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Interview with content creator Roy Mandersloot
including an honest review of the Sony FE 16-35mm f/4.0 G Power Zoom
Roy Mandersloot is a Dutch content creator. He loves making photos and videos that tell a story. “Whether it's a photo or a video doesn't matter to me. I mainly focus on storytelling.” He would describe his work as a story with storytelling visuals and a cinematic touch. “You can see that in all my work.” Roy has already worked for some great clients, including Sony Benelux. For a Sony user like Roy, this was a dream come true. He got to test the Sony FE 16-35mm F/4.0 G Power Zoom.
In this interview, Roy tells us more about his passion for shooting content and gives an honest review of the Sony FE 16-35mm F/4.0 G PZ.
Roy tells a story with his images
Roy has been creative from a young age. “I worked as a digital designer for a long time, but I first came into contact with cameras while studying graphic design. I found that interesting, but in the end I still chose design.” During the coronavirus period, Roy took up photography after all. “I was hooked straight away. I went out with my camera every day and actually got a bit addicted to making images,” Roy says with a laugh. “It has become my biggest hobby, and I've now been able to turn my passion into my job.” He decided to work one day less, so he could spend that day on his passion. He then made the move to content creator for a hotel company. “My work as a freelancer kept going better and I got more and more assignments. That's why I decided not to renew my annual contract and to start working full-time as a freelance content creator.”
Roy has tried many different types of photography: from macro and landscape photography to portraits and street photography. “That has helped me get to where I am now.” He explains that his content is mainly focused on storytelling. “Whether it's a photo or a video doesn't matter to me. I want to tell a story with my images.” He notices that his background as a graphic designer comes in handy here. “For example, I enjoy playing with typography. By playing with the design of the text in my videos, the content sometimes gets that little bit extra.” He also spends a lot of time editing his content. “I think editing is more than 50 percent of the result. It's how you give your content your own signature.” Roy would describe his images as a story with storytelling visuals and a cinematic touch. “You can see that in all my work.”
What Roy thinks of the Sony FE 16-35mm F/4.0 G PZ
Roy shoots a lot of his content while travelling abroad. “This year, for example, I travelled to Thailand and shot some really cool footage there.” During this trip, he used the Sony FX3, and Sony gave him the 16-35mm lens to try out. “I don't normally work with such wide lenses, but I thought it was a fun challenge.” Roy says that at some moments it came in very handy that this lens goes down to such a short focal length. “It allowed me to get really interesting shots in narrow spaces, like in a temple. Without this lens, I couldn't have taken a photo in a temple hall looking out onto a little house, for example. I think that's really cool.”
And that while he didn't shoot with wide lenses at first. “I'm convinced. This lens is now going in my camera bag for good and coming with me everywhere. The lens is also compact and light, so I don't have to lug around kilos of extra gear. It's really ideal.”
Big fan of Sony gear
Getting to try out a lens in collaboration with Sony is truly a dream come true. Roy explains that he has always shot with Sony gear. “When I chose my first camera, I asked friends what gear they used. That's how I ended up with the Sony A6400 and later the Sony A7 III. I haven't regretted choosing Sony at the start for a second. Last year, I invested in the Sony FX3. That's a camera of a different calibre. A whole new world opened up for me.”
Roy says he still regularly looks back at how he started making images. “I really love seeing what I've achieved by truly following my passion. I'm working on it every day and I've now been able to turn my passion into my job. I don't know what the future will bring, but I always want to keep doing this. It's my passion, my hobby and now also my job. It's the thing I enjoy most of all.”
Tips
Want to start creating content yourself? Then be sure to read these tips from Roy!
Make images consistently. “It's important to keep working on photography and videography consistently. Take your camera with you when you go out and take photos and videos of everything you see. In the beginning, it's important to put in lots of hours, so you build a foundation to become really good. So stay consistent.”
Discover what you enjoy. “When you make lots of images, you can discover what you enjoy. Specialise in that.”
Set yourself a goal. “By setting yourself a goal, you become better and more efficient over time. Last year, for example, my goal was to post an Instagram Reel every day from June onwards. Whatever happens, I post every day. After a while, I noticed I became faster at creating content.”
Love the journey. “Getting better at photography or videography is a journey. Embrace it. I really enjoy the process itself. Look at where you came from and where you are now. You simply get better.”
Keep dreaming. “Besides daily goals, it's also great to put big dreams on paper. Working with Sony was a dream for me, and look at me now! When I started this collaboration, I was over the moon. Keep dreaming.”
The work of Roy Mandersloot
Website: www.visualsofroy.com
Instagram: @visualsofroy
Gear
For his images, Roy mainly uses Sony gear. He uses his new Sony FE 16-35mm F/4.0 together with the Sony FX3. He also has a 75mm, a 24-105mm and a 70-200mm lens, a Sony A7 III and a Sony ECM-M1 shotgun microphone.
View all Sony products
Roy's photos
Curious about more of Roy's work? Take a look at a selection from his portfolio below.
