10 Best Photography YouTube Channels to Follow in 2026

Introduction

With thousands of photography channels on YouTube, finding quality education can feel overwhelming. Which creators actually teach useful skills? Who’s still actively posting? And which channels match your learning style?

We’ve done the research for you. This guide features the 10 best photography YouTube channels in 2026 – all actively posting, education-focused, and covering different aspects of the craft. Whether you want to master Photoshop, improve your portraits, or find creative inspiration, there’s a channel here for you.

What’s new in 2026: We’ve completely refreshed this list based on current activity levels, content quality, and community engagement. Several channels from our previous list have reduced posting frequency, while new educators have emerged with fresh perspectives.

1. PiXimperfect

Subscribers: 5.4 million | Focus: Photoshop & Lightroom | Uploads: Weekly

PiXimperfect is THE channel for mastering Photoshop. Unmesh Dinda has an incredible gift for making complex techniques feel simple and fun.

His tutorials cover everything from basic retouching to advanced compositing, always with clear step-by-step instructions. What sets him apart is his infectious enthusiasm – you’ll actually enjoy learning about layer masks and blend modes. His signature sign-off (“I’ll see you in the next one!”) has become iconic in the photography community.

The channel is particularly strong on photo manipulation and compositing, portrait retouching techniques, Lightroom workflow optimization, and creative effects.

Best for: Anyone wanting to improve their post-processing skills, from beginners to advanced editors.

2. Peter McKinnon

Subscribers: 6 million | Focus: Photography & Filmmaking | Uploads: 2-4x monthly

Peter McKinnon helped define the modern photography YouTube genre with his high-energy, cinematic style. While he’s scaled back from daily uploads, his content remains consistently inspiring.

His videos blend photography tutorials with creative motivation – perfect when you need a push to pick up your camera. The production quality is exceptional, and his genuine passion for the craft shines through every video.

What makes him stand out: Peter bridges photography and videography beautifully, making him ideal if you’re interested in both. His coffee-fueled enthusiasm is contagious, and he’s built one of the most engaged photography communities online.

Best for: Creative inspiration, understanding the intersection of photo and video, motivation to shoot more.

3. PHLEARN

Subscribers: 2.2 million | Focus: Photoshop & Compositing | Uploads: Weekly

PHLEARN has been the internet’s go-to Photoshop education channel since 2011, and it’s still going strong. Aaron Nace delivers professional-grade tutorials with a down-to-earth teaching style.

The channel excels at complex compositing techniques, advanced retouching workflows, creative Photoshop effects, and Lightroom editing. What sets PHLEARN apart is the “no ego, just help” approach. Aaron genuinely wants you to succeed, and his tutorials are structured to build real skills.

Best for: Photographers serious about mastering Photoshop, especially portrait retouchers and composite artists.

4. Jessica Kobeissi

Subscribers: 1.9 million | Focus: Portrait & Fashion Photography | Uploads: Weekly

Jessica Kobeissi is one of the most prominent portrait photography educators on YouTube. Her popular challenge series – like “$50 vs $5000 Photographer” – combines entertainment with genuine learning.

Beyond the challenges, Jessica shares real photoshoot walkthroughs, posing and directing techniques, editing tutorials, and business advice for photographers. Her Detroit-based studio shoots give insight into professional portrait work, and she’s refreshingly honest about both successes and failures.

Best for: Portrait photographers wanting to see real shoots in action and improve their posing direction.

5. Tony & Chelsea Northrup

Subscribers: 1.7 million | Focus: Everything Photography | Uploads: 3-4x weekly

If you want ONE channel that covers it all, Tony & Chelsea Northrup deliver. They’re the most prolific photography educators on YouTube, covering gear reviews, tutorials, news, and community photo critiques.

Their standout content includes comprehensive camera and lens reviews, weekly photo critique shows, photography business advice, and technique tutorials for all skill levels. The couple dynamic works well – they bring different perspectives and keep discussions engaging. They also wrote “Stunning Digital Photography,” one of the bestselling photography books on Amazon.

Best for: Photographers who want comprehensive coverage of gear, techniques, and industry news in one place.

6. Mango Street

Subscribers: 1.1 million | Focus: Quick Tutorials | Uploads: Weekly

Mango Street‘s tagline is “Photography tutorials that don’t waste your time” – and they deliver. Rachel and Daniel create beautifully produced, concise videos that get straight to the point.

Their tutorials typically run 5-10 minutes and cover lighting techniques, quick editing tips, portrait photography, and creative concepts. The aesthetic quality of their videos is exceptional – every frame is carefully composed, making their content both educational and inspirational.

Best for: Busy photographers who want actionable tips without 20-minute intros.

7. The Art of Photography

Subscribers: 895K | Focus: Photography Philosophy & History | Uploads: Weekly

While most channels focus on “how,” The Art of Photography explores “why.” Ted Forbes dives deep into photography masters, creative philosophy, and finding your artistic voice.

Ted’s content includes profiles of legendary photographers, creative philosophy discussions, camera and technique explorations, and community challenges. If you’re feeling creatively stuck or want to understand photography on a deeper level, this channel offers perspective that technical tutorials can’t provide.

Best for: Photographers seeking creative inspiration and deeper understanding of the art form.

8. Sean Tucker

Subscribers: 610K | Focus: Photography Philosophy & Street Photography | Uploads: Monthly

Sean Tucker creates fewer videos than most channels, but each one is a thoughtful mini-film. Based in the UK, he explores the philosophical side of photography – meaning, vision, and creative purpose.

His approach focuses on understanding your “why,” overcoming creative blocks, finding your visual voice, and the meditative aspects of photography. Sean prioritizes quality over quantity, and it shows. His videos feel less like tutorials and more like conversations with a wise mentor.

Best for: Photographers in creative ruts seeking deeper meaning in their work.

9. Thomas Heaton

Subscribers: 624K | Focus: Landscape Photography | Uploads: Weekly

Thomas Heaton offers authentic, unscripted landscape photography adventures. Based in the UK, he takes viewers along as he explores stunning locations, often dealing with challenging weather and unexpected conditions.

What makes Thomas special is his honesty – he shows failed attempts alongside successes. His videos cover landscape photography techniques, location scouting and planning, film and digital workflows, and the outdoor photography experience.

Best for: Landscape photographers and anyone who appreciates authentic outdoor photography content.

10. Julia Trotti

Subscribers: 660K | Focus: Fashion & Portrait Photography | Uploads: Weekly

Julia Trotti is a Sydney-based fashion photographer who shares her professional workflow from concept to final edit. Her behind-the-scenes content gives real insight into commercial portrait work.

Julia’s channel covers professional fashion shoots, Lightroom editing workflows, creative direction and styling, and building a photography career. Her Lightroom preset packs are popular, and her tutorials show exactly how she achieves her signature style.

Best for: Aspiring fashion and editorial portrait photographers.

Finding the Right Channel for You

With so many quality options, here’s a quick guide based on what you want to learn:

• For Photoshop mastery: PiXimperfect, PHLEARN
• For creative inspiration: Peter McKinnon, Sean Tucker
• For portrait photography: Jessica Kobeissi, Julia Trotti
• For gear decisions: Tony & Chelsea Northrup
• For landscape photography: Thomas Heaton
• For quick, efficient learning: Mango Street
• For photography philosophy: The Art of Photography, Sean Tucker

The best approach? Subscribe to 2-3 channels that match your current goals, and don’t be afraid to explore others as your interests evolve.

Honorable Mentions

These channels didn’t make our top 10 but are absolutely worth following:

• Kai W (959K) – Entertaining gear reviews with British humor
• Karl Taylor (606K) – Professional commercial and product photography
• Serge Ramelli (641K) – Landscape photography and Lightroom
• Irene Rudnyk (871K) – Natural light portrait photography
• Jamie Windsor (367K) – Thoughtful photography essays

Happy learning – and remember, the best education is the one that gets you out shooting!