Creator Spotlight with Photographer Carl Schmidt
This week, we’re pleased to highlight freelance photographer Carl Schmidt. Carl is the owner of Federal Hill Photography, where he shoots both commercial and fine art photography. He’s a proud creator member of both the Copyright Alliance and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). After reading his spotlight blog, be sure to check out his Instagram page.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator? What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
Photography grew naturally out of a personal passion for documenting the world around me. In the beginning, I pointed my lens at everything. The true inspiration hit when I realized what photography actually does: it freezes time. There’s something deeply satisfying about capturing a raw moment, locking it in place forever, and knowing you can step back into that memory whenever you look at the photo. That experience is still the heart of my creative process.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
The biggest misconception is that photography is “just a hobby” or a simple push of a button rather than a specialized skill and a viable career. Because of that, people often undervalue creative work or overlook the need to pay fair, professional rates. In reality, creatives drive real economic power. In Maryland alone, state data shows the arts sector generates nearly $13 billion in annual economic impact and supports over 80,000 jobs. We aren’t just creating nice pictures—we’re contributing substantially to the economy and providing measurable value.
When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?
I had a little understanding of copyright for years, but my real turning point came when I launched my photography business and began drafting client contracts. That’s when I took a deeper dive into copyright law to ensure I was both protecting my work and clearly defining terms for my clients.
What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?
My biggest challenge is protecting my digital images from being scraped to train generative AI models without consent. Because visual work is so easily taken online, enforcement is exceptionally tough. Federal litigation is financially out of reach for independent creators like me, and remedies like the Copyright Claims Board rely on voluntary participation. I focus on prevention through meta data management and watermarking, and clear licensing policies.
How has AI technology impacted your works and career?
While the courts slowly work through fair use cases, scraping unlicensed data for AI model training directly threatens creator livelihoods. On a career level, my response is to focus on what AI cannot replicate: real-world authentic moments grounded in human connections.
The views expressed in creator spotlights do not necessarily represent the views of the Copyright Alliance. If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!