How photographer Benjamin Jaworskyj became a star on YouTube

Photography has never been as simple as it is today. With smartphones, it's truly a snap away. This simplicity comes at a price, however. Even though more photos than ever are being taken, countless images and videos also disappear, lost on an unreadable digital backup device - never to be used or viewed again.

Images belong to Ben Jaworskyj's daily work. Teaching himself photography after graduating from high school, Jaworskyj - born in 1986 - has become a German photography star, with 200,000 followers on YouTube.  

This week at Photokina, the world's biggest photography trade fair held in Cologne, people have crowed around Jaworskyj's stand to get the chance to meet him. The stand itself is hard to miss: in front of a massive landscape shot - Jaworskyj's specialty - is a dirty black truck with a big red #jaworskyj emblem stuck across its side. Its license plate reads "B-EN."

The photographer and YouTuber has hardly been able to catch his breath during the fair. If he's not giving a lecture, then he's constantly asked to sign posters and books for his fans. Whether 17 or 70 years old, they all love him.

Benjamin Jaworskyj has made it: producing up to 70 videos and tutorials per year, he offers some 50 workshops annually to hobby photographers in places like the Black Forest or Norway. His channel "jaworskyjpictures" obtained Germany's WebVideo Prize in 2013. He's written two books along the way, and sells camera accessories.

For his videos, he travels with his cameraman around the world, always hunting for the perfect landscape. "You're outside, searching for the light, overcoming all the obstacles to get to the right locations - all that is a combination of the things I love to do," he told DW.

Detours are part of the journey

But things didn't take off for Jaworskyj right away. It took him a while to be able to make a living from photography. "After I graduated from high school, I felt kind of lost," he said. "I tried out all sorts of things, did all sorts of jobs." He had always been interested in photography, but only as a hobby, he said.

Then, Jaworskyj happened to land a gig at JAM FM, a small, commercial radio station in Berlin. He first did an internship, followed by a training program, and ultimately worked there Monday through Saturday as a radio host.

He still felt something was missing. "I thought: 'Ok, this is all great, but maybe there are other options for being able to do what I couldn't dream of before.'" So the then 24-year-old started his own YouTube channel, which he managed alongside his 50-hour work week. 

He aimed to pass on his knowledge of photography to others. "What is really exciting is being able to do what you want," he said. "If you're really into something, then the sky's the limit."

In his videos, the trained anchorman is relaxed and authentic as he chats away. You can tell he's having fun.

Three years ago, he took the plunge and quit his day job to focus all his energy on his YouTube channel. He was never interested in money, he admits. "In photography, just as in acting, you can make a lot of money, or very little. It all depends on how you market yourself and what you're capable of doing," he said. He himself does a good job of that with his entertaining style.  

Photography and lifestyle

Photographer Pavel Kaplun shares this view. His stand is located right next to Jaworskyj's at Photokina. People swarm around this location as well. 

Making money with photography is extremely difficult now because there are so many good photographers, explained Kaplun. "You need several different outlets; you have to stand out from the crowd and offer something unusual," he said.

Kaplun, who just completed an album cover and posters for German entertainer Jürgen von der Lippe, manages to do that with unique events. He offers photography courses at select places like casinos and private castles. 

Originally from Russia, the photographer has made his mark in Germany. Along with his team, he organizes for example photography courses combined with gin or whiskey tasting events. 

He also travels the world, taking photography enthusiasts along with him in workshops. "Our motto is: experience photography; enjoy creativity," he said. "We offer things other people don't."

Kaplun also believes that photographers must develop their particular style that sets them apart from others. "What do I have an eye for? How do I see motifs? How do I compose my picture? How do I edit it later?": These are all questions to consider. 

"Once you've developed your own personal style, then you've got it right," he said. Like Jaworskyj, Kaplun has his own online store - selling books, DVDs and even his own wine. 

Taking time off

Benjamin Jaworskyj now wants to pull back a notch, take a break. "There's more to life than just work," the 29-year-old points out. "I'd like to have a good work-life balance and really enjoy my life."

That's why he doesn't spend November and December in Germany, but travels to a warm country instead to think about what he wants to do next. He's already got big plans for next year and wants to live abroad - but he's not revealing where he's going yet. The YouTuber promises one thing: he has lots of ideas for the future. 

The event Photokina runs in Cologne through September 25, with some 180,000 visitors expected to attend the world's largest photography fair.