For most of us, finding our passion might mean starting a book club with some friends, dusting off an old guitar, or joining a running club. The reach is small, but the enthusiasm is strong nevertheless. Now imagine that on a larger scale. Wouldn’t it be great to share what you love with the world? That’s exactly what these three YouTube sensations have done. Karen Kavett makes videos about graphic design, crafting, and DIY projects on her own channel and is also a contributor to HGTV Handmade. Sergei Prokhnevskiy is a motion graphic designer who founded Ukramedia to teach people the fundamentals of motion design. Leigh Lahav of OnlyLeigh is an animator and comedian who loves anything and everything related to pop culture. Here’s how they did it.
Adobe: What prompted you to start creating content for YouTube?
Lahav: Before doing what I do on YouTube, I had no idea it was such a big deal. Sure, I knew of it, I was familiar with certain viral videos and knew some names, but I was pretty ignorant as to how big and influential it was. I always knew I wanted to do something creative, I just never imagined it quite like this!
Prokhnevskiy: When I graduated from college I thought I was ready for anything. I’d been working with Adobe software since I was young and I was very confident in my abilities. But the fast pace of a design studio environment was a struggle for me. So I decided to focus on the basics. I created a YouTube channel that teaches people the fundamentals of Adobe After Effects and it caught on.
Kavett: I started making videos in early 2008. A lot of people I knew were doing it too and I thought it was a really interesting way to communicate. My channel has evolved a lot through the years, from vlogging and talking about things that interested me to my current focus on DIY and graphic design videos.
Karen Kavett – 12 Ways to Make Better YouTube Thumbnails
Adobe: How have you grown your YouTube audience?
Kavett: A lot of my audience growth comes from working with other people. Inviting guests on my channel and collaborating on videos has had the biggest impact on my subscriber growth.
Lahav: I guess the old cliché of being true to what you do and what you love really did the trick. I’ve tried appealing to others’ expectations for years while ignoring what I love myself, and it only left me frustrated and unhappy. Once I got back to doing what I love it became noticeable.
Prokhnevskiy: I focus on creating content that is simple, practical, and to the point. I want people to be able to get in, learn something, and get out. I think a lot of people appreciate this approach.
OnlyLeigh – Frozen is the New Black
Adobe: How long does it take you to create content for your channel?
Prokhnevskiy: It’s a fluid process. Sometimes I start doing one thing, and end up doing another because I stumble on something interesting. What I’ve learned is that the more time I spend on tutorials, the better they are. Quality matters.
Lahav: I write with my husband. We try to let the ideas come naturally, instead of forcing them. Sometimes that takes time. The timeframe for the whole process varies from a week to a month or more.
Kavett: I tend to work on videos in batches of two or three at a time. DIY videos take at least three days to make.
What software can you not live without?
Kavett: Adobe Premiere Pro CC and Photoshop CC. I use these every single day!
Lahav: Adobe Animate CC (formerly Flash Professional CC) is a long-time companion. It’s reliable and very easy to use. You’d be surprised what you can do with it! I always edit using Adobe Premiere Pro CC, and create magic with Adobe After Effects CC.
Prokhnevskiy: Adobe After Effects CC. It’s my bread and butter!
Adobe: What does the future have in store for you?
Kavett: I’d like to continue working on my channel and contributing to HGTV Handmade for as long as I can. I have so many ideas!
Prokhnevskiy: I really enjoy teaching. My goal is to create courses, and maybe introduce some premium course material as well. I’d also like to develop some practical plugins, something that saves time so people can focus on what’s really important—the creative content.
Lahav: I just launched a new show, Belle & Tina are Time Travelers. Looking ahead, I’d really love to be a showrunner. I love TV and bossing people around!
Adobe: What advice would you give someone just getting started on YouTube?
Lahav: Just make the jump. It’s really hard to get out there and expose yourself through your art. You need to just go for it. There’s no time like the present and you’ll just get better and better.
Kavett: Have a solid idea to describe what your channel is and how it differs from the rest. You are your own target audience, so make the content that you wish already existed. And be patient! It took me more than a year to get my first 100 subscribers.
Prokhnevskiy: There’s no such thing as winning the lottery. Success looks a lot like hard work and nobody gets there accidentally.