MEET SOPHIA CHEW, SIGMA’S FIRST STUDENT AMBASSADOR
Written by: SIGMA
MARCH 22, 2024
Where Sophia got her start
Many photographers and filmmakers say they found their calling at an early age. The camera models change with time, but most will talk about how they discovered their preferred art form with their parents’ old film SLR, or a forgotten digital point-and-shoot camera sitting in a drawer.
In Sophia’s case, photography was a hobby that began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when her freshman year of high school was abruptly cancelled. To pass the time, she began looking through old photographs with her father, and was soon bitten by the proverbial photo bug. With her dad’s DSLR in hand, Sophia began to explore the world of photography beyond smartphones, starting with self-portraits and going from there, discovering a new creative passion.
Finding SIGMA
Like many photographers, Sophia first found her way to SIGMA as a way to significantly upgrade her gear without breaking the bank. She started with a 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary lens, a versatile prime for crop-sensor cameras, and followed up with a full-frame lens that would grow with her, the 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Contemporary. Both lenses would be ideal for shooting stills, but more importantly, they would transition nicely into Sophia’s next chapter – filmmaking.
Recently, Sophia has also taken to working with more wide-angle glass, including the 20mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary and the 14mm F1.4 DG DN | Art lens, both of which come in handy for photographing and filming unique, ultra-wide perspectives.
Putting her SIGMA gear to work
Throughout high school, Sophia put her SIGMA lenses to good use, learning the fundamentals of photography and video production. But it was her 2023 fan film, a music video set to Taylor Swift’s “Betty“, that drove her social media following and cemented her desire to pursue filmmaking as a career.
In addition to her school projects behind the camera, Sophia has also spent time on screen interviewing stars and fans of popular television series such as Netflix’s Shadow and Bone, and Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
SIGMA 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN | C
Ready for the future
Originally from Washington state, Sophia now calls Southern California home, and is currently a film student at Chapman University. While still photography was the catalyst, pursuing a career in filmmaking has become her goal, and now she embarks upon a journey that is sure to take a variety of twists and turns along the way.
“IT’S MY DREAM AND PASSION TO CREATE AND TELL STORIES, AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND GUIDANCE AS I GROW INTO THE PERSON I WANT TO BECOME.”
– Sophia Chew, to her YouTube audience
One thing is for sure, Sophia will frequently rely on SIGMA lenses to help her make her dreams into reality, and we’re excited to see where her talent and dedication take her!
Keep up with Sophia