What happens when a photographer sells his successful agency to chase the stories he truly cares about? Today, we welcome Alain Schroeder, a Belgian visual storyteller whose mantlepiece is overflowing with awards, including multiple awards in World Press Photo, Picture of the Year International, Siena Awards, Travel Photographer of the Year, Visa pour l’Image, Pollux awards, Lensculture, the Lucie foundation awards, Smithsonian magazine awards, Nikon Press Photo Awards, and so many more, apart from countless international exhibitions. This is the essential episode for every photographer looking to validate the long-term pursuit of a serious, meaningful documentary career.
Alain walks us through his 40 years amazing career arc, starting with the early days, getting by accident in sports photography, running around on all major tennis fields, that led him to shoot over 500 magazine covers, and the need to start his own successful picture agency. He opens up about the moment he felt he had to sell his shares, years later, to devote himself entirely to deep, humanistic projects around the globe, with maybe his natural Belgian surrealist streak subtly influencing everything he shoots.
We travel the world with Alain, diving into the stories that earned him global acclaim. First up is the high-speed drama of the Kid Jockeys in Sumbawa, Indonesia, then he pulls back the curtain on the incredible restrictions and unexpected moments he captured while documenting everyday life in Kim City (North Korea) and finally, we witness the breathtaking resilience of the Grandma Divers (Haenyeo) of Jeju Island, South Korea. Alain will give you the powerful, no-nonsense advice on what separates an award-winning picture from an ordinary one, and how he manages to stay creatively fresh after decades in the business.
📸 See more of Alain’s work:
https://alainschroeder.myportfolio.com/
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Thanks for listening and look out for our next episode! 🚀
