💸 How Much Does a Small Photography Channel Make on YouTube?
Real Talk and Stats from Touchstone Pixels
📍 Inside My YouTube Journey — Transparency, Numbers & Dreams
🧭 Overview
YouTube recently surprised me with a burrito — literally. Yep, being a YouTube partner means some cool perks, like free Chipotle, and it inspired me to share something real with you all: How much money I actually make on YouTube as a small photography channel. Spoiler: it’s not a fortune — but there’s a bigger purpose behind all this hustle.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
📊 My real earnings, from day one to now
💡 How I monetize (ads, merch, Amazon affiliates)
🎯 Why I keep doing this even when the money’s slow
🔮 My vision for the future: workshops, brand growth, and community
📈 The Numbers — What the Channel Makes
In the last 28 days, my estimated YouTube revenue was about $40.32. That breaks down to:
Worst day: $0.96
Best day: $3.29
Since I got monetized in early February, I’ve made $130.63 total from YouTube ads.
My top videos for revenue include:
Canon autofocus areas explained
Canon 28-70mm f/2.8 lens review
Canon metering modes explained
Best Canon R8 video settings
Lightroom vs Luminar Neo
💸 Other Revenue Streams
YouTube ads aren’t the whole story. Here’s what else I’m working on:
Merch store: I’ve got a few items — mugs, t-shirts, hats — but honestly, sales are slow (three clicks, all probably me).
Amazon Affiliates: Since January, I’ve made $127.84 from people buying gear I recommend, like that Canon 28-70mm lens, batteries, and tripods. If you buy through my links, it costs you nothing extra but helps support the channel.
🎯 Why Do I Do This?
Is this channel about the money? Not really. I’m happy to earn some revenue, but it’s way less than I expected. I want to add a zero to those $40 monthly earnings, sure — pay off some gear, cover bills — but it’s a grind.
The real goal:
Build name recognition as a photographer and teacher
Help you get out there and take photos
Grow Touchstone Pixels as a brand for future collaborations and projects
Eventually run photo workshops where we can shoot, laugh, and learn together in the field
💬 Real Talk
No magic money here yet. But the journey is worth it. I’m improving content quality and working hard to grow. I hope to see you all along for the ride — so hit like, subscribe, and ring that bell! Maybe one day we’ll be shooting something wild together.
✌️ Final Word
YouTube monetization is a slow climb, especially for niche channels like mine. But passion, persistence, and community keep me going. Thanks for being part of this story. Until next time — keep shooting, keep creating, and keep pushing forward.
