would have sent to people they would just sell much of the time. Most would promise sight unseen a great review.
People seem to assume that the gear will make them better. It’s the opposite. It’s the constraints that make you improve.
I had a friend that has won many awards and is widely known. I told hime personally I was stale. He told me to shoot every day for a year with an iPhone 4 ( the latest At the time ) I did it everyday I posted on instagram. As a form of commitment I had people wishing to buy an image after time. I learned to see.
I still do it from time to time when I am feeling stale.
No, I don't mind sponsorship, but...
If it is SpareSquace or similar, it helps if the video is chaptered, so I can skip it, I have my own domain with a provider that is not expensive, so zero interest.
Product sponsorship is a grey area, I'll watch if I'm genuinely interested in the product, but ignore the video if I'm not, but will stop watching if it is obviously a sales drive. (yes, I have unsubscribed from too many channels who stopped producing the content they used to do, instead became glorified shop fronts)
Whichever path you choose to walk, if the content is interesting to me, I'll watch, even if I have to skip the sponsor's message! (One channel, now unsubscribed, tended to produce 10 minute videos with 3-4 minutes of sponsor spiel - and the passion had evaporated in the face of commercial interests)
I sit here and watch you. Costs me nothing. If you earn money through ads and revenue how can I complain when it's costs me nothing to watch you.
I'm guessing people put off by the sponsorship videos stems from their jealousy to your success in creating something companies are willing to invest money. Jealousy is a sad thing for people who are consumed by it and fail to reach for their own success.
Yeah, I totally get that
No 🙂. 'specially not yours.
We get free videos, I find it totally fair if UA-camrs can make a little or a fair amount or a lot of money off it. Sometimes it's obvious, especially with mpb, that the video theme is created around the sponsorship. But that's fine with me.
BUT one time I watched a video (not photography related) with four or five sponsorships 😱, that was annoying even for me, and it was the first and last time I watched that channel 🙈.
Thanks for your work and effort you put into creating your content for us👍🏻
I don't mind sponsored videos. You have to make a living, and if the sponsoring makes part of it, well I don't really care. Sponsored videos about cameras or lenses, I won't watch these, but I wouldn't be watching them if they weren't sponsored either, I don't feel the need to buy new stuff and I don't want to be seduced into buying new stuff. I've got what I need, I don't want to spend more money. And hey, every now and then there's something that catches my attention anyways. Sponsored or not.
No. The sponsorship is not a turn off. The sections are easy to jog through if you want. I watch you and others because of your take on things, your personality and skill. Being honest id the key. I turn down many things and will only feature things that are genuinely useful to me but also my viewers. As you know, videos are very expensive to make and we all need to pay our bills. The challenge is striking a balance I think. Cheers, Rick.
No, doesn't bothers me if the sponsor offers a good product, reliable after sales service and the YT person tells the truth about it. It WILL come back to haunt them if they give a glowing reference to a product/company and it comes to light soon after that they/it sucks.
Sound fair!
Interesting video. Think we are all used to the "Squarespace" type of sponsership and realise that it must help in some way. The "free gift" bag/widget thing video can be interesting, especially if you can say why you use it and its a thing you never know you needed and I have clicked and have looked at a few. However just seen a "best of 2024" video from what I think is a good creator, watched the first couple of minutes and stopped, it felt very much like we have had all this stuff, better mention it or we may not get any more. Camera reviews fine, you get to go out more than we do, put them through more stuff in a month than we would in a year, but dont know if it would make me change my brand.
Sponsorship is not a cut and dried issue. Let's say you are a photography channel, and the sponsor is a web hosting company. That's a solid deal. It makes sense, as it's a supporting product, not a primary product such as a camera manufacturer. A VPN sponsor is not quite as connected, but it's also not something that sets off red flags either. So, fine, as it's clear that it's an advert.
Let's look at a camera company sponsor on a photo channel. If the camera is from a company that has been the long-term camera company of choice of the channel creator, then it's probably ok. The problem there, however, is that unless the viewer has engaged with the channel for a long time, there is no good way for the viewer to understand that the sponsored camera is in the normal flow of the creator. So, instead of a sponsor, it becomes an advert. That's not good. The same applies to other pieces of primary kit such as lenses, filters, and post-processing programs. Even things like bags can fit into primary kit.
To me, the way to deal with this is to have a video that expressly calls out the sponsorship of primary kit and then outlines the qualities of that gear. So, get shipped a new lens, call it out and give it a good going over in the video. Use cases, sharpness, specs, comparisons, and results. Make it clear that "this video is sponsored by and therefore all about X lens from Z company".
Morten Hilmer does a great job of this. Anyone who has engaged with him for even a couple of videos knows he shoots Nikon. So, when he shoots with the newest Nikon body, you know where he's coming from. But in addition, he explicitly calls this out, often showing the Nikon rep delivering the camera as a way to make it clear why this body is on this video.
There are many more examples of good and bad sponsorship, but it all comes down to a few rules. Call the sponsorship out. Clearly. Explain your connection to the sponsor. If the sponsor is not primary kit, move on after that. Feel comfortable in doing that and appreciate that viewers understand that sponsorship is what allows for free content. Now, if the sponsor is of primary kit, take the next steps to further detail the pros and cons of the gear and make it clear that this content is about this kit.
Thanks for your concerns and clarity on this topic.
Thanks for that - makes a lot of sense
doesn't put me off but I'll typically just skip through it - if it started with a 30 second sponsor 'ad' and I didn't know the channel I probably would switch off - midway through a video I am already engaged in then no.
Hi Rick, as someone who has been critical of this in the past . . . . . Do you ever think that it is the business model that is wrong? Who gets rich regardless of how much the content creator makes? But as a consumer we are asked to pay with our time to watch adverts for products that we may alredy own, or have absolutely no interest in. The cost of this free product and sponsorship is then paid for by us, the consumer in the retail price of the product. So to say that it is "free" for us is a little misleading. Final point - when the cure for chronic backpain is carrying a medium format camera and lenses the credibility becomes lost, we, the consumers do not have to put up with everything thrown at us. We have a voice even if it does get moved to the bottom of the comments, or deleted.
Yeah, I get that. I'm not sure how else that could be approached, ads are becoming more and more relevant I suppose. I get your point on it not being 'free', maybe that wasn't the best way of explaining it. I'm not directly paid by every person that watches is maybe a better way of putting it. I think there is a lot more nuance to what lies behind your final point - back pain or not, if someone offered me a £13k camera in exchange for a video where I can say anything I like about it, then I'd be all over it and I'm guessing many other would be the same.
@@RickBebbington Hi Rick, thanks . . . There is another way, look at the "better" photographers and not just the "popular" photographers. Core audience is more useful than just views. Asking for likes and subscriptions only really helps one concern and it is not the creator. On another tip, maybe some people have other things to do than watch adverts? Creditibility - at least 4 "popular" photographers have made videos where they have downsized their kit due to weight, so unless "free" medium format cameras weigh less something does not add up (But, maybe it lightens the EGO?). However, as the camera is "payment" for a video (only one? evidence suggests, not) it must be declared as income. VAT must be paid and around 20% of the value will need to be paid as "income tax". In no way are my comments aimed at you or against you, there is very little clarity to the situation which is leading to exploitation of talent and a general misunderstanding of facts. This does seem to be the modern way. "Use your talent and do not let others use you for your talent". Additional info via my Squrespace website - how ironic is that? Best wishes. G
@@torealeyes Sorry, I meant more the advertising model in general! I'm fully invested in a place of core audience as a focus, hence my openness here and across other videos. I wasn't taking this as if you were targeting me at all, but I am friends with a Hasselblad owning back pain sufferer... I see how it might come across! Love that last quote. nice Squarespace site too, I like your work 👍
@@RickBebbington Thanks Rick for the compliment, it's a lot easier when it is just for yourself. Your friend is one of the nicest blokes you could ever wish to meet . . . . . maybe this underlines my point, what happens to nice people when we enter this "stage"? If we were to change the name of influencers, to "The Influenced" would it serve to somehow describe what really doesn't make sense to the rest of us? If you remove what is distracting from your composition, why not remove distractions from your path. it's your journey, bom caminho. Thanks again.
You have to make money to have a job. I feel like that’s the whole discussion. As long as you’re not selling out and being disingenuous, I don’t think anybody should care and I don’t.
Thanks. I think 'sell out' is banded about far too frequently which is part of the issue. If I start hawking AG1 and various mattresses, I probably deserve that title!
I don’t watch videos when the gear isn’t obtained by the channel.
Even if not “sponsored”, the person wouldn’t get gear in advance unless the reviews are at worse - neutral.
So, I know the reviews aren’t unbiased.
No problems with sponsorships
No, sponsored videos don’t put me off.
if that helps, I watched this video 3 times from start to finish, I hope this helps your algorithm and will help you progress with your channel
No
To many You Tubers are fishing in the same pond and have mostley the same videos.
Mate I'm a builder and that's hard enough because of Internet bullshit. We passed conversation a few times between us. And if you can grow yourself by media 'you choose', but those who slag you off don't understand the effort you have to do. Bloody lazy arseholes.
I'm a professional photographer in Australia and without sounding arrogant a pretty good one and I'm a good communicator and I also teach photography as well. If I ran a UA-cam channel I would be able to get to a similar amount of subscribers. In fact I've had many people ask me to do a UA-cam channel and the reason I don't is the very reason Rick is pointing out. The whole thing is a bit of a game to be honest and I don't want to be a puppet to these companies look these companies are great companies. Don't get me wrong but I don't need free gear. I need time and I enjoy the time being out shooting or being with friends and family. I don't want to be making videos about a filter or a tripod or some other thing and I know that if I run a UA-cam channel, I would easily say yes to this gear because it's free and some of it you get to keep I get it. It sounds cool but there's always a negative side to it..... I let my images speak instead of UA-cam. When people see my photos they resonate with people. I don't need a UA-cam channel and I'm not begrudging people that do it or criticising at all.
I dont mind seeing sponsored videos, as long as I am getting what I wanted from watching. If I get the vibe that the creator isn't into what he's promoting, I'll click off. But if the creator is knowledgeable and I learn from it, that's great. For instance, I unsubscribed from a creator because she was promoting a bed brand she'd slept on for a week, and skin care products that she'd used for a few days. I don't want to see that crap. Lol
No
No