These YouTube Channels Will Teach You Everything You Need to Know About Cinematography & Filmmaking

Rob Ellis

@RobEllisCinematographer

https://www.youtube.com/@RobEllisCinematographer

Rob is a UK-based cinematographer who shares easy-to-follow tutorials in a clear a concise way.

Robert Machado

@robchado

https://www.youtube.com/@robchado

Robert is a Las Vegas-based Director of Photography whose channel covers things like lighting breakdowns and general life as a DP.

Lewis Potts

@lewispotts

https://www.youtube.com/@lewispotts

Lewis is based in Australia and his YouTube goes over a variety of topics including plenty of lighting breakdowns from his own work and others.

Wandering DP

@wanderingdp

https://youtube.com/@wanderingdp

Patrick O'Sullivan is another Australian-based DP and his channel mainly focuses on breaking down commercials and giving us an insight into commercial DP life.

Gian Carlo Stigliano

@carlostigs

https://www.youtube.com/@carlostigs

Gian's channel covers a bit of everything from lighting breakdowns to full behind-the-scenes, as well as important topics such as mental and physical health working in this industry.

ponysmasher

@ponysmasher

https://www.youtube.com/@ponysmasher

When David F. Sandberg isn't making massive Hollywood blockbusters such Shazam! he still takes the time to make YouTube videos and shares his process and other behind-the-scenes tips as a filmmaker.

Danny Gevirtz

@DannyGevirtz

https://www.youtube.com/@DannyGevirtz

Danny's channel is a fantastic place to go if you're looking for inspiration on your filmmaking journey, especially if you're not going the traditional route.

Gaffer & Gear

@gaffergear

https://www.youtube.com/@gaffergear

Andrew's YouTube is a brilliant place to look if you're on the market for a new piece of lighting gear as he does some great in depth reviews

Anamorphic on a Budget

@AnamorphicOnABudget

https://www.youtube.com/@AnamorphicOnABudget

The name probably speaks for itself but Tito's channel covers all things anamorphic and it's well worth checking out if you're looking to build your own rig

Spenser Sakurai

@spensersakurai

https://www.youtube.com/@spensersakurai

Last but not least, Spenser's YouTube covers a lot of cinematography topics but he also covers his directing work and has plenty of behind-the-scenes content.

D4Darious

@D4Darious

https://www.youtube.com/@D4Darious

Darious' channel gives us a great look into his life as a filmmaker with plenty of behind-the-scenes and tutorials. The amount of effort that goes into his animations is incredible!

Vuhlandes

@vuhlandes

https://www.youtube.com/@vuhlandes

Vuhlandes's eye for composition and lighting really sets his channel apart for me. His creative approach to tutorials and explanations are well worth checking out.

wolfcrow

@wolfcrow

https://www.youtube.com/@wolfcrow

Wolfcrow has a whole variety of videos from tutorials to video essays and they also range from the technical to the theoretical. His subtle sense of humour is really appreciated as well.

Media Division

@MediaDivision

https://www.youtube.com/@MediaDivision

The Media Division channel is well worth checking out if you're looking for a deep dive into some long-form videos on filmmaking. These are some of the most technical and in-depth videos out there.

Mark Bone

@markbone

https://www.youtube.com/@markbone

Mark's channel covers a lot of different aspects of filmmaking, however, he specialises in documentaries. If you're interested in the directing side of things I'd definitely recommend taking a look.

ANDBERY

@ANDBERY

https://www.youtube.com/@ANDBERY

Andbery's channel offers some great behind-the-scenes and lighting breakdowns. It dives deep into how certain looks are created and the motivation behind them.

Chris Herr

@chrisherr

https://www.youtube.com/@chrisherr

Chris's channel covers a lot from behind the scenes on set, a fair amount on professional gimbal operating as well as general life as a camera operator.

Brandon Li

@BrandonLiUnscripted

https://www.youtube.com/@BrandonLiUnscripted

Brandon's channel includes a bunch of videos solo filmmaking and gimbal operating, as well as plenty more.

YCImaging

@YCImaging

https://www.youtube.com/@YCImaging

Chrystopher's channel has evolved a lot over the years, I learnt so much about making solo music videos from him but there are loads of other tutorials on lighting, editing and filmmaking in general.

Jacques Crafford

@jacques_crafford

https://www.youtube.com/@jacques_crafford

Jacques' YouTube has plenty of lighting tutorials as well as plenty on working as a solo operator and other behind-the-scenes content

Joshua Kendell Martin

@CineDailies

https://www.youtube.com/@CineDailies

Joshua's channel features a fair amount of gear reviews and practical tips, you may recognise him from the work he does with Movement and he's able to offer some great insight as a filmmaker and content creator.

Tyler Edwards

@TylerEdwards

https://www.youtube.com/@TylerEdwards

Tyler's channel offers a solid variety of behind-the-scenes, gear reviews and practical camera and lighting tips. I particularly appreciate his lighting breakdowns.

Brandon Y Lee

@brandonylee

https://www.youtube.com/@brandonylee

I believe Brandon has only recently launched this personal channel but you may be aware of him from his other work in the YouTube space. He's already been sharing some great insight and I'm looking forward to seeing how the channel develops.

Brittney Janae

@BrittneyJanae

https://www.youtube.com/@BrittneyJanae

As a DP, cam op, filmmaker and general all-around creative, Brittney is able to share a whole variety of useful content on her channel from behind-the-scenes breakdowns, gear reviews, plenty of tutorials and a lot more.

Scott Peters

@ScottPetersFilms

https://www.youtube.com/@ScottPetersFilms

Scott's work and channel are very new to me but I'm glad the algorithm pointed me in his direction, particularly as UK based filmmaker myself it's great to hear his insight on larger budget productions and it's really useful to see how he breaks down the financial side of these shoots.

In Depth Cine

@indepthcine

https://www.youtube.com/@InDepthCine

Gray's Channel In Depth Cine is a great resource for those just getting started in the world of cinematography. He's able to break down complex topics into easy-to-understand tutorials and video essays.

Brandon Washington

@bwashmedia

https://www.youtube.com/@bwashmedia

On Brandon's channel, you'll find plenty of filmmaking tips and tutorials as well as gear reviews and much more. If you're a mobile creator, I'd definitely recommend you take a look at his recent video on Canva.

Dunna Did It

@dunnadidit

https://www.youtube.com/@dunnadidit

Dunna's channel has a whole collection of tutorials, gear reviews and general filmmaking tips. There are also plenty of DaVinci Resolve related videos as well if you're looking for those.

lacapturevisuals

@lacapturevisuals

https://www.youtube.com/@DesireLACAPTURE

You may have seen Desire's short-form content before but she also has a great YouTube channel where she shares plenty of longer-form tips and tutorials on filmmaking and content creation.

Patrick Tomasso

@impatrickt

https://www.youtube.com/@impatrickt

Patricks's channel offers a great variety of video essays, tutorials and reviews. I particularly enjoy the analysis of films he shares & I'd highly recommend checking out his recent video with Oren Soffer.

Epic Light Media

@epiclightmedia

https://www.youtube.com/@EpicLightMedia

Epic Light Media as the name suggests, has some great lighting tutorials on their channel as well as a load of general filmmaking tips and gear reviews.

Moji Wilson

@mojiwilson

https://www.youtube.com/@MojiWilson

I found Moji's work through Morgan Cooper's short film "U Shoot Videos" & his channel features some great cinematography related content including kit breakdowns, BTS & more.

Scott Jeschke

@scottjeschkefilm

https://www.youtube.com/@ScottJeschke

I first found Scott's channel when I got my a7iii many years ago now, as he has some great videos on shooting with HLG picture profiles, but he also has plenty of general cinematography tutorials & lighting breakdowns.

atola visuals

@atolavisuals

https://www.youtube.com/@atolavisuals

Kitty's channel is full of gear reviews as well as general filmmaking content. If you're considering starting a YouTube channel, Kitty also has a great course available over on MZed.

Gerald Undone

@geraldundone

https://www.youtube.com/@geraldundone

Geralds channel is usually my first stop when considering purchasing a new piece of gear as he does some of the most comprehensive reviews on the platform.

Kofi Yeboah

@KofiYeboah

https://www.youtube.com/@KofiYeboah

Kofi's channel is full of cinematography and general filmmaking videos, including lighting tutorials, the business side of things, alongside plenty of gear reviews.

Brady Bessette

@BradyBessette

https://www.youtube.com/@BradyBessette

I've been following Brady since he first started sharing tutorials and it's been great to see how much his channel has developed and gone from strength to strength. He has a whole range of cinematography videos to add to your watch list.

Lila

@lilafromyoutube

https://www.youtube.com/@lilafromyoutube

Lila's channel has a whole variety of videos; from filmmaking tips, to editing tutorials & gear reviews. There is something for everyone & I definitely recommend checking it out.

MAKE. ART. NOW.

@MAKEARTNOWCHANNEL

https://www.youtube.com/@MAKEARTNOWCHANNEL

Josh has been able to find a great blend with his channel between technical and creative filmmaking tips, alongside narrative storytelling. I feel like this sets his channel apart from most.

Blake Ridder

@BlakeRidder

https://www.youtube.com/@BlakeRidder

Blake's channel feels like a whole filmmaking school within itself. Not only is it full of lighting and other filmmaking tutorials, there are also tonnes of short films and behind-the-scenes for them.

Chris Franklin

https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisFranklinJr

@chris.franklin.jr

Chris's channel is full of cinematography and general filmmaking videos. There's a fair amount of the technical side covered as well as a bit on business and some post-production tips as well.

PDMokry

https://www.youtube.com/@PDMokry

@PDMokry

Piotr's channel has some great behind-the-scenes along with plenty of other DP and gaffer-related tutorials. I'd definitely recommend taking a look at his in-depth guide for top-down set-ups and tube lights.

Life Of Riza

@LifeOfRiza

https://www.youtube.com/@LifeOfRiza/videos

Kariza's channel has been blowing up recently and it's easy to see why. While not having an overly technical focus like some of my other recommendations, her creative approach to storytelling offers something that's often missing from most YouTube channels and it's great to see.

The DP Journey

@THEDPJOURNEY

https://www.youtube.com/@THEDPJOURNEY

The DP journey was recently recommended to me and I'm glad to be able to share it. There are some great cinematography-related videos here, including tips for mobile as well as cameras like the S5 and FX3.

Thank you @loannesmarc for the recommendation

Blaine Westropp

@BlaineWestropp1

https://www.youtube.com/@BlaineWestropp1/videos

Blaine has some great cinematography-related videos on his channel, including lens and other gear reviews, alongside plenty of other practical tutorials that are definitely worth checking out.

Matt Porwoll Cinematography

@matt-porwoll

https://www.youtube.com/@matt-porwoll

I was so pleased when the algorithm pointed me in Matt's direction. You may recognise his name from documentaries like Cartel Land which he shot and it was awarded for it's cinematography. He has some incredibly in-depth tutorials & I'd highly recommend his recent documentary lighting series.

Justin Phillip

@JustinPhillip

https://www.youtube.com/@JustinPhillip

Justin's channel is such a fantastic source of information from someone who genuinely knows what they're talking about. It mostly focuses on the cinematography side of things and you will find so many useful videos.

Alexandra Robinson

@AlexandraRobinson

https://www.youtube.com/@AlexandraRobinson

Alexandra's channel is a perfect example of how a filmmaker can demonstrate their storytelling and creativity through YouTube. I'd definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for something different than the usual gear and tutorial videos.

theC47

@theC47

https://www.youtube.com/@theC47

You will find so many useful things on the c47 channel, including camera and lighting tips, as well as kit reviews & other videos on things like tips for craft services and book recommendations.

ZY Cheng

@zy_cheng

https://www.youtube.com/@zy_cheng

Cheng's YouTube channel features loads of gear reviews on cameras, lenses, audio kit, you name it; as well as plenty of other film tech videos and general filmmaking tips.