More Than a YouTuber

Justin Odisho is building a creative empire one tutorial at a time

By Sarah Kittle

At first glance, Justin Odisho might look like just another YouTube creator—but a closer look reveals a self-made digital educator, entrepreneur, and pioneer in the creative tech space. With more than 1.08 million YouTube subscribers and over 100 million total views, Odisho has spent over a decade turning passion into profession—teaching people how to master photo and video editing software.

“I’ve been doing stuff like this since I was 16,” said Odisho. “But I started the specific channel around 2011.”

Early Days of Digital Creativity

Odisho got his start experimenting with Adobe software like Photoshop and After Effects after his older brother installed them on the family computer. “We were just making fun graphics and animations,” he said. “I picked up the skill naturally.”

When YouTube launched, Odisho gravitated to the platform but initially struggled with copyright takedowns for music. “I had to figure out what I could post that wouldn’t get taken down,” he said. That’s when the idea struck to turn his knowledge of Photoshop into video tutorials. His first videos weren’t even true tutorials—just digital tricks, like adding a fake tattoo to an image.

What began as a hobby eventually turned into something more. “Around the time I was graduating college, I realized this industry was growing,” he said. “That’s when I decided to take it seriously.”

Turning Views Into Revenue

Odisho graduated with a degree in information technology—somewhat adjacent to his creative work, but not a major influence.

“To be fair, I don’t necessarily use anything from that degree,” he said. “It was just something I did because I didn’t know what else to do. College, I was just a little bit lost.”

In 2017, he committed to turning his YouTube channel into a business. He began uploading content daily and diversified beyond Photoshop into video editing programs like Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects.

“I was trying everything—blogging, podcasting, editing—just seeing what stuck,” he said. Video editing, it turned out, was an underserved niche. “Everyone wanted to learn how to make videos around that time.”

To build a sustainable business, Odisho created downloadable presets and transition files that users could drag and drop into their editing software. “It gave me something to sell, because ad revenue alone isn’t enough.”

He also tapped into affiliate marketing and brand partnerships, working directly with Adobe and earning commissions through referrals.

Odisho is known for breaking down complex editing techniques in a way that’s approachable—even for complete beginners.

“I get emails all the time from people saying, ‘I’m 78 and not good with computers, but I understood your video,’” he said. “That means a lot.”

He’s learned over time how to strip away the fluff. “You don’t always need to say too many things such as, ‘Like and subscribe.’ Just get to the point.”

His philosophy is rooted in clarity: “Make it as valuable as possible to the other person. That’s the goal.”

As his following grew, Adobe took notice.

“I probably emailed them first, asking to live stream or collaborate,” he said. Eventually, marketing agencies and internal Adobe teams began reaching out for livestreams, tutorial series, and promotional campaigns.

Today, Odisho works closely with Adobe’s creative teams, often receiving previews of software updates and features in beta.

Odisho has participated in in-person Adobe summits in San Francisco, joined livestreams on Adobe Creative Cloud, and even contributed tutorials to Adobe’s official platforms.

And yes—he still uses Adobe software every day. “For photo and video editing, I’m on Adobe,” he said. “But I’m always keeping an eye out on new trends and developments especially with things like mobile editing and AI.”

Staying Ahead in a Fast-Changing Industry

Odisho began editing with, before Adobe moved to its current Creative Cloud subscription model. Over the years, he’s learned how to stay on top of ever-changing tech.

“That’s where it’s good to use social media as an informational tool rather than just scrolling junk,” he said. “I’m connected with creative people around the world, so when there’s a new feature, I can jump on it and stay informed.”

His content helps followers keep pace. “I just made a video showing what’s new in the latest Adobe updates,” he said. “The people who follow me aren’t doing it because they think I’m funny—it’s because it helps them do their jobs better.”

His followers include editors working in newsrooms, sports teams, ad agencies, and freelance creatives across the world.

“I guess that’s part of my value,” he said. “Keeping people educated and ahead of the curve.

While I’m deeply involved in the video and photo world, I also love personal productivity, and other interests like reading which I share on my channel as well.”

He also knows the importance of adapting to trends—something that has kept his channel relevant for over a decade.

“Everything’s moving toward algorithm-based feeds now. It’s not even about who you follow anymore, it’s about what shows up,” he said. “But with over a thousand videos and strong SEO, I’ve built a catalog that still gets views every day.”

For Odisho, it’s about staying curious and being useful. “It all started with making stuff for fun,” he said. “Now I get to help people, meet amazing creators, and do what I love. That’s pretty cool.”

The creative business model has shifted significantly over the years, and Odisho has found multiple sources of income. Beyond YouTube ad revenue, where views are king, he also sells his own digital products, like editing presets, and earns commissions through affiliate marketing.

“Ad revenue is just one part of it. The word ‘passive income’ is funny because, in some ways, it’s passive. But if you’re not active, it won’t be passive for long,” he said.

In fact, Odisho has faced instances where others have tried to profit off his hard work. “I’ve found people who have stolen my videos, organized them into a course, and sold them. One guy even had a decent amount of sales just by changing the pitch of my voice and cutting out my intro and website,” he said.

He also works directly with major brands like Adobe, GoPro, and Amazon Prime. “I’ve done stuff with GoPro for their 360 camera,” he explained. “It’s cool to get to work with brands I admire and help them spread the word about new tools or features.”

The Michigan Advantage

While many of his peers have moved to California in pursuit of opportunities, Odisho remains in Michigan—something he believes gives him a unique perspective.

“Sometimes, when I was younger, I considered if it would be good career-wise to relocate to somewhere like California,” he admitted. “Even just recently, they flew me to San Francisco, and it’s a bit of a trip. I sometimes feel like if I was just around the corner, maybe I’d get more opportunities.”

But Odisho doesn’t regret staying in Michigan. “I think there’s a benefit to being from Michigan. You get a different perspective,” he said. “These days, you can do so much just over the Internet that it doesn’t really matter where you are.”

He also points out that Michigan has produced some incredible creative talent. “There are a ton of cool creators from around here. It’s like there must be something in the water in the Great Lakes.”

While Odisho’s work spans the globe, his roots in Michigan and his unique background shape much of his perspective. He is a first-generation American, with parents who were born outside of the United States. “I’m bilingual,” he said. “And a lot of people from my community have that shared experience.”

“I am first generation. I do have a unique background,” he said. “Being Chaldean is not something a lot of people outside of our community are familiar with, and it’s hard to explain sometimes.”

Despite the complexity of his identity, Odisho remains proud of his heritage and the unique perspective it brings to his work. “There’s something valuable in being able to represent something that’s not as widely understood,” he said.

And like many others in his community, Odisho’s experiences of growing up with a unique identity have shaped his values. “Growing up in this community, having a unique identity does make you reflect and try to figure out who you are,” he said. “It shapes you in a way, and I think that’s why my focus has been on trusting yourself and being true to who you are.”

He elaborated, “It’s easy to lean into a stereotypical path, or to isolate yourself in a certain way within the community. But learning to balance your roots with your individuality—that’s a challenge. But when you figure it out, it’s really rewarding.”

Building Connections

Through his work, Odisho has built strong relationships with other creators. He is connected to a network of video editors, camera people, and even large channels. “I’m connected to a lot of these large channels—like video teams, even some of the largest channels, or one of their editors,” he said. “Usually, there’s at least someone who follows me or knows my work. That’s the cool part.”

He even noted a unique recognition—”Even CNN is subscribed to me on YouTube. Well, whoever runs their social media,” he clarified. “They’re my largest follower because on YouTube you can see who’s following you, and I saw that one day. I was pretty surprised.”

Odisho reflected on how his upbringing coincided with the rise of technology. “I didn’t grow up with things like an iPad or cell phone. I didn’t get a cell phone until later,” he said. “I grew up with the internet as it was growing, which was cool. I got to be good with the tools as they developed.”

He also noted that despite the glamorous view of digital careers, there are challenges. “A lot of kids today dream of being YouTubers, but sometimes I look at people who just have a steady salary and a life offline, and I think they’ve got it good too,” he admitted. “You don’t have to be online all the time. You don’t have to worry about being public. That’s a nice benefit.”

But for Odisho, there’s no going back. Despite the challenges, he’s committed to continuing his work in the digital space—growing, adapting, and evolving as the industry does.