August took ~35 hours to produce two episodes of The Photography Channel. More than half of that time disappeared into post-production. On average, each finished minute of video required about two hours of work. That’s the multiplier — the real cost of running a YouTube channel.
This is the first in a series of Social Media Monthly Reports. Each month, I’ll share numbers, hours, and notes that show what it actually takes to build a creative media business.
Executive Summary
Two videos went live this month out of a target of four. In total, I spent 34.75 hours on the channel. Views came in at 461, a slight dip of 6% compared to July; watch time rose by 25% to 20.9 hours. Subscribers grew to 174, up 12 from last month.
This month I fell short of the four-video target — not because of lack of ideas or problems in production; time slipped away in the edit, and I didn’t maintain the schedule.
Production Breakdown
| Hours | Percent | |
| Pre-Production | 9.25 | 27% |
| Production | 3.42 | 10% |
| Post-Production | 18.08 | 52% |
| Publishing | 0.50 | 1% |
| Marketing | 0 | 0% |
| Other | 3.50 | 10% |
| Total | 34.75 | 100% |
The plan for August was four videos; only two were completed. July delivered four videos after a long gap since February, so inconsistency remains a factor.
Out of 34.75 hours, 52% went into post-production, with video editing alone accounting for 37% of all time spent. Pre-production (ideas and scripts) continues to take a significant share, while production itself is lean and efficient. Admin and other tasks made up around 10%.
Key Metrics
| Change | ||
| Impressions | 7970 | -23% |
| Views | 461 | 6% |
| Click-through Rate (CTR) | 4% | |
| Total Watch Time (Hours) | 20.9 | 25% |
| Subscribers | 174 | 12 |
| Total | 34.75 | 100% |
The numbers are modest, but they’re honest. After a long break from YouTube and an uneven month, they set a baseline for what a small channel produces under strain.
Next Month (SEP 2025)
The goals are clear:
- Publish 4 videos.
- Invest ~60 hours, with post-production under 50%.
- Streamline editing to save time.
- Track the same KPIs as August for month-over-month comparison.
The aim is to hold this output steady for the next six months before adding specific targets for views, watch time, or subscribers.
Closing
This is the cost of doing the work — measured in hours, not hype. If you’re building your own machine, start by tracking your inputs.
For those who prefer the full data in one go, I’ve pulled the charts into a short deck. The “boardroom version” of this report — 45 seconds, numbers only.
This is the first in a monthly series. The next Social Media Monthly Report will follow in October. If you want to keep track of how the numbers move, subscribe.