John, What I’ve learned from you over the years has truly made me a better, and more skillful photographer, thank you!!! I think it’s less about specific topics and tutorials, but more about where viewers are in their photography journey. Covering concepts that inspire and challenge photographers at various stages,whether they’re just starting, refining their skills, or exploring advanced techniques, is what you do incredibly well. Keep doing what you do best, sharing knowledge in a way that will resonate with everyone!
I third that idea, and especially would be valuable to get pointers on how to deal with folks with especially challenging body types and situations. Such as; stocky and/or overweight dudes with short legs, and curvy ladies. And, then, what do you recommend to do when you have couples where one of them is much bigger (fatter) than the other. There's some guidance out there on how to flatter curvy ladies, but essentially nothing on challenging male body types and what to do when there's a mismatch of body types that need to go together. I'm curious about recommended poses, but also composition, lighting, and focal length selection. Regarding focal length, there has been some chatter amongst rank & file photogs that WIDER focal lengths actually work better for heavier set people, rather than the normal guidance of using the longest portrait focal length you have to flatter as much as possible. I'd love to see more of the big UA-cam photogs start to tackle these types of real-world problems. Thanks!
Happy new year! I started watching your videos because of your technical aspect of photography especially with lights. My favorite videos are your results and how you got there.
I’ve watched a lot of YT videos on photography and lighting over the years and you have put out some of my most favorite tutorials and I’ve learned a lot. So thank you for that! And as far as videos, Pricing correctly would be helpful.
Happy New Year! I rarely comment on videos but your content have been very helpful for a beginner like me. Maybe as suggestions, you do a live photography session, videos going in depth about technical aspects(ex. the zone system) also composition, set design, different photography styles like achieving an Avedon, Parks, Lutens style etc.
Having been a subscriber, an academy member and attending in-person workshops, your teaching, instruction and direction and ability to mentor is your gift (in addition to your photography). I can't completely discount your product reviews as the ones related to the R5 were invaluable to me when I made that transition from DSLR to mirrorless and were viewed countless times with copious notes taken. The R5 color profiles you shared in the absence of anything usable are still in my daily workflow. having said all that, personally, your lighting guides and the studio tutorials are what drive my interests. Adding more outdoor lighting set ups (videos) are great for those without permanent studios, and I learned a lot from your old studio and how you created so much in a very limited space. This is encouragement for those who are shooting in home/basement/garage studios. One aspect of your methods is the way you share the thought process behind the shot or the development of the shot (especially in the Academy videos). Many are just trying to sell some product or service and forget that without the creative skills, all the gear in the world is just clutter. I follow you knowing you could deliver (create) with a 20 year old Canon Rebel, kit lens and a $99 Amazon lighting kit. I enjoy your perspective on the pieces in your kit, but truly value the way you get from A-Z and the experiences that shaped those processes. Happy New Year.
Don’t tempt me to go buy the first Digital Rebel on eBay for a video! 😂 Seriously though, it's nice to hear from you and thank you so much for your kind words and for sticking with me as a subscriber, Academy member, and workshop attendee-it means the world to me. I’m thrilled to hear that the R5 content and color profiles have been so helpful to your workflow. It’s amazing to know they’re still part of your daily process! When Adobe finally had camera matching profiles for the camera did you ever use them? I always find that they kill the detail in the blacks. Your encouragement around lighting guides and studio tutorials is great to hear and I will make it back out doors when weather permits. It’s also great to hear that sharing my thought process behind shots has been valuable to you-that’s something I try to focus on because, as you said, gear without creative skills is just clutter. Thank you again for this thoughtful feedback and for always supporting my work. Wishing you a Happy New Year! May 2025 be your best year yet!
@@JohnGress Still using the Color Fidelity R5 profiles, V5 and V6 as well as V1 for the R3. Very grateful for you sharing them, and the input you added to their development.
Now you have me thinking I should get them for the r5II. I use C1 most of the time, but as part of remote editing workflow with my client images, I use LR and their cloud. However, I strongly dislike how LR handles the darker tones in images.
I've been learning a lot from you John! I am so thanks for for all the precious stuff you've been sharing with the world! Please keep creating and good luck! By the way, working with models, female and male and posing topic are among my interested topics! God bless and Happy New Year!
2x month with lighting BTS. The insight videos are the best. For us beginners it's incredible to understand your mindset in creating the art that you do. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into YT.
Happy New Year! Thank you for all the videos, they have been a great source of learning! However you decide to include/present in your channel, I welcome your knowledge, work, dedication and most of all the time that you make to bring us your great content!
@JohnGress technical issues that have happened on shoots, how you solved them..or prevented them from occurring again. Maybe a critique of do and don't also well..love your channel as well
Thank you John for all your videos I really learned a lot. Not from the gear videos, but more of the technical things. Would love to see lighting setups. I am starting out with a 1 light set up and would love to see tho gs more geared to beginner photographers that want to goto the next level and transition to a career.
Thanks! I will definitely keep that in mind. You might enjoy this one light setup video and my one light lighting handbook: ua-cam.com/video/TakCHNT-rxk/v-deo.html
john!! happy 2025 mate! Your videos are truly some of my fav on youtube, and would loooove to see some more not only on the lighting itself, but posing models. Something i really struggle with a lot. Photography mostly males so feel like you would have a lot of insight to add here. Anyway, will watch whatever you put out!
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you in 2025. If you haven’t already seen it, you might really enjoy this video: Master Posing Men: The Ultimate Head-to-Toe Guide for Photographers & Models ua-cam.com/video/h4ahv8YiGDI/v-deo.html
Hi John, happy new year. I really like your videos, and I can just confirm that there is a lot to learn when starting up photography, and your videos are a great help for anyone trying to improve their photography skills. There is a ton of videos on UA-cam, related to more or less the same subjects, where content creators are sharing the more techincal approach toward photography, and that's great. However, I would really like to see more videos on what your thoughts are when using props, setting up the "stage" , the process/considerations lens choice ect. I consider myself a decent photographer, and feel quite comfortable on the technical part, and at some point in the learning process the focus shifts from the techical part, to the more creative part. I feel that there is way to few videos that covers some of the creative choices like using probs and setting up/building the "stage" so maybe you could lead the way on this subject. All the best, and thanks. John
Thank you so much! This comment and others and making me want to mix things up.. When I did make a video about prop shooing a set design a new years ago, they didn’t do that well. But maybe the. Best way forward is to incorporate those trips in blogs where I’m bring people along on a shoot with me.
Your lighting tutorials are chefs kiss! What would be cool is Coulson vids where he recreates images with a model, always interesting. We all appreciate you! You have a huge impact on so many people my friend
Keep up the good work! There’s plenty of people out there reviewing gear. It’s very topical. There’s not a lot of people making videos about high end lighting and the intricate details of the science behind it. I completely agree on how that information will stay with a person in comparison to the gear. Looking forward to the videos!
John, your videos (and Instagram feed) have been a revelation to me in 2024. I'm looking forward to joining the Academy and I think the idea of conducting a masterclass as a UA-cam video would be fun.
I appreciate your kind words. The Academy is a great place to learn and connect with other photographers, so I hope you enjoy it! I’m always thinking about new video ideas.
Hi John. I try and limit my UA-cam viewing to videos where I am going to learn something or have an interesting takeaway; which is why I watch most of the content you post! I think the videos where you problem solve are the best, so the photoshoot you did in the bar was excellent, your approach, your thought process and problem solving as you went along. As someone else mentioned posing is always an issue for a lot of photographers. Agree on power settings as that information is meaningless unless you have the same lights, same set up and exact distances you will never ever be able to reproduce the same lighting. So a video on how to nail power settings and why you set the lights at a certain power would be more helpful. Some will scream but I use a light meter and fine tune if I am tethered or on the back of the camera if not. Have great and successful 2025!
Thanks you so much for your kind words and feedback! I of course use a light meter all of the time and I can't understand why people obsessed with settings would scoff at using a digital device that gives them more numbers. Happy new year and best of luck in 2025!
Thanks John! Love your videos and have been following since 2020. Have you thought about making some content that’s set in real interior locations other than your studio? It might be too cold where you are to go outside, but what about something set in a living room or cafe or etc etc? Someone’s house could be the most accessible and least expensive for you, but other interior locations could be really fun too. Not sure what the tutorial would be about besides using the space you have but thought I’d suggest. Happy new year!
Thank you so much for your support and for following since 2020-it means a lot! That’s a really good idea! I’ll consider ways to make that happen. Thanks for the inspiration, and Happy New Year to you as well!
Your directness and clarity are great. I watch your videos for inspiration, lighting ideas, and techniques. I have speedlights and umbrellas and I am try to translate a lot of what you show into my limitations. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the video John. Your work and teaching are amazing. I particularly love the teachings involving lighting, light metering, and equipment (how to use).
Talk more about the photography industry and how to get in the door for someone who doesn't have a connection in the industry. How to survive as a portrait/fashion photographer today. Love your content and style John!
Thank you for posting your educational videos. I hope to keep seeing you in 2025, no mather if it will be weekly or monthly. Just don't stop please. Have a good year!
I have my own photography studio. Maybe 1/100 photographers have their own. I think people including me are more interested on outdoor creative photoshoot with one or two lights setup but as you mentioned, it's not possible now on your location. Your explanation is clear, easy to understand, too serious and systematic. Sometime's adding some funny behind the scene clips makes the viewers smile and more interested. It's not all about camera and lighting, some people are also interested on how you communicate with your model and etc.
Thanks I appreciate your feedback. I tried to be more relaxed in this video and its something I need to work on ua-cam.com/video/ABFierGP8Y0/v-deo.html
@JohnGress I already watched and commented on that video. I'm still waiting for another video using ND filter outdoor during mid-day to test the capability of ND filter vs HSS. Keep on making studio videos but some outdoor videos will be better in my opinion. Manny Ortiz is doing the same thing but I think you can explain it more clearly to your viewers.
You are kind of the go to authority on high end studio portrait lighting on UA-cam, IMO. You do a really great job. The only thing I can think to add is a video on how to light the rest of the scene, especially for wider environmental portraits, beyond just the face.
Hey John, i see you as a phenomenal photographer and educator; personally and professionally i would like to see you do more on-location work. and see how and why you light on various locations. Even as a pro photographer myself, most people dont have studios, but we all have access to the outdoors. :-) 😊 HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Your studio lighting videos are what draw me in. Learning more about how you pose models (and why) would be great. I've been working on mixed color temperature lighting - mixing ambient and strobe with gels. Seeing how you would do that would be super interesting. I am thinking of an opportune time to take one of your workshops.
Thanks! I to would be great to have you at a work shop. I have some videos in the works regarding color and you might enjoy this posing video too ua-cam.com/video/h4ahv8YiGDI/v-deo.html
makes sense to me, i love those adorama videos Daniel Norton does showing different lighting scenarios. I've watched so many of them and I always find some value there, even though they are made for beginners. happy new year!
Thanks John, a happy and successful 2025 to you. Nice OCF portrait tutorials with a 2x flash set up, indoors as well as outdoors (with the sun as light source no. 3), would be great. A 2nd topic would be how to prepare files for printing or digital exposition on Fuji paper (the only colour photo paper left on the market to my knowledge). Which sharpening and resolution settings, which colour profile do you use? Which vendors to use for prints or photos? Do you print yourself? If yes, which printing equipment do you use, and how is long-term durability of such prints?
Thanks so much for the thoughtful suggestions and Happy New Year to you as well! I can definitely explore the OCF portrait tutorials with a 2x flash setup, both indoors and outdoors. As for the printing topics, I don’t currently print anything myself, so those might not be the best fit for me, but I truly appreciate your input.
I really like that your channel is about photography, lighting and honing the skills, and not that much about cameras. There are so channels on cameras and lenses, and that may yield more views, but your approach is personal and unique. Maybe some videos on image editing, some about group / family shoots
I'd love to see some conversational and entertaining content (while still being educational) such as interviews and conversations with other photographers, editors, etc
Thank you so much for your suggestion! Interviews or discussions with other photographers could bring a fresh perspective, and incorporating critiques of viewer work could definitely make it interactive and engaging. Do you like the idea of image critiques again and do you think a live stream format for these ideas would be fun, or would you prefer pre-recorded videos? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
@@JohnGressI'm not much into live streams myself. Either way, thanks for all the amazing content over the years, and wishing you success going forward. 😊
Hi, John, I often turn to your channel for your methodical and comprehensive approach to a topic. I know that your handling of a topic will be accessible and thorough. (I can only imagine the amount of work required to achieve that clarity.) For example, your video on the effectiveness of different sizes and reflectivities of beauty dishes benchmarked my own purchase. Your video showing the multi-light setup for the basketball team is also one I've returned to a few times. The biggest shifts in my understanding of photography this year came from finally understanding some theoretical models that eluded me until now. I consider them the sort of fundamental topics that you're interested in: 1) The Zone System: Despite its origins in film photography, it applies to digital cameras just as much. So helpful in understanding how to assess light with my eyes. 2) Color spaces and theory: Specifically, the 3D nature of them and how, for example, pushing a color's saturation past a certain point will also change its luminance. This came out of wanting to understand what video colorists meant when discussing HSL vs. HSV. 3) The visual limits of my biology: Understanding the broad physical capabilities and limits of my eyes threw a lot of cold water on my GAS and how I approached my edits. 4) Reversing the image pipeline: I now think of image acquisition in terms of display medium (paper or screen) -> capture medium -> scene exposure rather than the other way around. This change in mindset, coupled with #3, has changed how I approach different shooting scenarios. Hope one or more of these ideas sparks something for you. I wish you ever continued success.
Related to #1, it's only after I grasped the Zone System that I properly understood what folks like you were trying to say when they said, "Correct exposure." Related to #3, this also helped me with #1.
Hi David, thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share such insightful reflections-it truly means a lot! I’m so glad to hear that my videos have been helpful to you, and I love the ideas you’ve shared here. I’ll definitely be taking these ideas into consideration for future videos. They spark a lot of inspiration for diving deeper into fundamental topics that can elevate both technical skills and creative thinking. Thanks again for sharing your journey and insights-it’s incredibly encouraging! Wishing you continued success in your photography and a Happy New Year!
I realize in brief hindsight that all of these topics center around how to see. For me, having theoretical frameworks and benchmarks serve as a place to stand until, through practice, the ideas become second nature. For example, knowing that Zone VIII's "lightest tone with texture" equates to a luminance value between 185 and 209 (out of 255 in a grayscale image) helped me connect the histogram to what my eyes see and the Zone System is trying to teach me. From there, I understood that no matter how good a digital camera's dynamic range eventually gets, there will always be a Zone IX and a Zone II in every image I see because the Zone System describes what we perceive, not the sensitivity of film or a sensor. That sort of thing. I tend to squirrel away the resources that unlocked these concepts for me. If you think they'd be helpful in deciding whether to tackle them for your broader audience, let me know.
@@JohnGress At extreme risk of testing your patience, I amend my other comment to suggest that these topics taught me "what I'm seeing" rather than "how to see." The latter's a common UA-cam topic, but it's usually focused on composition rather than perception itself. I hope that distinction makes sense and is useful to you.
Thank you so much for expanding on these points, David. I really appreciate your thoughtful reflections on the Zone System and how it has shaped your understanding of light and exposure. Your distinction between “what I’m seeing” versus “how to see” is incredibly insightful-it’s a subtle yet critical shift in perception that can transform one’s approach to photography.
Hey John, long time no see lol, my fault tho lol. Well I was here when you asked about longer videos and looks like I'm here again lol. As I can't actually help on your decision coz as I said before... I will keep watching you just for the sake of watching your stuff I really have a great time watching your videos. That said a lot of the "older" UA-camrs are complaining about views dropping I saw some videos saying youtube is kind of pushing more small accounts so take that in consideration. Hey Happy New Year bud! For you and all your family I hope 2025 will be an amazing year for you guys!
Hey! It’s great to hear from you again! Hopefully, this shift to smaller creators will end up being a positive thing for me as well. I didn’t mean to complain too much-my account is still growing, and if everything goes well, I’m hoping to hit 100k in about a year. Thank you so much for continuing to watch and for your kind words. Wishing you and your family an amazing New Year as well. Muito obrigado!
I subscribed to you and is a paying member the Gress Academy is because of lighting and you popped up in my algorithm when watching GOAT James Quantz 🎉🙏🏿💪🏿❤️💯🎊🎯
I'm purely a hobbyist photographer. I like to capture people and places that strike me as memorable in some way. For me, the most helpful of your videos have been those that show how doing some specific technique impacts a composition. For example, while I have no studio strobes or any lights for that matter, seeing how your use of controlled lighting of various kinds impacts a composition is helpful even when I'm shooting outdoors in natural light. In other words, things you have learned to do that make photographs look good. (Sorry, that is so general. Hopefully, you get what I'm thinking about.) As far as equipment reviews, how a given lens, light, or camera helps your work is probably the most interesting thing. Other hyper-technical reviewers already exist, like Dustin Abbott or Gerold Undone. There’s no point in repeating what folks like that already do very well. Your approach to actually making the videos is excellent. I find all topics are very easy to understand as you present them. Keep it up!
Hi Bob, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and for your kind words! It’s great to hear that you find value in the way I explain techniques and how they impact composition- even when you are using natural light. I completely understand what you’re saying, and I think your point is spot on: showing how small adjustments can make a big difference is so important. As you mentioned, there are already fantastic hyper-technical reviewers out there, so I should focus on showing how gear works in practical, real-world scenarios. Thanks again for taking the time to share your feedback and for being part of this community! It means a lot. Here’s to many more memorable shots in 2025!
Break it up. One video do a few q and a's. Do live videos, with live one on one with your audience as you work a session. Try and get guests who specialize in their specific photography fields: product photography, fashion photography, reportage...etc. Just some ideas to throw in some variety yet still revolve around the educational sphere. Best of luck and Happy New Year.
Great Video John G, you really should not feel too bad about your output. There are an awful lot of Hardware reviews out there and to be honest they make me yawn. I much prefer your tutorials to any review, they all seem to be the same, buy the latest cameras. Someone once said, "The best camera you have is the one in your hand". Whilst it is nice to have all the camera settings for a shoot in practice my settings would be different to yours because of my situation, it would be much better to learn how you reached them from stage one onwards.
Thank you so much, Jon! That is essentially where I’m going with the series I just recorded. That adage about “the best camera is the one in your hands” has never been truer than it is today, given how little difference there is in image quality from one model to another.
Hello John Greetings from germany In no case further explain videos about new cameras or lenses of which there are already too many For example, I think it's quite good if you make more videos about how you do with the usual things like a simple flash and a simple light diffuser What would also be highly interesting is the approach to trust yourself to work with a model let alone book one to take the photos because I am of the opinion that it is only possible to make progress All the best, all the best for the new year and please apologise for my spelling❤
Danke schön! It’s wonderful to hear from you! My ancestors are from Bavaria! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas. I completely agree about avoiding excessive content on new cameras and lenses; there are plenty of those already. I’ll definitely focus more on videos that show how to work with simple tools-that’s such a great idea! I also love your suggestion about building confidence when working with models, especially for those just starting out. It’s such an important part of growing as a photographer, and I’d be excited to explore that in a video. Wishing you all the best for the New Year as well! And no need to apologize for your spelling-it’s perfect!
I’d say give many would be photographers something they may not realize they need…business skills, marketing…how to keep a stream of clients, manage the work load, manage the business….
Thanks for the feedback! I think that's a good idea that I could explore in future videos. I covered a lot of business topics 2 months ago in this video: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html
It's difficult right because the deeper you get into the subject the fewer audience members you have at that higher level that even know to seek out that information. So you either get really high-level discussion with fewer fish in the pond or you get lower-level discussion that has a wider appeal but also more fishermen that are showing the same thing over and over. With camera videos you get even less control because it depends on how it's marketed and if people even have money available. Maybe exploring a series on a topic would give you feedback on what the length tolerance is if they watch more than one in a series you might be able to extend the runtime for example. One strategy could be to use chapters to create entry points so you can start with the pre-requisite info and reference later chapters with the advanced information. Another strategy is to try and mix both low and high so you can walk through topics at mostly a low level with some high level thrown in. I've found a ton of good information just rewatching old tutorials because instructors tucked in extra information I wasn't ready to understand at the time. For topic suggestions there's a lot of videos already on hard and soft light, but not many videos that explore how makeup adds another dimension into the mix. Also I'm sure you've run into this but sometimes models can look kinda plain in person but can be just amazing as soon as you hit the shutter. No idea what it is but sometimes it literally feels like magic running into those people.
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful comment! That is a very interesting idea to present the beginner information at the beginning and then the advanced information at the end. I also like your idea of oscillating between high and low. I think what I may try to do is make some entry-level content for a few months and then switch to intermediate advanced content, although that could have its perils as well.
@@JohnGress I always enjoy seeing things you make and I did get a tremendous amount of value from your workshop so hopefully this process isn't too discouraging.
Hello John. How about a video explaining how to use an incident light meter in depth? That could be helpful; especially when it comes to nailing exposure in camera.
Hi John... how to make money from portrait photography... who buys the pics? How many pics do you expect from a session? Model release form... Thanks for all your help!
John, your channel is great and we love you. We know it’s a lot of work. You’re almost over the 100k hump! But UA-cam is focusing on creators and creators… well… create. A lot! Here’s my two cents. - collabs with other photographers - gear reviews (so many people want to buy the gear and cosplay a photographer) - UA-cam live (no editing) - when in doubt, copy Simon 😂
My idea would be to showcase older used pro gear. The latest high end mirrorless cameras a really expensive, but you don't need them for say a studio model shoot. Why not take a Canon R5 ii and a $450 used Canon 5D-3 or 5D-2 and do a studio shoot? I have an old 2008 Nikon D3X which people have called a terrible camera, but it's great for studio portraits with strobes. You get the idea - take really affordable old used gear and show how good it is - people love that. Really old cheap Elinchrom and Bowens studio strobes are still fantastic you could do an episode with those. All my 3 Elinchrom style 300s analogue heads cost over $100 and they work brilliantly & recycle really fast. The Godox TT600 manual only speedlite is unbelievably cheap and a total bargain compared with fancy high tech models.
happy new year. Video ideas? Maybe involve the histogram a bit more in your videos. And than explain to the lightmeter nerts that what the lightmeter says is not the holy grail. And you can learn from looking at the histogram (the red line in the highlight section of the histogram in particular). Yesterday i saw a video of some art photography and she underexposed everything by 2 stops and then recover it in post so the highlights where less intense or something like that. Learn people how to read the highlights basicly so they can get more creative. I kinda know how to do it but maybe you know more tricks than most of us because you have so much experience. some people use ETTL or ETTR method, but i have no idea when to use it to be honest. And also put some more not-models into the mix.
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and suggestions! I’ll definitely address the role of the histogram in my upcoming exposure video. I do, however, take a different approach to exposing highlights, as the other presenter’s method seems likely to unnecessarily lose shadow detail. Please feel free to share the link if you have it!
I don't come to you for camera (or most equipment) reviews. I come to you because you are a photographer with taste. That may seem minor but it's a crucial point. There are tons of tech reviewers but few people whose examples help me produce better portraits in the way you do. I come here to be inspired, to try things out. For the record: I am a documentary filmmaker and I look to your photography lighting to refine my lighting for indoor interviews. I have at best one or two other people with me on crew, so I value great looks of seated people who speak and move their head and upper body. That's how I look at your videos. Is there something I can use? I likes your advanced lighting technics video with the overhead octa. The feathered light video was great and I am hoping to check out the Master Color Harmony video next. 9 types of portrait lighting was great and I hope you will do something similar for half-body, seated shots.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I’ll definitely consider your suggestions for future videos. While it’s not exactly artistic, you might enjoy this video: Why I Don’t Like to Be on Camera: Plus Three Great Interview Lighting Setups for Video Using Nanlites - ua-cam.com/video/TiSMTH4gBKo/v-deo.html.
@@JohnGress I did see that and I can identify with a lot of what you spoke about. Keep up the good work. Your authenticity and personality are plusses in this youtube-world.
@@JohnGress If you want to I could send you a "improve my lighting" challenge with existing gear being a limiting factor. That could be a fun video series to do with various photographers/cinematographers. Just an idea I had a moment ago.
Business tips for new generation photographer, posing tips for people who are not model, lighting tips like your are already doing (great tutorial btw🔥👌), how to find great customer, edithing technique, more tutorial and less new gear release. Now i loss a lot of trust on other chanel because i dont know if he try to sell me a product because he really like it or if it just because he have a contract with them. I know this kind of video pay the bills but i find it way to present now on youtube this days and we lost interest to watch youtube because of that. when it was just your own content an tutorial and not 90% of gear promotion youtube was awesome. I hope great advice and tutorial make his comeback for 2025🤞 it was a general message. Your content is already great. keep doing what you really want to talk about. UA-cam need to promote more channel like yours and less gear promo video. Its not your faults its the algoritm who make it harder
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and support! I completely agree that tutorials, advice, and practical tips should always take center stage, and I’ll continue to focus on that in my content. If you’re interested in business tips, I recently made a video that dives deep into this topic: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html. Thanks again for watching and sharing your feedback-it really means a lot!
I enjoy and learn from every one of your videos, except for the ones where you talk about camera specs. Then it feels like another "youtube photographer" is trying to sell me another new camera, even though I haven't needed a new camera for the last 6 years. I wish you to continue loving what you do, create it, teach it.
I suggest making a paid subscription / patreon style thing additionally, somewhat a more accessible middle ground between YT viewer monetization and your membership. This way you can also rely on monetization from people who want/rely on higher quality, slower to produce, more thoughtful content that's highly valuable, but may not play great under the youtube algorithm and associated monetization models. Unfortunately this reality has been driving many of the best content creators to rely on clickbait, product reviews & affiliate links, a video a week, model. And whenever I see a video of yours (and some other folks) I know there's actual great content.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am not really sure if you are aware that I already have a membership site, johngress.com/academy/, or if you are suggesting that I make a second membership site.
@JohnGress hey John, I am aware indeed. Suggesting something less friction and less commitment than your membership. UA-cam has a "join" functionality on top of subscribe (youtube membership) that many people use like a patreon style low commitment more akin to "I support what you do" than like buying a separate more expensive product. Think something like a couple of clicks that turn into $1-2/mo that gives a few early accesses or maybe eventual personal comment or B roll (nothing needing proper extra work of yours) to give a sense of benefit over a pure donation. Not as many people may be ready/willing to go through a(nother) 19/mo membership, but would be nore than happy to in a few clicks pay the smaller amount to incentivize good thoughtful content.
I would say maybe focus on how to create a look start to finish. Also talk about the creative process how do you get your ideas. Truth be told I am one of those that never watch gear videos. Most because there just nonsense ''O buy this new shiny kit IT will make you a great photographer". If you really do UA-cam to help others then do that talk about all thing 95% of the others won't touch. Talk about real creative development the trails & errors I like to call it. Show them it's not about fancy kit. With that I may comeback. Although I did clearly say I don't watch kit videos but with that said Yes it was a kit video on how I found you sometime ago. You did a Elinchrom videos so yes there are useful but It wont keep people watching. Check out Camera Club every video teaches. Good Luck & Most importantly Have A Great New Year.
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and for sharing your thoughts-it really means a lot! I completely agree that focusing on creative development and the process, rather than just the gear, is so important. I love the idea of diving deeper into how to create a look from start to finish and breaking down the creative process behind my work. It’s something I’ll definitely work on more in future videos. Maybe I’ll work on that when I make the video about redecorating the set that was behind me in this video. Thanks again for your encouragement and for sticking around-it’s truly appreciated! Wishing you a Happy New Year as well!
2020 was during the pandemic and a lot more people had more time at home yo watch videos. So i think most channels have seem a decline since then, as more people are back to their 9-5.
yeah... I remember seeing a chart Tony Northrup posted of their views over time and you can see a spike back them. Thankfully I am still growing so overall it keeps going up! I am trying to get that 100k plaque this year!
2025 I think you should teach more about lighting knowledge distance attachment attenuation angle direction lighting style U.S. Times Square advertisement blockbuster, you're sure to be a hit around the world too few people teach this knowledge
I really appreciate your suggestion to dive deeper into lighting concepts like distance, attachment, attenuation, angle, and direction. These are definitely important topics, and I agree that understanding these fundamentals can make a huge difference in creating impactful images. I’ll make sure to include more detailed lighting tutorials in future videos. Thanks for sharing your feedback-it’s incredibly helpful!
A vid about how photography can stay relevant while AI is doing what we know. I am afraid people are going to give images less and less value, since they all assume you use AI, not real skills and intentions.
The algorithm likes frequent uploads. I think you get penalized by Google for months long intervals.. Short useful videos on a specific topic will get you more activity.
I am not so sure about that since there are some creators posting LOOOOOONGGGGG format videos a few times a year getting millions of views. But..... I will ask chat gpt =)
Doing Canon camera videos is not of interest to all of the other photographers who use a different brand. Shooting and lighting skills would be popular. Also, what about business skills?!?!
Its simple, make videos peoples want to see. Easy way is to give Your knowledge for free, usefull enaugh to other photographers that they could copy Your work and make $ out of it. Preferable will be one light setups, with nice models and easy solutions... Yes, that satire.
John, What I’ve learned from you over the years has truly made me a better, and more skillful photographer, thank you!!!
I think it’s less about specific topics and tutorials, but more about where viewers are in their photography journey. Covering concepts that inspire and challenge photographers at various stages,whether they’re just starting, refining their skills, or exploring advanced techniques, is what you do incredibly well. Keep doing what you do best, sharing knowledge in a way that will resonate with everyone!
Thanks Wanda! I really appreciate our friendship and all the time we’ve spent together. I’ll try to share more about the journey and check back in!
A video on posing models for body types, i.e. large and slim, fit and muscular, tall and etc. And Happy New Year.
Happy new year! Thanks for the idea Jake. I have this general posing video which you might like: ua-cam.com/video/h4ahv8YiGDI/v-deo.html
@@jhenry248 agreed!
I third that idea, and especially would be valuable to get pointers on how to deal with folks with especially challenging body types and situations. Such as; stocky and/or overweight dudes with short legs, and curvy ladies. And, then, what do you recommend to do when you have couples where one of them is much bigger (fatter) than the other. There's some guidance out there on how to flatter curvy ladies, but essentially nothing on challenging male body types and what to do when there's a mismatch of body types that need to go together. I'm curious about recommended poses, but also composition, lighting, and focal length selection. Regarding focal length, there has been some chatter amongst rank & file photogs that WIDER focal lengths actually work better for heavier set people, rather than the normal guidance of using the longest portrait focal length you have to flatter as much as possible. I'd love to see more of the big UA-cam photogs start to tackle these types of real-world problems. Thanks!
Hi Scott thanks you so much for bringing this up! There is a lot to chew on....
@@JohnGress thank you so much, John, for all you do. Best wishes to you in 2025!
Don't matter what kind of videos you post, it's always a masterclass. Happy 2025, greatings from Brazil.
Muito obrigado! Happy New Year to you too!
Happy new year! I started watching your videos because of your technical aspect of photography especially with lights. My favorite videos are your results and how you got there.
Thanks so much! Glad to hear you like the practical side of things. Happy new year!
I’ve watched a lot of YT videos on photography and lighting over the years and you have put out some of my most favorite tutorials and I’ve learned a lot. So thank you for that! And as far as videos, Pricing correctly would be helpful.
Thanks for your kind words! I will take that into consideration and happy new year!
Happy New Year! I rarely comment on videos but your content have been very helpful for a beginner like me. Maybe as suggestions, you do a live photography session, videos going in depth about technical aspects(ex. the zone system) also composition, set design, different photography styles like achieving an Avedon, Parks, Lutens style etc.
Thank you! I appreciate that! I’m always thinking about new video ideas and I like your suggestions.
Happy new year!
Having been a subscriber, an academy member and attending in-person workshops, your teaching, instruction and direction and ability to mentor is your gift (in addition to your photography). I can't completely discount your product reviews as the ones related to the R5 were invaluable to me when I made that transition from DSLR to mirrorless and were viewed countless times with copious notes taken. The R5 color profiles you shared in the absence of anything usable are still in my daily workflow. having said all that, personally, your lighting guides and the studio tutorials are what drive my interests. Adding more outdoor lighting set ups (videos) are great for those without permanent studios, and I learned a lot from your old studio and how you created so much in a very limited space. This is encouragement for those who are shooting in home/basement/garage studios. One aspect of your methods is the way you share the thought process behind the shot or the development of the shot (especially in the Academy videos). Many are just trying to sell some product or service and forget that without the creative skills, all the gear in the world is just clutter. I follow you knowing you could deliver (create) with a 20 year old Canon Rebel, kit lens and a $99 Amazon lighting kit. I enjoy your perspective on the pieces in your kit, but truly value the way you get from A-Z and the experiences that shaped those processes. Happy New Year.
Don’t tempt me to go buy the first Digital Rebel on eBay for a video! 😂 Seriously though, it's nice to hear from you and thank you so much for your kind words and for sticking with me as a subscriber, Academy member, and workshop attendee-it means the world to me. I’m thrilled to hear that the R5 content and color profiles have been so helpful to your workflow. It’s amazing to know they’re still part of your daily process! When Adobe finally had camera matching profiles for the camera did you ever use them? I always find that they kill the detail in the blacks.
Your encouragement around lighting guides and studio tutorials is great to hear and I will make it back out doors when weather permits. It’s also great to hear that sharing my thought process behind shots has been valuable to you-that’s something I try to focus on because, as you said, gear without creative skills is just clutter.
Thank you again for this thoughtful feedback and for always supporting my work. Wishing you a Happy New Year! May 2025 be your best year yet!
@@JohnGress Still using the Color Fidelity R5 profiles, V5 and V6 as well as V1 for the R3. Very grateful for you sharing them, and the input you added to their development.
Now you have me thinking I should get them for the r5II. I use C1 most of the time, but as part of remote editing workflow with my client images, I use LR and their cloud. However, I strongly dislike how LR handles the darker tones in images.
The quality of this video is just top notch😮
Thank you so much! Only one cut
Lighting is important but perhaps fundamental topics like color, shape, or composition could be also useful.
Thanks, that’s a great idea!
Thanks for all the videos you made and all the videos that are coming. It has been a wonderful experience to learn from you.
Muito obrigado 😊
De nada e Feliz Ano Novo!
I've been learning a lot from you John! I am so thanks for for all the precious stuff you've been sharing with the world! Please keep creating and good luck! By the way, working with models, female and male and posing topic are among my interested topics! God bless and Happy New Year!
Thanks so much for your kind words and support! I’ll definitely keep those posing topics in mind. Happy new year!
@@JohnGress You're very welcome John! Thank you so much! ❤🙏🙏🙏
2x month with lighting BTS. The insight videos are the best. For us beginners it's incredible to understand your mindset in creating the art that you do. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into YT.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the feedback!
Happy New Year! Thank you for all the videos, they have been a great source of learning! However you decide to include/present in your channel, I welcome your knowledge, work, dedication and most of all the time that you make to bring us your great content!
Thanks, that’s super kind of you! Best of luck to you in 2025!
Lighting recipes..explaining your reasoning behind shoots..the developing of concepts. Fashion,editorial and Glamour photography
Thanks! I would love to hear more!
@JohnGress technical issues that have happened on shoots, how you solved them..or prevented them from occurring again.
Maybe a critique of do and don't also well..love your channel as well
Thanks! I think I might do some image critique videos with friends to mix up the content too.
Thank you John for all your videos I really learned a lot. Not from the gear videos, but more of the technical things. Would love to see lighting setups. I am starting out with a 1 light set up and would love to see tho gs more geared to beginner photographers that want to goto the next level and transition to a career.
Thanks! I will definitely keep that in mind. You might enjoy this one light setup video and my one light lighting handbook: ua-cam.com/video/TakCHNT-rxk/v-deo.html
john!! happy 2025 mate! Your videos are truly some of my fav on youtube, and would loooove to see some more not only on the lighting itself, but posing models. Something i really struggle with a lot. Photography mostly males so feel like you would have a lot of insight to add here. Anyway, will watch whatever you put out!
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you in 2025. If you haven’t already seen it, you might really enjoy this video: Master Posing Men: The Ultimate Head-to-Toe Guide for Photographers & Models
ua-cam.com/video/h4ahv8YiGDI/v-deo.html
Hi John, happy new year.
I really like your videos, and I can just confirm that there is a lot to learn when starting up photography, and your videos are a great help for anyone trying to improve their photography skills.
There is a ton of videos on UA-cam, related to more or less the same subjects, where content creators are sharing the more techincal approach toward photography, and that's great.
However, I would really like to see more videos on what your thoughts are when using props, setting up the "stage" , the process/considerations lens choice ect.
I consider myself a decent photographer, and feel quite comfortable on the technical part, and at some point in the learning process the focus shifts from the techical part, to the more creative part. I feel that there is way to few videos that covers some of the creative choices like using probs and setting up/building the "stage" so maybe you could lead the way on this subject.
All the best, and thanks.
John
Thank you so much! This comment and others and making me want to mix things up.. When I did make a video about prop shooing a set design a new years ago, they didn’t do that well. But maybe the. Best way forward is to incorporate those trips in blogs where I’m bring people along on a shoot with me.
Your lighting tutorials are chefs kiss! What would be cool is Coulson vids where he recreates images with a model, always interesting.
We all appreciate you! You have a huge impact on so many people my friend
Thanks for the kind words! I’m glad I can help! Your idea falls inline with someone of the other suggestions so I am sure I will cover that this year!
Keep up the good work! There’s plenty of people out there reviewing gear. It’s very topical. There’s not a lot of people making videos about high end lighting and the intricate details of the science behind it. I completely agree on how that information will stay with a person in comparison to the gear. Looking forward to the videos!
Thanks Mike! I really appreciate it. Best of luck to you in 2025!
John, your videos (and Instagram feed) have been a revelation to me in 2024. I'm looking forward to joining the Academy and I think the idea of conducting a masterclass as a UA-cam video would be fun.
I appreciate your kind words. The Academy is a great place to learn and connect with other photographers, so I hope you enjoy it! I’m always thinking about new video ideas.
Hi John. I try and limit my UA-cam viewing to videos where I am going to learn something or have an interesting takeaway; which is why I watch most of the content you post! I think the videos where you problem solve are the best, so the photoshoot you did in the bar was excellent, your approach, your thought process and problem solving as you went along. As someone else mentioned posing is always an issue for a lot of photographers. Agree on power settings as that information is meaningless unless you have the same lights, same set up and exact distances you will never ever be able to reproduce the same lighting. So a video on how to nail power settings and why you set the lights at a certain power would be more helpful. Some will scream but I use a light meter and fine tune if I am tethered or on the back of the camera if not. Have great and successful 2025!
Thanks you so much for your kind words and feedback! I of course use a light meter all of the time and I can't understand why people obsessed with settings would scoff at using a digital device that gives them more numbers. Happy new year and best of luck in 2025!
Happy New Year! Thanks for your videos. I've been inspired by your work since 2018.
Happy new year! I hope they still help you improve your work in 2025!
Most of the content i already know, but sometimes inspires me to try out something different. Thanks a lot for that. 😊
My pleasure! I get all of my Inspo online too so I'm happy to do my part!
Thanks John! Love your videos and have been following since 2020. Have you thought about making some content that’s set in real interior locations other than your studio? It might be too cold where you are to go outside, but what about something set in a living room or cafe or etc etc? Someone’s house could be the most accessible and least expensive for you, but other interior locations could be really fun too. Not sure what the tutorial would be about besides using the space you have but thought I’d suggest. Happy new year!
Thank you so much for your support and for following since 2020-it means a lot! That’s a really good idea! I’ll consider ways to make that happen. Thanks for the inspiration, and Happy New Year to you as well!
Your directness and clarity are great. I watch your videos for inspiration, lighting ideas, and techniques. I have speedlights and umbrellas and I am try to translate a lot of what you show into my limitations. Keep up the great work.
Awesome, thank you! I think I used two umbrellas on my last business location shoot. Best of luck in 2025!
Great content as always, brother. I always learn so much.
Thanks Shaky! Its always great to hear from you!
Thanks for the video John. Your work and teaching are amazing. I particularly love the teachings involving lighting, light metering, and equipment (how to use).
I'm so glad to hear that! I hope that you had a wonderful holiday season and best of luck in 2025!
Talk more about the photography industry and how to get in the door for someone who doesn't have a connection in the industry. How to survive as a portrait/fashion photographer today. Love your content and style John!
Thank you so much! I think I might have covered this in this video, but if not, lmk! ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html
Thank you for posting your educational videos. I hope to keep seeing you in 2025, no mather if it will be weekly or monthly. Just don't stop please. Have a good year!
Thank you so much! I will be here. Happy new year!
I have my own photography studio. Maybe 1/100 photographers have their own. I think people including me are more interested on outdoor creative photoshoot with one or two lights setup but as you mentioned, it's not possible now on your location.
Your explanation is clear, easy to understand, too serious and systematic. Sometime's adding some funny behind the scene clips makes the viewers smile and more interested. It's not all about camera and lighting, some people are also interested on how you communicate with your model and etc.
Thanks I appreciate your feedback. I tried to be more relaxed in this video and its something I need to work on ua-cam.com/video/ABFierGP8Y0/v-deo.html
@JohnGress I already watched and commented on that video. I'm still waiting for another video using ND filter outdoor during mid-day to test the capability of ND filter vs HSS.
Keep on making studio videos but some outdoor videos will be better in my opinion. Manny Ortiz is doing the same thing but I think you can explain it more clearly to your viewers.
Thanks! When things thaw out I will make that video too!
You are kind of the go to authority on high end studio portrait lighting on UA-cam, IMO. You do a really great job. The only thing I can think to add is a video on how to light the rest of the scene, especially for wider environmental portraits, beyond just the face.
Wow thank you so much! I will take that into consideration.
Hey John, i see you as a phenomenal photographer and educator; personally and professionally i would like to see you do more on-location work. and see how and why you light on various locations. Even as a pro photographer myself, most people dont have studios, but we all have access to the outdoors. :-) 😊 HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Thank you! I'll be sure to create some on-location lighting tutorials as soon as things warm up!
You are an artist, not a pixel counter. This is a sincere compliment. The artist heart is a precious gift. Your gift. You are a great artist ❤
Thank you so much! This means a lot to me!
Your studio lighting videos are what draw me in. Learning more about how you pose models (and why) would be great. I've been working on mixed color temperature lighting - mixing ambient and strobe with gels. Seeing how you would do that would be super interesting. I am thinking of an opportune time to take one of your workshops.
Thanks! I to would be great to have you at a work shop. I have some videos in the works regarding color and you might enjoy this posing video too ua-cam.com/video/h4ahv8YiGDI/v-deo.html
makes sense to me, i love those adorama videos Daniel Norton does showing different lighting scenarios. I've watched so many of them and I always find some value there, even though they are made for beginners. happy new year!
Thanks! If there are any in particular that stand out, lmk!
@JohnGress gosh IDK, there are so many, Gavin and Seth do them too. it's a lot. I'll look and see if i can find ones I've rewatched.
ua-cam.com/users/livekNDG8TTpBcc?si=VOa676X0NZTAz39Z
Thanks!
@JohnGress yeah I've watched this one numerous times
Gracias por todo, feliz año nuevo.
De nada, feliz año nuevo para ti también. 🎉
the problem mate and I do enjoy your channel. John is that everyone is obsessed with GEAR videos and that is the problem.
You're absolutely right!
Thanks John, a happy and successful 2025 to you. Nice OCF portrait tutorials with a 2x flash set up, indoors as well as outdoors (with the sun as light source no. 3), would be great.
A 2nd topic would be how to prepare files for printing or digital exposition on Fuji paper (the only colour photo paper left on the market to my knowledge). Which sharpening and resolution settings, which colour profile do you use? Which vendors to use for prints or photos? Do you print yourself? If yes, which printing equipment do you use, and how is long-term durability of such prints?
Thanks so much for the thoughtful suggestions and Happy New Year to you as well! I can definitely explore the OCF portrait tutorials with a 2x flash setup, both indoors and outdoors. As for the printing topics, I don’t currently print anything myself, so those might not be the best fit for me, but I truly appreciate your input.
Happy New year, John!
Happy new year!
I really like that your channel is about photography, lighting and honing the skills, and not that much about cameras. There are so channels on cameras and lenses, and that may yield more views, but your approach is personal and unique.
Maybe some videos on image editing, some about group / family shoots
Awesome! Thank you! I will take that into consideration.
I'd love to see some conversational and entertaining content (while still being educational) such as interviews and conversations with other photographers, editors, etc
Thank you so much for your suggestion! Interviews or discussions with other photographers could bring a fresh perspective, and incorporating critiques of viewer work could definitely make it interactive and engaging. Do you like the idea of image critiques again and do you think a live stream format for these ideas would be fun, or would you prefer pre-recorded videos? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
@@JohnGressI'm not much into live streams myself. Either way, thanks for all the amazing content over the years, and wishing you success going forward. 😊
Thanks! Best of luck in 2025!
Hi, John,
I often turn to your channel for your methodical and comprehensive approach to a topic. I know that your handling of a topic will be accessible and thorough. (I can only imagine the amount of work required to achieve that clarity.) For example, your video on the effectiveness of different sizes and reflectivities of beauty dishes benchmarked my own purchase. Your video showing the multi-light setup for the basketball team is also one I've returned to a few times.
The biggest shifts in my understanding of photography this year came from finally understanding some theoretical models that eluded me until now. I consider them the sort of fundamental topics that you're interested in:
1) The Zone System: Despite its origins in film photography, it applies to digital cameras just as much. So helpful in understanding how to assess light with my eyes.
2) Color spaces and theory: Specifically, the 3D nature of them and how, for example, pushing a color's saturation past a certain point will also change its luminance. This came out of wanting to understand what video colorists meant when discussing HSL vs. HSV.
3) The visual limits of my biology: Understanding the broad physical capabilities and limits of my eyes threw a lot of cold water on my GAS and how I approached my edits.
4) Reversing the image pipeline: I now think of image acquisition in terms of display medium (paper or screen) -> capture medium -> scene exposure rather than the other way around. This change in mindset, coupled with #3, has changed how I approach different shooting scenarios.
Hope one or more of these ideas sparks something for you. I wish you ever continued success.
Related to #1, it's only after I grasped the Zone System that I properly understood what folks like you were trying to say when they said, "Correct exposure."
Related to #3, this also helped me with #1.
Hi David, thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share such insightful reflections-it truly means a lot! I’m so glad to hear that my videos have been helpful to you, and I love the ideas you’ve shared here.
I’ll definitely be taking these ideas into consideration for future videos. They spark a lot of inspiration for diving deeper into fundamental topics that can elevate both technical skills and creative thinking. Thanks again for sharing your journey and insights-it’s incredibly encouraging! Wishing you continued success in your photography and a Happy New Year!
I realize in brief hindsight that all of these topics center around how to see. For me, having theoretical frameworks and benchmarks serve as a place to stand until, through practice, the ideas become second nature.
For example, knowing that Zone VIII's "lightest tone with texture" equates to a luminance value between 185 and 209 (out of 255 in a grayscale image) helped me connect the histogram to what my eyes see and the Zone System is trying to teach me. From there, I understood that no matter how good a digital camera's dynamic range eventually gets, there will always be a Zone IX and a Zone II in every image I see because the Zone System describes what we perceive, not the sensitivity of film or a sensor. That sort of thing.
I tend to squirrel away the resources that unlocked these concepts for me. If you think they'd be helpful in deciding whether to tackle them for your broader audience, let me know.
@@JohnGress At extreme risk of testing your patience, I amend my other comment to suggest that these topics taught me "what I'm seeing" rather than "how to see." The latter's a common UA-cam topic, but it's usually focused on composition rather than perception itself. I hope that distinction makes sense and is useful to you.
Thank you so much for expanding on these points, David. I really appreciate your thoughtful reflections on the Zone System and how it has shaped your understanding of light and exposure. Your distinction between “what I’m seeing” versus “how to see” is incredibly insightful-it’s a subtle yet critical shift in perception that can transform one’s approach to photography.
I would love to see more content on the business side of photography. Marketing, client management etc. Keep it up you're doing great
Thanks! I covered a lot of business topics in the recent video: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html
Just continue to keep it honest.
Thank you! Happy new year!
Hey John, long time no see lol, my fault tho lol. Well I was here when you asked about longer videos and looks like I'm here again lol. As I can't actually help on your decision coz as I said before... I will keep watching you just for the sake of watching your stuff I really have a great time watching your videos. That said a lot of the "older" UA-camrs are complaining about views dropping I saw some videos saying youtube is kind of pushing more small accounts so take that in consideration. Hey Happy New Year bud! For you and all your family I hope 2025 will be an amazing year for you guys!
Hey! It’s great to hear from you again! Hopefully, this shift to smaller creators will end up being a positive thing for me as well. I didn’t mean to complain too much-my account is still growing, and if everything goes well, I’m hoping to hit 100k in about a year. Thank you so much for continuing to watch and for your kind words. Wishing you and your family an amazing New Year as well. Muito obrigado!
I really enjoyed your outdoor on location video using off camera flash.
Thanks! That's awesome to hear!
I subscribed to you and is a paying member the Gress Academy is because of lighting and you popped up in my algorithm when watching GOAT James Quantz 🎉🙏🏿💪🏿❤️💯🎊🎯
Thank you so much sir! I love James!
Happy new year!
I'm purely a hobbyist photographer. I like to capture people and places that strike me as memorable in some way. For me, the most helpful of your videos have been those that show how doing some specific technique impacts a composition. For example, while I have no studio strobes or any lights for that matter, seeing how your use of controlled lighting of various kinds impacts a composition is helpful even when I'm shooting outdoors in natural light. In other words, things you have learned to do that make photographs look good. (Sorry, that is so general. Hopefully, you get what I'm thinking about.) As far as equipment reviews, how a given lens, light, or camera helps your work is probably the most interesting thing. Other hyper-technical reviewers already exist, like Dustin Abbott or Gerold Undone. There’s no point in repeating what folks like that already do very well. Your approach to actually making the videos is excellent. I find all topics are very easy to understand as you present them. Keep it up!
Hi Bob, thank you so much for sharing your perspective and for your kind words! It’s great to hear that you find value in the way I explain techniques and how they impact composition- even when you are using natural light. I completely understand what you’re saying, and I think your point is spot on: showing how small adjustments can make a big difference is so important.
As you mentioned, there are already fantastic hyper-technical reviewers out there, so I should focus on showing how gear works in practical, real-world scenarios.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your feedback and for being part of this community! It means a lot. Here’s to many more memorable shots in 2025!
Break it up. One video do a few q and a's. Do live videos, with live one on one with your audience as you work a session. Try and get guests who specialize in their specific photography fields: product photography, fashion photography, reportage...etc. Just some ideas to throw in some variety yet still revolve around the educational sphere. Best of luck and Happy New Year.
Thank you for the great suggestions! I’m always looking for ways to improve my content and connect more with my audience.
Great Video John G, you really should not feel too bad about your output. There are an awful lot of Hardware reviews out there and to be honest they make me yawn. I much prefer your tutorials to any review, they all seem to be the same, buy the latest cameras. Someone once said, "The best camera you have is the one in your hand". Whilst it is nice to have all the camera settings for a shoot in practice my settings would be different to yours because of my situation, it would be much better to learn how you reached them from stage one onwards.
Thank you so much, Jon! That is essentially where I’m going with the series I just recorded. That adage about “the best camera is the one in your hands” has never been truer than it is today, given how little difference there is in image quality from one model to another.
Hello John
Greetings from germany
In no case further explain videos about new cameras or lenses of which there are already too many
For example, I think it's quite good if you make more videos about how you do with the usual things like a simple flash and a simple light diffuser
What would also be highly interesting is the approach to trust yourself to work with a model let alone book one to take the photos because I am of the opinion that it is only possible to make progress
All the best, all the best for the new year and please apologise for my spelling❤
Danke schön! It’s wonderful to hear from you! My ancestors are from Bavaria! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas. I completely agree about avoiding excessive content on new cameras and lenses; there are plenty of those already. I’ll definitely focus more on videos that show how to work with simple tools-that’s such a great idea!
I also love your suggestion about building confidence when working with models, especially for those just starting out. It’s such an important part of growing as a photographer, and I’d be excited to explore that in a video.
Wishing you all the best for the New Year as well! And no need to apologize for your spelling-it’s perfect!
I’d say give many would be photographers something they may not realize they need…business skills, marketing…how to keep a stream of clients, manage the work load, manage the business….
Thanks for the feedback! I think that's a good idea that I could explore in future videos. I covered a lot of business topics 2 months ago in this video: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html
@ great! I’ll check it out! Are you coming to imaging this year?
I’ll be there! I think I’m speaking on the last day
Actually I’m not sure when I’m speaking but hopefully I’ll see you there!
@@JohnGressgreat I’ll keep an eye out for you to say hello, also please post if you find out your schedule?
It's difficult right because the deeper you get into the subject the fewer audience members you have at that higher level that even know to seek out that information. So you either get really high-level discussion with fewer fish in the pond or you get lower-level discussion that has a wider appeal but also more fishermen that are showing the same thing over and over. With camera videos you get even less control because it depends on how it's marketed and if people even have money available. Maybe exploring a series on a topic would give you feedback on what the length tolerance is if they watch more than one in a series you might be able to extend the runtime for example. One strategy could be to use chapters to create entry points so you can start with the pre-requisite info and reference later chapters with the advanced information. Another strategy is to try and mix both low and high so you can walk through topics at mostly a low level with some high level thrown in. I've found a ton of good information just rewatching old tutorials because instructors tucked in extra information I wasn't ready to understand at the time. For topic suggestions there's a lot of videos already on hard and soft light, but not many videos that explore how makeup adds another dimension into the mix. Also I'm sure you've run into this but sometimes models can look kinda plain in person but can be just amazing as soon as you hit the shutter. No idea what it is but sometimes it literally feels like magic running into those people.
Thank you so much for your very thoughtful comment! That is a very interesting idea to present the beginner information at the beginning and then the advanced information at the end. I also like your idea of oscillating between high and low. I think what I may try to do is make some entry-level content for a few months and then switch to intermediate advanced content, although that could have its perils as well.
@@JohnGress I always enjoy seeing things you make and I did get a tremendous amount of value from your workshop so hopefully this process isn't too discouraging.
Hello John. How about a video explaining how to use an incident light meter in depth? That could be helpful; especially when it comes to nailing exposure in camera.
Thanks Aaron. I am sure I will go over that soon!
I would love to see a video for those of us who have lower ceilings. - how to make it work!
Thanks for the suggestion! That's an important topic to address.
Please do more bts, day in life
Thanks, Simon!
Hi John... how to make money from portrait photography... who buys the pics? How many pics do you expect from a session? Model release form... Thanks for all your help!
Thanks for sharing and happy new year!
You could also analyze the works of established and well known photographers and recreate a photo they made using their lighting techniques.
Thanks! That is actually an idea I have been kicking around.
John, your channel is great and we love you. We know it’s a lot of work. You’re almost over the 100k hump! But UA-cam is focusing on creators and creators… well… create. A lot! Here’s my two cents.
- collabs with other photographers
- gear reviews (so many people want to buy the gear and cosplay a photographer)
- UA-cam live (no editing)
- when in doubt, copy Simon 😂
LOL @ cosplay photographer. Thank you so much for your kind words and suggestions.
My idea would be to showcase older used pro gear. The latest high end mirrorless cameras a really expensive, but you don't need them for say a studio model shoot. Why not take a Canon R5 ii and a $450 used Canon 5D-3 or 5D-2 and do a studio shoot? I have an old 2008 Nikon D3X which people have called a terrible camera, but it's great for studio portraits with strobes. You get the idea - take really affordable old used gear and show how good it is - people love that. Really old cheap Elinchrom and Bowens studio strobes are still fantastic you could do an episode with those. All my 3 Elinchrom style 300s analogue heads cost over $100 and they work brilliantly & recycle really fast. The Godox TT600 manual only speedlite is unbelievably cheap and a total bargain compared with fancy high tech models.
Thanks for the tip. I was thinking of doing a video with a digital rebel!
happy new year.
Video ideas? Maybe involve the histogram a bit more in your videos. And than explain to the lightmeter nerts that what the lightmeter says is not the holy grail. And you can learn from looking at the histogram (the red line in the highlight section of the histogram in particular). Yesterday i saw a video of some art photography and she underexposed everything by 2 stops and then recover it in post so the highlights where less intense or something like that. Learn people how to read the highlights basicly so they can get more creative. I kinda know how to do it but maybe you know more tricks than most of us because you have so much experience. some people use ETTL or ETTR method, but i have no idea when to use it to be honest. And also put some more not-models into the mix.
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and suggestions! I’ll definitely address the role of the histogram in my upcoming exposure video. I do, however, take a different approach to exposing highlights, as the other presenter’s method seems likely to unnecessarily lose shadow detail. Please feel free to share the link if you have it!
I don't come to you for camera (or most equipment) reviews. I come to you because you are a photographer with taste. That may seem minor but it's a crucial point. There are tons of tech reviewers but few people whose examples help me produce better portraits in the way you do. I come here to be inspired, to try things out. For the record: I am a documentary filmmaker and I look to your photography lighting to refine my lighting for indoor interviews. I have at best one or two other people with me on crew, so I value great looks of seated people who speak and move their head and upper body. That's how I look at your videos. Is there something I can use? I likes your advanced lighting technics video with the overhead octa. The feathered light video was great and I am hoping to check out the Master Color Harmony video next. 9 types of portrait lighting was great and I hope you will do something similar for half-body, seated shots.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! I’ll definitely consider your suggestions for future videos. While it’s not exactly artistic, you might enjoy this video: Why I Don’t Like to Be on Camera: Plus Three Great Interview Lighting Setups for Video Using Nanlites - ua-cam.com/video/TiSMTH4gBKo/v-deo.html.
@@JohnGress I did see that and I can identify with a lot of what you spoke about. Keep up the good work. Your authenticity and personality are plusses in this youtube-world.
Thanks you so much!
@@JohnGress If you want to I could send you a "improve my lighting" challenge with existing gear being a limiting factor. That could be a fun video series to do with various photographers/cinematographers. Just an idea I had a moment ago.
Business tips for new generation photographer, posing tips for people who are not model, lighting tips like your are already doing (great tutorial btw🔥👌), how to find great customer, edithing technique, more tutorial and less new gear release. Now i loss a lot of trust on other chanel because i dont know if he try to sell me a product because he really like it or if it just because he have a contract with them. I know this kind of video pay the bills but i find it way to present now on youtube this days and we lost interest to watch youtube because of that. when it was just your own content an tutorial and not 90% of gear promotion youtube was awesome. I hope great advice and tutorial make his comeback for 2025🤞 it was a general message. Your content is already great. keep doing what you really want to talk about. UA-cam need to promote more channel like yours and less gear promo video. Its not your faults its the algoritm who make it harder
Thanks for your thoughtful comment and support! I completely agree that tutorials, advice, and practical tips should always take center stage, and I’ll continue to focus on that in my content. If you’re interested in business tips, I recently made a video that dives deep into this topic: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html. Thanks again for watching and sharing your feedback-it really means a lot!
Great Video
Thank you!
A video in creating portraiture in a small space e.g. a home studio.
Thanks! I’ll add that to the list.
Do you use cine lenses? I would like to see some videos on how to use those.
I had one for making these videos, but I sold it about a year ago.
@ I’m thinking of purchasing a 50mm Zeiss Nano cine prime for my Sony a1 II.
But at $4,500, it’s more than double the cost of the Sony GM still primes I have. Do you think it would be a waste of money?
Unless you're doing focus pulls while shooting video, buying a cine lens probably won't be of much value.
@@JohnGress Thank you John.
I enjoy and learn from every one of your videos, except for the ones where you talk about camera specs. Then it feels like another "youtube photographer" is trying to sell me another new camera, even though I haven't needed a new camera for the last 6 years.
I wish you to continue loving what you do, create it, teach it.
Thank you so much! I am glad were on the same page and I hope you have a happy new year!
@@JohnGress Happy new year!
I suggest making a paid subscription / patreon style thing additionally, somewhat a more accessible middle ground between YT viewer monetization and your membership. This way you can also rely on monetization from people who want/rely on higher quality, slower to produce, more thoughtful content that's highly valuable, but may not play great under the youtube algorithm and associated monetization models. Unfortunately this reality has been driving many of the best content creators to rely on clickbait, product reviews & affiliate links, a video a week, model. And whenever I see a video of yours (and some other folks) I know there's actual great content.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am not really sure if you are aware that I already have a membership site, johngress.com/academy/, or if you are suggesting that I make a second membership site.
@JohnGress hey John, I am aware indeed. Suggesting something less friction and less commitment than your membership.
UA-cam has a "join" functionality on top of subscribe (youtube membership) that many people use like a patreon style low commitment more akin to "I support what you do" than like buying a separate more expensive product.
Think something like a couple of clicks that turn into $1-2/mo that gives a few early accesses or maybe eventual personal comment or B roll (nothing needing proper extra work of yours) to give a sense of benefit over a pure donation.
Not as many people may be ready/willing to go through a(nother) 19/mo membership, but would be nore than happy to in a few clicks pay the smaller amount to incentivize good thoughtful content.
Thanks, it's something to consider.
Once every two to 4 weeks a video if not busy. Thanks.
You bet! Thanks!
I would say maybe focus on how to create a look start to finish. Also talk about the creative process how do you get your ideas. Truth be told I am one of those that never watch gear videos. Most because there just nonsense ''O buy this new shiny kit IT will make you a great photographer". If you really do UA-cam to help others then do that talk about all thing 95% of the others won't touch. Talk about real creative development the trails & errors I like to call it. Show them it's not about fancy kit. With that I may comeback. Although I did clearly say I don't watch kit videos but with that said Yes it was a kit video on how I found you sometime ago. You did a Elinchrom videos so yes there are useful but It wont keep people watching. Check out Camera Club every video teaches. Good Luck & Most importantly Have A Great New Year.
Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and for sharing your thoughts-it really means a lot! I completely agree that focusing on creative development and the process, rather than just the gear, is so important. I love the idea of diving deeper into how to create a look from start to finish and breaking down the creative process behind my work. It’s something I’ll definitely work on more in future videos. Maybe I’ll work on that when I make the video about redecorating the set that was behind me in this video.
Thanks again for your encouragement and for sticking around-it’s truly appreciated! Wishing you a Happy New Year as well!
Was John Gress a former model? Nice jacket 👌🏿
Ha! Thanks I got it at Zara. I was always camera shy... even making these videos at first was a challenge.
2020 was during the pandemic and a lot more people had more time at home yo watch videos. So i think most channels have seem a decline since then, as more people are back to their 9-5.
yeah... I remember seeing a chart Tony Northrup posted of their views over time and you can see a spike back them. Thankfully I am still growing so overall it keeps going up! I am trying to get that 100k plaque this year!
2025 I think you should teach more about lighting knowledge distance attachment attenuation angle direction lighting style U.S. Times Square advertisement blockbuster, you're sure to be a hit around the world too few people teach this knowledge
I really appreciate your suggestion to dive deeper into lighting concepts like distance, attachment, attenuation, angle, and direction. These are definitely important topics, and I agree that understanding these fundamentals can make a huge difference in creating impactful images. I’ll make sure to include more detailed lighting tutorials in future videos. Thanks for sharing your feedback-it’s incredibly helpful!
A vid about how photography can stay relevant while AI is doing what we know. I am afraid people are going to give images less and less value, since they all assume you use AI, not real skills and intentions.
Thanks, That is a good idea to consider.
The algorithm likes frequent uploads. I think you get penalized by Google for months long intervals.. Short useful videos on a specific topic will get you more activity.
I am not so sure about that since there are some creators posting LOOOOOONGGGGG format videos a few times a year getting millions of views. But..... I will ask chat gpt =)
Doing Canon camera videos is not of interest to all of the other photographers who use a different brand. Shooting and lighting skills would be popular. Also, what about business skills?!?!
Thanks for your insights Dan. I recently covered a lot of business skills in this video: ua-cam.com/video/6ha39VJeoh0/v-deo.html
Its simple, make videos peoples want to see. Easy way is to give Your knowledge for free, usefull enaugh to other photographers that they could copy Your work and make $ out of it. Preferable will be one light setups, with nice models and easy solutions... Yes, that satire.
Go back to your old videos and update them with new views and comments
Thanks! I have updated a few of my videos and they were the best performing videos in the past 12 months