Out of all the sports, football is one the most challenging ones to photograph, but senior Allison Schnelle makes it look effortless. She manages to capture beautiful moments in real time. Her passion for sports photography shines through her photos — a passion that started at a young age.
“I did yearbook in middle school, and Mrs. Steinhauser invited the 8th graders to come take photos at a varsity football game at the Star,” Schnelle said. “It was so high energy and active that I knew I wanted to continue pursuing yearbook in high school.”
Along with being an editor for the Prowler, Schnelle is also a part of ISM, a school program where students choose an area of study that they are planning on pursuing as a career. Schnelle selected sports photography as her profession, so she spends her school year learning more about photography and how to perfect her craft.
“I’ve learned a lot about football, where to stand on the field and the networking aspect of photography,” Schnelle explained. “I’ve [also] been able to get out there and meet some amazing photographers.”
Schnelle has learned that it is not just about the time she spends on the field, so she puts in countless hours in and outside of school. She ends up producing at least 2500 photos every game, which can take hours to upload.
“As soon as I get back from the games, I try to start uploading as soon as possible. To get everything done and uploaded, it can be up to 13 hours of work in a week,” Schnelle said.
The most rewarding part of her work is sharing her photos with different people. Seeing her work appreciated and shared brings warmth and happiness to her heart.
“I’m able to capture moments and share those moments with the players and their families. It makes me happy I can give them something they can’t get anywhere else,” Schnelle said.
Many of Schnelle’s friends even acknowledge her passion and drive towards sports photography, especially her close friend, senior Lauren Monte
“Allison puts the most work into her photography and yearbook. Her work ethic towards anything sports photography centered is outstanding,” Monte said.
