Jackie VanHatten Picture
Jackie VanHatten

Person by Jackie VanHatten

Photographer capturing the energy of live performance, fitness culture, and behind-the-scenes moments. I turn movement, discipline, and artistry into powerful visual stories.

About

I’ve always been drawn to moments that most people miss; the split second where effort, emotion, and artistry collide. That’s what drives my work. My journey started at 16 in a darkroom, learning how to develop film by hand. That process taught me pa...

I’ve always been drawn to moments that most people miss; the split second where effort, emotion, and artistry collide. That’s what drives my work. My journey started at 16 in a darkroom, learning how to develop film by hand. That process taught me patience, intention, and how powerful a single image can be. In my 20s, I built a wedding photography business in San Diego, eventually working with clients in international locations. While I loved documenting meaningful moments, I found myself pulled toward something more dynamic. I found photographing movement, performance, and the raw energy of people pushing their limits. At the core of everything I do is a deep love for human connection. I’m endlessly curious about what makes people different or extraordinary. Whether it’s a performer, an athlete, or an expert in their field of work, I am drawn to the individuality, the story, and the humanity in each person I photograph. Living with Crohn’s disease has also played a significant role in shaping my path. It pushed me to become more intentional about my health and ultimately led me deeper into the world of fitness, wellness, and nutrition. Food and nutrition are a big part of my life, and I’m fascinated by how the body can heal, adapt, and perform when it’s supported the right way. That personal journey gives me a deeper connection to the athletes and communities I photograph. Today, I focus on live performances, fitness culture, and health-driven events, with a strong emphasis on what happens beyond the spotlight; the discipline backstage, the quiet focus before a performance, the grit behind transformation. Those are the stories that resonate most with me. I care deeply about growth, both personally and professionally. I’m always learning, always challenging myself, and striving to become the best version of who I can be. That mindset shows up in my work, but also in my life, especially as a parent. I’m intentional about the example I set for my children, how I show up for my clients, how I treat people, and how I pursue my goals. Kindness is a big part of that. In fast-paced, high-pressure environments, I believe how you treat people matters just as much as the work you create. Right now, I’m continuing to expand my work within live performance and fitness spaces, building relationships in communities that value expression, strength, and storytelling. I’m also focused on creating more behind-the-scenes narratives that highlight the people and processes audiences rarely get to see. At the end of the day, I’m here to tell honest, human stories because the most powerful moments are often happening just outside the spotlight.

What Matters
M PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography matters to Jackie because it shows human connection.

M FITNESS CULTURE

Fitness culture matters to Jackie because living with Crohn’s drives a deeper focus on health, nutrition, and the body’s ability to heal, adapt, and perform when supported.

M NUTRITION

Nutrition matters to Jackie because it is 'one of the building blocks for body performance and body energy.'

M PARENTING

Parenting matters to Jackie because setting a good example for young humans is one of the most important things you can do.

M #BEAGUEST 20
GLP‑1s reshape what we eat as parents wrestle with debt, rights and privacy
GLP‑1s reshape what we eat as parents wrestle with debt, rights and privacy
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From family tragedies to food scares: parenting, safety, and what we eat
From family tragedies to food scares: parenting, safety, and what we eat
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Real food beats pills — and parenting gets a tech makeover
Real food beats pills — and parenting gets a tech makeover
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SNAP tweaks threaten food banks; Nestlé backs human‑like formula
SNAP tweaks threaten food banks; Nestlé backs human‑like formula
View
New doubts about BMI, Medicaid rules threaten food access
New doubts about BMI, Medicaid rules threaten food access
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CalFresh cuts, dementia risk from belly fat, and kids vs. screens
CalFresh cuts, dementia risk from belly fat, and kids vs. screens
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SNAP cuts leave 3.5M hungry as food safety scares rise
SNAP cuts leave 3.5M hungry as food safety scares rise
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Food access and fitness: SNAP rule changes, military readiness, supplement wins
Food access and fitness: SNAP rule changes, military readiness, supplement wins
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GLP‑1 potency and a food‑security squeeze change the rules
GLP‑1 potency and a food‑security squeeze change the rules
View
Additives, recalls and SNAP cuts reshape what we eat
Additives, recalls and SNAP cuts reshape what we eat
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From a $250M logistics bet to a five‑year malnutrition plan
From a $250M logistics bet to a five‑year malnutrition plan
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From creatine to spirulina: small nutrition moves that change performance
From creatine to spirulina: small nutrition moves that change performance
View
Beetroot lowers blood pressure; camera deals and parenting pivots
Beetroot lowers blood pressure; camera deals and parenting pivots
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Backstage moments: malnutrition risks, gym culture, and camera shifts
Backstage moments: malnutrition risks, gym culture, and camera shifts
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Low‑intensity to race day: how fitness is being rewritten
Low‑intensity to race day: how fitness is being rewritten
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Parents under pressure, Richter's photoreal eye, schools cut meals
Parents under pressure, Richter's photoreal eye, schools cut meals
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Risk and resilience: combat photographer wounded and muscle–brain link
Risk and resilience: combat photographer wounded and muscle–brain link
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From 1.9 g/dL anemia to gyms that feel like family
From 1.9 g/dL anemia to gyms that feel like family
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Phones shooting auroras, teens on creatine, and food shocks — quick take
Phones shooting auroras, teens on creatine, and food shocks — quick take
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From dangerous supplements to new museum buys: what’s changing now
From dangerous supplements to new museum buys: what’s changing now
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Strength and resilience: fitness trends, food access, and images
Strength and resilience: fitness trends, food access, and images
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When tech, recovery and nutrition rewrite the playbook
When tech, recovery and nutrition rewrite the playbook
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Mobile cameras, PMOS rename, and a fitness culture pivot to recovery
Mobile cameras, PMOS rename, and a fitness culture pivot to recovery
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From SNAP fights to a PCOS rename — nutrition, family, lens, and lift
From SNAP fights to a PCOS rename — nutrition, family, lens, and lift
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New lightweight portrait lens and fitness reclaiming public space
New lightweight portrait lens and fitness reclaiming public space
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Big exhibitions, AI cameras, and the new contours of fitness culture
Big exhibitions, AI cameras, and the new contours of fitness culture
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Performance, risk: steroids, AI images, and a $495M verdict
Performance, risk: steroids, AI images, and a $495M verdict
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When images, bodies and care collide: ethics, verdicts, and reformer Pilates
When images, bodies and care collide: ethics, verdicts, and reformer Pilates
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Phone cameras leap forward as kids lose free play — and food gets fortified
Phone cameras leap forward as kids lose free play — and food gets fortified
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Whys (4)

Parenting
PARENTING

Parenting matters to Jackie because setting a good example for young humans is one of the most important things you can do.

2mo

Does PARENTING matter to you?

Nutrition
NUTRITION

Nutrition matters to Jackie because it is 'one of the building blocks for body performance and body energy.'

2mo

Does NUTRITION matter to you?

Fitness culture
FITNESS CULTURE

Fitness culture matters to Jackie because living with Crohn’s drives a deeper focus on health, nutrition, and the body’s ability to heal, adapt, and perform when supported.

2mo

Does FITNESS CULTURE matter to you?

Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography matters to Jackie because it shows human connection.

2mo

Does PHOTOGRAPHY matter to you?

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