Lily Mitchell
Executive Sports Editor
Beginning as a 10-year-old kid taking photos with a disposable camera from CVS, senior Luke Schauwecker now holds the position as Costa football’s only paid photographer.
Schauwecker began taking photos with disposable cameras his mom would give him. According to Schauwecker, he started by taking photos of landscapes, as well as family photos. However, his focus shifted once he discovered his love for sports photography.
“With a disposable camera, you only have 27 shots, so I would just snap pictures of anything I thought was cool,” Schauwecker said. “However, when I got my first iPhone, I was able to look at the pictures instantly, and I realized how much of a difference editing a picture could make.”
A camera has two modes: an automatic mode and a manual mode. According to Schauwecker, after using automatic mode his whole life, in eighth grade he realized that manual mode would produce the best photos. According to Schauwecker, on top of watching informational YouTube videos, world-renowned advertising and fine art photographer Bo Bridges taught him how to use the manual mode on a camera, changing his photos for the better.
“Although my photography skills have mostly been self- taught, Bo Bridges taught me how to use manual, and from there on I got a gist for it,” Schauwecker said. “I also took a photography class my freshman year at Costa, which helped me a lot with subject matter rather than the technical aspect of it.”
In seventh grade, Schauwecker developed his first website. Two years later, he wasn’t pleased with how it looked, so he decided to take it down and created a new one. His current website includes a brief summary about Schauwecker’s background as a photographer, his contact information, and a photo portfolio.
“I made this website in ninth grade where I upload some of my best shots,” Schauwecker said. “It definitely wasn’t easy, and it took me a while to complete, but I love it and eventually want to have an online store.”
In eighth grade, Schauwecker began posting his photographs on social media. According to Schauwecker, he posted 20 of his favorite pictures the day he created his Instagram account, @luke_schauwecker_photography. During the pandemic, he became less active on Instagram. He now posts about once a month; however, he has been posting more often during the football season.
“Any picture I take I will upload online,” Schauwecker said. “I try to practice and take as many pictures as I can. I always bring my camera if I go on a hike or out of town, then I post the best one on my Instagram.”
According to Schauwecker, until he began working for the football team, he mostly took landscape photos with his camera and drone. Recently, he has been focusing on sports photography and spends three to four hours editing a couple hundred pictures after each game.
“Editing is just as important as taking the pictures themselves because you add your own style to them,” Schauwecker said. “If you don’t edit them, they will look the same as the other photographers. Editing takes time, but in the end it’s worth it because you have your own style and the players love them.”
Schauwecker is close friends with senior wide receiver Cole Crotty. Crotty’s mom offered the photography job to Schauwecker, and, according to Schauwecker, it’s a signed contract.
“My cousin is a sports photographer in the NFL, and I think it’s so cool to be that close to the professional athletes,” Schauwecker said. “Seeing his work has inspired me to do the same, so when I got the opportunity, I took it.”
According to Schauwecker, photography will always be a passion of his. Other sports teams, such as boys basketball, have already reached out to Schauwaker to offer him a photographer position.
“It’s cool to know that what I’m doing is affecting so many people in a positive way,” Schauwecker said. “The fact that photography brings joy to people other than me and my family makes me love the hobby even more.”
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