Crissi Beth Cooper (@crissibeth) has been using the Sony Xperia line for several years. “Maybe five or six years ago, I swore off Apple products,” she says. “As a photographer and content creator, I found the Android ecosystem much easier to work with and easier to get files in and out of for clients and projects. Then a few years ago, I switched to the Sony Xperia line to use as my primary mobile device. Each time a new model comes out, I upgrade.” Now she has the latest Sony Xperia PRO-I model, and in addition to using it for talking, texting, emails, research, social media and music – she says it’s become an integral part of her creator workflow. She recently took the new device out in New York City and even on a recent trip to beautiful Bora Bora. See some of the images she captured below and read more of what she had to say about the device and the important role it plays to complement her Sony Alpha 1 camera.

Photo by Crissi Beth Cooper. Sony Xperia PRO-I

Photographer Crissi Beth Cooper of the Alpha Collective discusses using the new Xperia PRO-I for content creation.

While using the new Xperia PRO-I for photo and video, there were several features that stood out to Cooper. “A few of the little things that are super useful on the Xperia PRO-I phone are the eyelet for a strap and a larger, embossed shutter button as well as a dedicated video button,” she explains. “It lets me keep the phone hanging from my wrist, easily accessible to pull up and take a shot. When I’m kneeling to take a puddlegram or leaning over the side of a building with the phone pressed against glass, or flying in a helicopter, the raised shutter button makes it so I don’t have to look at the phone for the round dot on the screen and use a finger to press it. I can feel everything I need and hold the phone in the perfect position with one hand.”

She continues, “I also love the large sensor and the fact Xperia phones produce big, beautiful RAW files that I can edit right on the 4K screen. The expandable storage is also very handy. I was recently shooting in a remote part of Bora Bora without any cell service, and I didn’t have to worry about running out of space.”

Photo by Crissi Beth Cooper. Sony Xperia PRO-I

As Cooper mentioned, she’s been using the Sony Xperia line for several years. And with the Xperia PRO-I, she says the imaging capabilities are taken to a new level. “Sony went for specs that would be valuable to creators,” she says. “The ‘I’ stands for ‘imaging.’ Though the phone takes 12 MP photos, which seems low by today’s standards, each pixel is significantly larger than usual (2.4mm) – a distinction photographers will be able to appreciate. This means more light collected and more details, so the image quality is sharp, even in low light. I also like the fact that the soft bokeh is actually authentic, not produced digitally by software after the fact. I’m very happy with the quality and purity of the photos.”

“My favorite thing about the Xperia PRO-I device is kind of two-fold, but related. I love the hardware, and I love the ability to control it manually. Sony really went to town fitting the best possible sensor, lenses and aperture into the Xperia PRO-I phone. Then they had the confidence in their creators to allow us to manipulate that hardware to achieve the effects we want. It’s a completely different mentality to the mainstream devices on the market which focus on maximizing quickie point-and-shoot features, and I’m a fan.”

Photo by Crissi Beth Cooper. Sony Xperia PRO-I

There are many ways Cooper plans to continue using the Sony Xperia PRO-I as a complement to her Sony Alpha 1. “It’s an integral part of my workflow, especially when I am in the field. I have the Imaging Edge app on the phone, and I often use the remote functionality when shooting. I like to put a human form into scenes for scale or movement, but many times I am at a location by myself. I set up my Alpha 1 camera on a tripod, and I’m able to insert myself into the picture while looking at the composition on the Xperia PRO-I. I can adjust the settings from my phone, then take the shot or set a timer. After taking a photo, I also use the Imaging Edge app to connect to the camera and download the pictures to my phone. From there, I can edit them, post them to social media channels, and share them directly with others.”

While she is primarily a photographer, Cooper says she’s also been having a great time playing with Cinema Pro for video. “Sony includes tips and tutorials (for both photo and video) that are super helpful. This is how they make the first-class hardware accessible to everybody. All you have to have is passion and a vision. I love that.”

See more of Crissi Beth Cooper’s work on her Instagram @crissibeth.

See more about the Xperia PRO-I HERE. 

See more about the Xperia lineup HERE and HERE.