Ralph Schröder has turned his dream into a business and now juggles life as a corporate director and loving family man while “freezing moments in time” with Schröder Sports Photography.
“I have always had a passion for photography. I used to take pics of wild animals on the TV screen when I was a kid and show my mates, telling them I took them in the Kruger National Park,” said Schröder, who is an attorney by day in Ballito.
After years of nagging, his wife, Cornelia pushed him to spoil himself in 2013 and invest his bonus in a camera – a Canon 600D with three lenses.
Since then, he has been playing with shutter speeds and aperture, teaching himself tips and tricks through YouTube.
“Photography is addictive! It is such an escape for me. My wife calls photography my cave – it is where I just shut off, have fun and feed my passion.
“Taking photos of rugby games was my dream, so I volunteered to take some shots of the Ballito Dolphins playing and I submitted a few photos to the North Coast Courier. When they were actually published, I felt really proud and so I started taking more photos at different events,” said Schröder, who regularly pages through rugby and cricket magazines for inspiration.
While his sports snapping repertoire has grown to include hockey games, volleyball and cycling, he said rugby is still the most challenging sport for him.
“Sometimes the action in a rugby game happens far away, making it tricky to get in there. This is when it comes down to who has the best lens and the fastest reaction. Timing is everything – you will never get that picture again, making each one a special edition. One of the best rugby games I went to with my camera was a test match between the All Blacks and the Springboks last year. That was definitely an item I ticked off my bucket list.”
However, he said the sports photography world is small and he does not want to step on anyone’s toes.
“I have to be patient. Getting ahead in this business is all about managing relations and growing connections,” said Schröder, who has been getting his brand out there thanks to social media and friends like cricket player Darren Smit sharing and liking his work.
Schröder’s goal for this year is to turn his photography business into a second income stream. This will begin with his newest addition – a Canon 7D Mark II.
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