In your early days as a filmmaker or videographer, you’ll notice a steep learning curve—especially if you have no prior experience with a camera. Luckily, you’ll find plenty of free resources online to get you moving in the right direction.
YouTube is arguably the best place to learn how you can become a filmmaker, and this article will identify seven of our favorite channels.
1. Matti Haapoja
Matti Haapoja is a Finnish-Canadian YouTuber based in Toronto. He has over one million subscribers at the time of writing in March 2022, and his content ranges from vlogs to tips for capturing better footage with your camera.
Haapoja also regularly reviews filmmaking and photography equipment, along with tips on simplifying the post-production process and getting better results. He predominantly uses Final Cut Pro, but you will also find videos for Adobe Premiere Pro.
When you watch Haapoja’s videos, you’ll notice quickly that he successfully balances being an entertainer with sharing content that’s fun to watch. He’s passionate about his craft, which gives him an added layer of authenticity.
2. Sebastien Jeffries
Sebastien Jeffries is a YouTuber and content creator living in London, UK. His channel is one of our smaller entries, with just over 18,000 subscribers as of mid-March 2022—making Jeffries a somewhat hidden gem.
Jeffries has several valuable posts related to videography on his YouTube page, including tips to improve your lighting and content about using Premiere Pro more effectively.
In addition to his content about video editing and setups, you’ll find several tips about creativity. Some of Jeffries’ other videos include making better Reels for Instagram and creating TikTok posts that drive engagement.
3. That Icelandic Guy
If you read our article about the best photography YouTubers to subscribe to, you’ll already have heard of That Icelandic Guy. Going by the real-life name of Arnúlfur, he lives in Stockholm, Sweden. At the time of writing, That Icelandic Guy has over 90,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Much of That Icelandic Guy’s content relates to photography, but he’s been a videographer for a while; he previously had YouTube channels where he documented his life as a magician. He has used that experience to provide helpful tutorials for producing better YouTube videos, with several tips for improving your results with Premiere Pro.
That Icelandic Guy talks a lot about the video editing process beyond the software alone, though. On his channel, you’ll find content about picking music and sounds, along with how you can talk confidently to a camera—and much more.
4. Aidin Robbins
Aidin Robbins is a filmmaker living in the US. He has worked with several major brands, including the Swiss outdoor clothing brand Mammut and Japanese electronics provider Panasonic. His YouTube channel is pretty sizable, and over 250,000 people are already following his journey on there.
Robbins’ videos have a distinct cinematic style, and he talks about how he achieved that on his channel. You’ll also find content about making more interesting visuals for social media, such as dividing your Reels into different sections on Premiere Pro. He also talks about other post-production aspects, such as fixing footage that didn’t go to plan.
Besides the tech-based aspects of filmmaking, Robbins has numerous videos on improving your filmmaking in general—such as choosing better locations.
5. Edward Lee Films
Edward Lee is a filmmaker living in Seattle, Washington. He has a strong creative background, having done a lot of photography in the past. Before diving into his creative business full-time, Lee also worked as the social media manager for Rhino Camera Gear.
In mid-March 2022, Lee was closing in on 50,000 YouTube subscribers. His channel aims to help creatives get better at their craft; if we look at his videos from a tech-related filmmaking perspective, you’ll find tips for digital minimalism and reviews for different camera gear.
On Lee’s channel, you can also find plenty of videos where he gives you a tour of his workspace and talks about how he keeps things decluttered. Away from YouTube, he adds extra value by interviewing fellow creatives on the MIDCONVO podcast.
6. Teppo Haapoja
Teppo Haapoja is Matti’s brother and lives in Finland. At the time of writing, he has almost 80,000 subscribers.
Haapoja has several videos that will help you improve your filmmaking and make better decisions when purchasing new gear. His channel features camera and lens reviews, along with tips for starting a YouTube channel and advice for building a profitable and sustainable creative business.
Haapoja also has numerous vlogs documenting his trips on the road, plus content that highlights important talking points for creators—such as avoiding burnout.
7. Film Booth
Rounding up our list of filmmaking YouTube channels is Film Booth, a content creator living in the UK. He has over 130,000 subscribers, and his content focuses almost exclusively on growing a YouTube channel—with a large catalog of tips and tricks to help you do so.
Film Booth’s videos focus on improving viewership, along with increasing subscribers and retention. He talks about producing better long-form content, in addition to identifying how you can use the YouTube Shorts feature to your maximum advantage.
Film Booth also has a couple of videos relating to editing your content and engaging your audience. You’ll also discover tips and tricks from creators with significant experience in the space, which you can then learn from and apply to your own channel.
There Is Plenty of Filmmaking Inspiration on YouTube
Filmmaking has become more accessible than ever before. Almost anyone can become an excellent cameraman without needing to get a degree, and if you’re particularly interested in turning your passion into something else, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to do so.
The YouTube channels we’ve listed in this article have a diverse range of valuable content that will enable you to edit better and capture more interesting footage. You’ll become not only better at your craft but more efficient with your workflow.
