He played such an important role in making me the photographer I am today, to the point where I would have quit without starting without his content. This is probably true of many “new generation” creators. However, there is a lot of debate surrounding him, as well as other creators. The core of this debate is simply that YouTubers are not “real” photographers and shouldn’t be listened to. In this article, we will discuss the importance of educators, presenters and of course real photographers.
I have so many people to thank for what I am now. More than I can remember, perhaps. All the influences that I have from my surroundings, family, friends and colleagues have played an important role in shaping my interest in photography and making me a photographer, from my mother me, who took me to ballet and opera at the age of 3, to architecture, and surprisingly Peter McKinnon. Now, I get to your question, what can a YouTuber do to inspire fashion enthusiasts? After all, what can watching vlogs, camera hack videos, and device reviews do to get someone interested in photography? Turns out, a lot.
My itinerary
The road that brought me to fashion photography is still quite long but I will try to condense it into a paragraph. Perhaps the biggest inspiration was my exposure to the stage from a young age. I’m not interested in plot, but in how lighting, setting and clothing can create completely different worlds on a simple stage. Then, around my teenage years, I explored abandoned buildings. I watched some YouTube videos and saw how those guys were able to take a well-lit photo in a room that looked like it was pitch black. Once again, I was mesmerized by the light that transforms the space. Eventually, I mastered the long exposure techniques and started taking pictures of my friends. Coincidentally, I ended up assisting with a fashion shoot. The rest is history that led me here.
How Peter McKinnon helped
Peter McKinnon made me a photographer because, all the way to those early shoots, I religiously watched his original content, tried a few things myself and even even a similar hairstyle. The content of the videos is not so important to me; it’s more about someone becoming a photographer and shows how exciting that is. Whenever I feel like putting the camera down, his content inspires me to move forward. Sure, his content can be over-optimistic at times, but in any case, it does a lot to inspire me. I love watching how he travels, takes pictures, and interacts with people. The energy he radiated in his videos made me fall in love with photography. But, what I do is very different from Peter McKinnon. We not only work in different genres but also make money in different ways. Some might say that I do a “pure” form of photography where my pictures make me money. The same group of people might also consider Peter McKinnon a YouTuber, therefore not a real photographer. That’s incorrect, and here’s why.
Presenter vs. ‘real’ photographer
Peter McKinnon inspires people to become photographers. He embodies the lifestyle of a photographer, and he is very good at it. The truth about being a photographer is often that you can’t dictate what you do. If it weren’t for his presentation skills, I wouldn’t see photography as a career option. The world needs presenters.
Let’s shift gears and see the Top Gear and its role in motorsport. The iconic trio of presenters were able to entertain millions of auto enthusiasts and get everyone interested in cars in general. They are not real drivers and will not compete in the next Formula 1 race, but their value should not be underestimated. That said, I have full confidence that James May can be a car mechanic and that Clarkson and Hammond can race to some degree. Just because they chose to be presenters and not racers and mechanics doesn’t mean they aren’t legit.
Peter McKinnon is like the Top Gear trilogy: he’s the showrunner. His work is to entertain, present and evaluate photography. His YouTube channel is one of the best places for a beginner photographer to get inspired. That said, he put a lot of effort into creating this resource. With his talent and dedication to this channel, can he become a successful working photographer? Sure! He has all the talent in the world to take beautiful pictures that will be commercially successful. Perhaps this is why his work is not only praised by other photographers out there but also by those who will hire the photographer.
Presentation is a craft in itself
Being able to present something is a craft in itself. To be truly excellent at anything, you need to focus on that thing and only that thing. Being a presenter is perhaps even more difficult, as it requires a person to master not only presentation skills but also what they are presenting. Some time ago, I always wondered why images in device reviews often lacked artistic value. What I don’t understand is that doing the review isn’t so much about capturing the next great shot but simply demonstrating what the device can do. Going back to Top Gear, while Clarkson is a slower driver than Verstappen, for example, he’s a much better presenter and communicator who can communicate more than anything. If there were no presenters, I wonder if there were many drivers. The same applies to a lot of other industries, including photography.
That said, it’s important to be able to say bad words well. There are many channels that claim to give advice on how to be a photographer that they have never done themselves. You will be able to tell if someone is a scammer, presenter or photographer at work. Don’t fall for the get-rich-quick schemes that some scammers try to sell you. While there may be five ways to hack a camera for better pictures, there are no five hacks to make money today. In general, it is best to stay away from such channels. No one can promise you what is beyond your control. Unfortunately, landing a job is external.
Final thoughts
It is narrow-minded to think that someone is not a real photographer because they are a host and an educator. They play a much more important role than we think, and without one of them, I wouldn’t even be a photographer. This is why, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank Peter McKinnon, a host and a “real” photographer.
