CameraStuff "In the Limelight" Interview #1: Fulufhelo Mashige

How did it all start for you?

My grandfather is a videographer and I am named after him, so I guess it got passed down to me. But hey, I am not complaining at all. This has now become an obsession.

What are you shooting with right now?

Sony A7III, Canon 5D Mark IV, 70-200mm, 50mm, 24mm, Godox AD600, Godox V1, Godox 200.

Finish this sentence: "I create because..."

creativity has the power to inspire, connect, and leave a lasting impact on people.

What is your favourite spot in SA to shoot?

My favourite spot has to be the Cape coastline, anywhere along the stretch from Camps Bay through to Cape Point. It's one of those places that feels like it was designed for storytelling. You get everything in one place: dramatic mountains, open ocean, golden beaches, winding roads, and those insane sunsets that change the entire mood of your frame in minutes. One moment you're shooting clean editorial visuals with Table Mountain in the background, and the next you're capturing raw, cinematic coastal energy with waves crashing behind your subject. What makes it even more special is how versatile it is. High-fashion editorial, lifestyle content, cinematic car shoots along Chapman's Peak, intimate golden-hour portraits on the beach, all within a short drive of each other.

What is your pre-shoot ritual?

I pray, then I like taking off my shoes to feel the ground better, and I talk to myself a lot to get an idea of how the day will go in my head. Then we jam some music.

Shoot done, client loved it. How do you celebrate?

Funny enough I log into CameraStuff and see what we can buy next for the next couple of shoots. Then end up buying food.

What is the toughest part about being a creator in SA?

One of the hardest things is getting people to see the value behind the work. Many people only see the final photo or video, but they don't always see the years of learning, the long hours, the equipment costs, the editing, the travel, and the dedication that goes into producing quality content. Another challenge is that many creators are building with limited resources. Sometimes you're the photographer, videographer, editor, marketer, salesperson, and business owner all at the same time. It can be tough, especially when you're trying to grow a business while still delivering your best creative work.

Be honest: how many unedited photos are sitting on your hard drive right now?

What a way to expose us. I have a 1TB almost full.

What is the worst advice you ever received?

The worst advice I ever got was: wait until everything is perfect before you start. It came from a good place, because people want to see you succeed, but if I had waited until I had the perfect camera, the perfect team, the perfect clients, or the perfect plan, Fulu Media would never have existed.

What does your camera bag actually look like right now?

It's an absolute mess. My camera bag is basically controlled chaos. Batteries in random pockets, lens caps that disappear and reappear whenever they want, cables tangled together, a flash squeezed somewhere in between, memory cards hiding in places I don't remember putting them. At this point, I've officially outgrown my current bag and need an upgrade. The funny thing is that while the final content always looks organised and professional, behind the scenes the camera bag tells a very different story. Every item in there has a story attached to it, and somehow I always find what I need when it's time to shoot. Most creators will understand exactly what I mean.

How do you handle burnout when it hits?

I take a weekend away trip or spend the weekend with my family to just unwind a bit.