Anthony Schmidt is only 14, but his passion for cars started early. At just 3 years old, he was fascinated by miniature cars. By age 6, he began taking his first car photos using an iPhone. Through self-learning, he created images that look incredibly realistic.
“I love photographing cars, I do it every day and never get bored,” says the teenager from Woodinville, Washington.
After his mom shared a photo of a tiny 1953 Chevy 3100 pickup truck that Anthony shot in a local Facebook group, he quickly became an online sensation with his own calendar, book, and exhibitions.
Now, he has nearly 550,000 followers on TikTok, where he posts videos showing how he creates magical photos of his 2,600 miniature cars. One compilation video from November 2021 showing his photography process has over 1.8 million views.
Using an iPhone 13 Pro Max, most of his photos rely on his vivid imagination, with very little editing needed.
Few realize Anthony is autistic. But his mother, Ramona, sees it differently: “Autism has given him an extraordinary artistic eye. His visual awareness goes beyond typical experiments. People with autism often think in images and notice details deeply. That’s his advantage. Photography has been great for Anthony’s development.”
“You have to be very aware of proportions, details, and angles,” the eighth grader shares.
Anthony’s talent caught the attention of Apple CEO Tim Cook, who shared his work on Twitter in April 2022: “Since age 6, Anthony has shown a clear passion for photography. Now he shares iconic model car photos taken with an iPhone with fans worldwide. His creativity is amazing!”
Alongside photography, Anthony has another passion: collecting vintage cars. He dreams of becoming a Jay Leno, the millionaire comedian and host of CNBC’s famous car show Jay Leno’s Garage, which celebrates America’s love for cars.
Though he’s not old enough to drive yet, last year’s calendar sales helped him buy a 1959 Studebaker Silver Hawk worth over $23,000. He also owns a classic Ford gifted by a fan. When he needs a real car for photo shoots, his mom Ramona drives him around.
