Reaching 50,000 Subscribers on YouTube
50,000 Subs on YouTube
Every once in a while, a number pops up on a screen and makes you stop.
Not because it changes anything, but because it reminds you how many small steps it took to get there.
How It All Started
I never really set out to become a YouTuber - if that’s what you’d even call me. It just…happened.
Back around 2010, I was deep into writing long photo tutorials and software reviews here on the blog. They took forever to make, and before long, every time a company updated their software, my posts were outdated. Keeping them current was like playing whack-a-mole with version numbers. Eventually, I burned out.
So in early 2016, I decided to try something different. Instead of typing for hours, why not just show it in a video? After all, photo editing is visual by nature - it made sense. Once I got the hang of recording and editing, it was faster, more fun, and honestly felt like a better way to help people. Before long, I stopped writing tutorials altogether.
The Unexpected Journey
Fast-forward to today, and I’ve made over 1,100 videos. It’s been an incredible ride - fun, challenging, and sometimes exhausting. In fact, at times it’s a grind. But, it’s been deeply rewarding. YouTube has opened doors for my photography that I never even knew existed.
When I started, I didn’t have any grand plans. No goals, no growth targets - just curiosity and a desire to share what I was learning. Slowly, the channel started to grow. Seeing strangers watch me edit photos - and actually come back for more - was thrilling.
Then came the lockdown years. Everyone was at home, spending more time online, and I was making videos like crazy. The channel grew faster than ever. But as life returned to normal, the growth slowed. These days, it’s pretty slow overall.
If I were the pessimistic type, I might’ve quit by now. Because the truth is, making videos takes a lot of time and energy. When the numbers are climbing fast, it’s easy to justify all those hours. But when things slow down, you start asking yourself harder questions.
And YouTube doesn’t just take time - it takes mental space. I’m always thinking about it. Ideas pop up at random times, and I stop to jot them down. When I’m editing a photo, I wonder if it would make a good tutorial. I can’t just get in the flow of editing without my brain interrupting me. It’s always humming in the back of my mind.
The Milestone
So when I crossed 50,000 subscribers recently, I felt a mix of emotions. Joy, yes. Pride, absolutely. But also a bit of relief - and maybe a little hollowness.
Fifty thousand is a big number, but it doesn’t change anything tangible. There’s no prize, no YouTube plaque (that comes at 100K), no sudden life shift. It’s more symbolic than anything - a reminder of how far things have come since that first video years ago. And I’m proud of that. I’ve worked hard for it.
Looking Ahead
Still, I’m realistic. Unless something crazy happens, I’ll probably never hit 100,000. At my current pace, it would take years. And honestly, I’m okay with not getting to 100k. It’s not about the number of subscribers, actually. It’s about sharing what I have learned to help others improve their craft. It’s about teaching. It’s about the ongoing enjoyment of photography and sharing it with the world.
I love creating videos, but I also value my free time. YouTube can feel like a treadmill that never stops - and sometimes, I’d rather step off for a bit and just enjoy life.
Just to be clear: I’m not quitting. Someday, sure - but not now, and not any time soon. This isn’t an announcement; it’s just a reflection. Hitting a milestone always makes me pause, look around, and think about the path I’ve been on. That’s what blogs are for anyway, right?
Gratitude
To everyone who’s watched my videos, subscribed, commented, shared them, or supported me along the way - thank you. Truly. I can’t say that enough. It’s been so fun, and I sincerely appreciate all of you.
THANK YOU.
P.S. Thanks again for following along and helping me reach that 50K milestone. If you’d like to see how I edit most of my images, you’ll find my go-to preset collections here: jimnix.com/shop.
