ADAIRSVILLE, Ga. - Anthony Schmidt, 17, developed a special interest in automobiles and cameras at a very young age. Growing up in his former Seattle, Wash., home, his intense focus on those subjects manifested itself through his penchant for the photography of scale-model vehicles.

“He first began taking photos of his model cars at age 6,” recalled Anthony’s mother, Ramona Balaz-Schmidt. “It was surprising even then how good he was at making them look life sized.”

After Schmidt was diagnosed on the autism scale early in life, Balaz-Schmidt, armed with the 21st-century knowledge that autistic youth could benefit from encouragement, not rejection, of their “special interests,” decided to do all she could to support her son’s passion.

“As a mother, I’ve always been in awe of the unique ways my son with autism navigates the world, particularly through his special interest, which is cars mostly but anything with wheels really,” she said. “I noticed early on that diving into this passion had a soothing effect on him during challenging moments, so we would often set out on photoshoots, capturing the beauty of what he sees. Over time, I’ve seen how photography has become more than just a hobby for him; it serves as a bridge, connecting him to others and allowing him to share his joy and perspective with the world. Witnessing his growth and the way he expresses himself has been nothing short of inspiring.”

With the help of his mother, Anthony Schmidt has also become something of a social media sensation. His Facebook page, Facebook@Anthony Schmidt Photography, has 759,000 followers, while 373,000 people follow him on Instagram at @Anthony_Ryan_Schmidt. In addition, he has 844,000 followers on TikTok at @AnthonySchmidtPhotos.

Featured in his social media posts are his latest scale-model vehicle photographs, “behind the lens” perspectives on his photo shoots and opportunities to order his annual calendars, which have helped provide him with a steady source of income.

Schmidt’s scale-model vehicle photography recently caught the eye of John Deere and Co.’s social media team, which shipped a highly detailed, mini-version of one of their current farming vehicles to the teen. Thrilled to be asked to take photos of the model, Schmidt offered his services to Deere for free; however, the company insisted on payment in full. His photographs were expected to be published online by the Deere Co. on July 29. 

“It’s so nice to see large companies like this seeing the worth of his work,” Balaz-Schmidt said. 

The teen was thrilled to receive the opportunity, payment and the gift of the toy tractor from Deere. “I was really excited to get a model from them,” Schmidt said. “I collect diecasts. I have over 5,000 miniatures in my collection, mostly cars and trucks and about 100 miniature tractors, so I was happy to add to my collection. I am working on setting up my own museum.”

The family’s recent move to rural Georgia may allow Schmidt to dabble in agriculture as he grows older, according to his mother. “I was raised on a farm and have always dreamed of my sons to experience that way of life too. Anthony longed for the country too. Just recently our circumstances changed, and we bought some land in a small town in Georgia. We love it here and he hopes to buy a tractor of his own soon; there’s a lot of grass and fields to take care of on our 20 acres,” Balaz-Schmidt said. 

Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, Schmidt has big plans for expanding his business profile. The enterprising youth will soon be publishing his third coffee table book, which will be centered around an upcoming trip down Route 66. In addition, he is currently rebuilding a 1954 Chevy 3100 truck “from the ground up” that he intends to take on the trip.

“After I get back, I will be setting up my museum here at the farm for my fans to come tour my collection, and maybe give rides in my Model T,” said Schmidt, who offered Farm World readers a special insight into the equipment and staging he utilizes to produce his realistic, evocative photos.

“I use the iPhone 13 Pro Max; it seems to have the best focal length on the wide angle setting for my shots. While it is possible to get this effect with a professional camera it is a lot harder to get everything in focus and get close enough to your subject,” he advised. “Natural light is always the best. I like to shoot in the golden hour right before sunset. I use a platform to raise the models off the ground that helps make them look full sized.”

A diagnosis of autism can mean many things to a child and parent. If there is anything that Schmidt and his family have learned, it is that such a diagnosis does not necessarily exclude such youth from a fulfilling life of love, joy and learning, nor the developmental skills necessary for sustaining a productive life and career.

“As a parent, it’s natural to feel a wave of worry about the future, especially when faced with daunting statistics like the 80 percent unemployment rate for college graduates with autism – statistics that can overshadow the incredible potential our children possess. Yet, my heart swells with pride as I see my son, Anthony, defy those odds at just 17 years old,” Balaz-Schmidt said.

“He has taken his passion and transformed it into a thriving business, releasing a yearly calendar and already two stunning coffee table books, with a third one in the works. He’s launching a Kickstarter to help presell the book and raise the funds to go down Route 66 and take his style of photos at all the landmarks. Anthony is not just beating the odds; he is reshaping the narrative of what is possible, and I couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishments.”

As for Schmidt, “I will always take photos every day, and I hope I can keep doing this full time as a business. I want to branch out into other things too, like restoring old cars.”

A Kickstarter for Schmidt’s Route 66 book project launched on July 30 and will run for 21 days. It can be found at:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/anthonyschmidt/project-route-66-working-title.