Toni Schneiders took up an apprenticeship as a photographer at Menzel Studio in Koblenz in 1935 graduating with a master's certificate in 1938.

In 1949 Schneiders co-founded the avant-garde photography group fotoform alongside Siegfried Lauterwasser, Peter Keetman, Wolfgang Reisewitz, Otto Steinert and Ludwig Windstoßer.

Toni Schneiders was also significantly involved in the development of the so-called subjective photography in the 1950s, which became internationally known through exhibitions and publications under the title Subjektive Fotografie[4] compiled by Otto Steinert.

Toni Schneiders' images are distinguished from those of his companions by their sensitive capturing of people in everyday life.

Schneiders worked commercially for publishing houses that created photographic picture books on cities, countries and regions.