Meet Tanner Tardie | Photographer & Adventurer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanner Tardie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tanner, what makes you happy? Why?
The little things in life make me happiest. To me, happiness isn’t about getting everything you’ve ever wanted, it’s finding that level of inner peace that allows you to enjoy life no matter what you’re doing. Happiness is driving my 1978 FJ40 for hours on end with music playing so loudly it’s deafening. It’s getting caught in a rainstorm and seeing the sun shine through when you didn’t expect it to, happiness is capturing the story for two lovers or a family, a story that cannot quite be put into words but can be brought to life through my lens. Happiness is being with my family, it’s feeling my mama’s embrace on the hard days. Happiness is hiking with my dog and seeing her frolic through the woods knowing she once spent sleepless nights on a concrete floor at a shelter. It’s watching the sun rise on Sunday mornings and cozy nights spent by the fireplace on the floor. Happiness is a home cooked meal, it’s finding a routine that feels good. Happiness is late nights belly laughing with my best friend, it’s a hot cup of tea as the snow falls. Happiness is traveling and finding a hidden gems along the way. It’s watching the sunset on the beach. Happiness is the color of the sun, it’s watching the leaves fall and change on a crisp fall day. Happiness is reading a book in bed. It’s seeing the world by yourself or with the one(s) you love most and being present in every moment. Happiness is feeling the ocean rush against your skin, it’s the view ahead when you’re at the top of the mountain. Happiness is a choice, it’s finding yourself along the way. Happiness is the little things that just aren’t so little after all.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My undying love for photography started at a very young age. I used to go through disposable cameras like it was my job, taking photos of everything and anything in sight. It wasn’t until my parents bought me my very first underwater digital camera, that I realized how much I truly loved this little hobby of mine. Getting the digital camera was a dream come true, instead of only being able to take twenty photos and having to wait two weeks to see the photos, I was able to take hundreds and see them as soon as I took them. As I got older, I realized how deep my love for photography truly went. I can remember looking back at photos of my grandparents who had passed away when I was younger and being moved to tears because I felt so lucky that I had something to look back on, something to physically hold onto for the rest of my life. I knew that one day I wanted to be the reason other people had something to look back on, too. I started my photography business in 2020, in the midst of all of the covid chaos. It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world considering we were all quarantined but the challenge of that allowed me to learn how to master the art of navigating social media. Through all of the ups and downs of each challenge that came with learning how to run my own business, I found my purpose in the photography world.
I learned that photography speaks a visual language that has the ability to be understood universally. I quickly fell in love with making people feel alive through my lens. The more shoots I do, the more colors I see within us all and the subject of what I do is celebrate those hidden colors and I strive to pull them out of whoever / whatever I’m photographing. There’s such love in taking what’s inside of us and being able to create an image that can show someone their inner beauty. Whether it’s capturing two lovers that decided to promise each other forever at the top of a mountain or a pregnant mama in the comfort of her own home, the fluidity of my work captures the story you can’t quite put into words. I want the world to know that there is no concept too wild for me, no matter what it is, I will bring it to life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting Colorado, I’d take him/her to the four corners area of the Southwest! To me, there’s nothing better than getting to experience a little bit of everything and with the four corners you get a taste of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. To start the day off, I’d take them to the Absolute Bakery Cafe in Mancos for some coffee and bakery treats, followed by a nice walk/swim on the Animas River Trail, there’s nothin’ better than soaking up the views while floating through the river, For dinner, I’d take them to 11th Street in downtown Durango where you can go to all of the different food trucks for dinner and then have drinks at the Mancos Cidery. Some of my favorite things to checkout are at the Famers Market in downtown Durango on Sunday’s. There are so many unique entrepreneurs and so many delicious treats to try as you walk along the street, I love getting to meet new people and see all of the creative people and what they have to offer to the city and others all over the world. Lastly, one of my favorite things to do is go hiking. Silverton is the best mountain town and has some of the most beautiful views with lots of different hikes, trails and rivers.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am so beyond blessed with the people I am surrounded by. My family is my biggest support system and I am forever grateful for the relationship I share with my parents and my brother, they have always encouraged me to do what makes me happiest because when you find that, there’s no dream too big. My mama is the one I’m dedicating this shoutout to. She has always inspired me in every aspect of my life. She embodies such strength, love and care for others, she is the most selfless woman I know and truly just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. I love her as my mama and I love her as my best friend and I am forever grateful for her endless love and support. I’ve never been the girl to have that big friend group, my circle is small and I’m so grateful for that. I’m a social butterfly and could be friends with just about anyone but the people that I trust and hold close to my heart are the people that always have my back and I have theirs. I’m so dang lucky. The support from my friend group is endless, each one of them encourages me to step out of my comfort zone and that is a big part of how I continue to grow in the photography world.

Website: www.tannerrosephotos.com

Instagram: tannerrosephotos

Facebook: Tanner Rose Photos

Other: tannerrosephotos@gmail.com

Image Credits
Tanner Tardie, Blake Kinne