Rising Stars: Meet Tina Hagerling of Denver

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve loved photography for as long as I can remember. The darkroom was my second home for much of high school and college. And when I finally went digital, my hard drive was quickly maxed out with photographic files. Whenever possible, I combine photography with other passions such as music and travel. But more than anything, I enjoy photographing people. Whether it’s portraits of breast cancer survivors or shots of crowd surfers at a rock show – I love capturing it all. Most recently, my love of all things people has inspired a portrait project that captures families and individuals as they cope with the coronavirus pandemic. I’ve dubbed it the “Pandemic Portrait Project,” and it documents these strange days through images of people at their homes in Denver and the surrounding area. My goal is to convey a sense of hope and resilience. While also highlighting personalities, interests, and ways people may be coping with things like quarantine and social distancing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. But I wouldn’t want it to be. Photographing people has its own unique set of challenges. Gaining things like access and trust isn’t always easy or even possible. But there’s a lot of satisfaction to be had when you’re able to develop relationships and create portraits that capture your subjects’ essence. I had no idea how receptive people would be to doing portraits during a pandemic. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that many people not only embraced the project but also provided me with numerous referrals.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in portrait, documentary, and live music photography. I’ve freelanced for the Denver Post for nearly a decade, covering events ranging from concerts at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to an Ugly Sweater 5K run. When it comes to my portrait work, I seek out people from all walks of life. I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I do my best to create authentic and accurate images of the subjects.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think it’s almost impossible to predict where things will be in 5-10 years, given the rate at which technology rushes forward. I would have never thought that I’d opt to use my phone over a DSLR camera. But it’s certainly happened. And I can see things like handheld devices only continuing to get better by the minute. On the flip side, I’ve recently read that film is making a comeback. I hope that trend continues. As handy and amazing as digital can be, there’s something about processing film and creating prints that not only hones a person’s photographic skills but is also tremendously satisfying.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.tinasimages.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldi_rocks/

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