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Interview: Coba Sophia Uys

May 26, 2020June 6, 2022

Cape Town-based wedding photographer, Coba Sophia Uys from Coba Photography. She chatted to us about the best photography advice she has ever received, her thoughts on Fujifilm gear, and what a wedding post Corona might look like.

You advertise your services as, ” Your stress-free wedding photography experience”. How do you manage to actually to do so?

Yes, weddings can be very stressful. That is why I want my couples to at least have one part – the photography – to not be stressful. I do this by being there for them, listening to their needs and giving advice and guidance wherever I can. It is so important to give a great client experience from the start.

What is the best advice regarding wedding photography you have received?

Photography wise: Never stop practicing. Business wise: Never stop learning. You will never reach a point where ‘you have arrived’, it is all just a continuous journey of growth. And the most important: Always work from a place of loving and serving your clients.

Any advice for those starting off as wedding photographers?

Be clear on why you want to be a wedding photographer. It is not just about taking photos but understanding that it is a business – this means you need to learn both photography and business skills.

Although there are a lot of free resources online, you will have to invest financially to gain more knowledge and guidance from experts, much like you would invest to buy expensive camera equipment.

Finally, one of the most important steps to take is to not compare yourself to others. For some the path takes 10 years, for others three. Be focused on your journey since you have a unique calling to share with the world.

What are your thoughts now that we are on lockdown, do you believe the wedding industry will return to normal afterwards? How do you foresee things changing?

I wish I knew how things would unfold in the future, but I do believe that weddings will keep on happening because people will not stop getting married. However, a lot of couples are opting for smaller and more intimate weddings at this stage.

Upcoming weddings will happen with a few changes, including honouring social distancing, everyone wearing masks, fewer guests, rules around catering, etc. I believe that once there is a vaccine available things will go back to normal, but for now we would need to adapt.

Why did you make the switch to Fujifilm?

I saw photographers I follow talking about Fujifilm and the mirrorless camera systems. It intrigued me so I started doing a lot of research online, since I was also looking for a camera that was more lightweight. I then rented a Fujifilm X- T3 for a few days to see if I liked it and found it impressive that such a small camera could deliver the same image quality as my regular DSLR.

Are there any features that have surprised you as you got to know the camera?

The control I have over exposure, because with the mirrorless system what you see through the viewfinder is what the photo will look like. I also do videography, so I loved the fact that the X-T3 has eye-tracking and continuous focus.