© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
The job of the press is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. My formative years were spent chasing ambulances, fire trucks and athletes (victorious and fallen) in the service of small- and medium-sized local newspapers. There can’t be … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
Your wedding day is the most special moment of your life. You know so because everyone keeps telling you over and over. Your mom tells you; your dad tells you; your friends tell you; the bridal magazines in the supermarket … Continue reading
(c) Matt Hagen
I often describe my corporate work as “the art of transforming nervous dudes in suits into interesting human beings. Don’t get me wrong – some guys wear a a suit to a beach party and look comfortable doing so, but … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
I’m not “The Picture Guy.” I don’t want you to stare and smile. Don’t hide your beer; everyone knows it’s there. Just ignore me. Events are a challenge. Most people have been conditioned to believe that event photography comprises a … Continue reading
© 2020 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
Client: A large temporary staffing companyObjective: Create opening video for an industry conferenceSolution: Riff on a classic Volkswagen commercial In 1999 a relatively unknown Tony Hale (later to become “Buster” in Arrested Development) starred in what was destined to become … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
Although I started my career as a photojournalist, my work these days is more frequently of a commercial nature. “Dudes in suits” is how I usually phrase it. I love this work, and facing the challenge of a cranky Vice … Continue reading
Weddings are all about the kids. Parents’ tears are an expression of sadness for the loss of their little girl or boy who now stands at the altar. This primes them to react with joy at the sight of a … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
You think you know stress? Chris Walker could tell you a thing or two about the subject. Chris was ready to propose to his long-term girlfriend Carissa, whom he met at the human-powered submarine races in San Diego. Both are … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
You’re German. Your bride is Mexican. You both want to celebrate your heritage during the wedding ceremony. Elicia Sanchez and Brian Davey decided to hold a “Germexican” wedding – sort of a Día de Los Muertos meets Octoberfest.. The men … Continue reading
Photo by Glenn Tachiyama
The White River 50-mile ultramarathon is – to put it in a nutshell, hard. It involves running a marathon up a mountain on a skinny, windy, rocky trail, followed immediately by a surprisingly similar marathon up and down another, much … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
About once a week I get a question from a friend, family member or aspiring photographer. It goes something like this: “My father is looking into a solid zoom lens for his Nikon D40 and is considering the Nikkor 24-120mm. … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
“So we have this little machine, and we need it photographed on a white background for our catalog. You can do that, right?” Uh… Sure! Product photography is never as simple as it looks. In a perfect world, you would … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
I find contracts hilarious. Wait! Wait! Stick with me on this point for a moment! Haven’t you ever read one festooned with inordinate subordinate clauses, heretofores and therewiths shoehorned between first parties of the second party of the indemnity of the … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
Sometimes you get lucky, and other times you have to make your own luck. I’m okay with either one.
(c)
Most of my early work was in journalism, but then I bought a house. Sigh. I bought a house, and the bank expects a check to come every month. Nothing motivates a guy to work like a mortgage! So a … Continue reading
© 2010 Matt Hagen. All rights reserved.
When the poppies in my front yard began to bloom I got the idea of doing a time-lapse image of one of them doing so. In my mind it was a gorgeous, subtle transformation and explosion of color. So I … Continue reading