Hello, Hebron. My name is Deborah Heinlen, and I am honored to be the new contributing photographer for Hebron Living magazine. Each month you will find my work on the cover, and right here in these pages you will find me talking about photography, sharing a little of my story, and offering tips you can use when you are picking up a camera or your phone to get that next shot.
About Me
Some things find you when you are young and never really let go. Photography was like that for me. My father was a passionate photographer. He taught me composition and darkroom work before I was old enough to fully appreciate the lessons he was giving to me. The smell of developer, the red glow of the safe-light, the moment an image appeared on paper in the tray… that was my first classroom, and he was my first teacher.
(Photography by Deborah Heinlen Photography)
Life, of course, had other plans. I spent decades in education as a teacher, a coach, and as an assistant principal, and then moved into nursing. Photography became something I carried quietly, a hobbyist’s love kept mostly to myself. Then a few years ago, my brother arrived with a new camera, and something that had been waiting patiently inside me came roaring back. I went professional shortly after and have not looked back.
Why Hebron
I have loved horses my whole life. That love eventually brought me to Kentucky, to be close to where I boarded my horse. One thing led to another, and I built my home here.
I came for the horses. I stay for everything else. Hebron is a rare thing. Within a couple of miles you can go from a busy intersection to a quiet country road with horse farms stretching out on both sides. The people here are genuinely friendly in a way that feels real. The small businesses carry a local pride that you do not find everywhere. I built my home here and I cannot imagine being anywhere else.
(Photography by Deborah Heinlen Photography)
When I was asked to be the contributing photographer for the magazine’s cover each month, it felt like a full circle moment. This community gave me a home. Now I get to help tell its story.
A Few Photography Tips
I will be sharing photography tips each month, but here are three to start…whether you are picking up a camera or just your phone.
- Light is everything. The biggest difference between a snapshot and a great photo is usually light, not equipment. Overcast days are a photographer’s best friend. Find open shade. Avoid harsh midday sun. The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset are golden for a reason.
- Get closer than you think you should. Most people photograph from too far away. Move in. Fill the frame with your subject. You can always crop, but you cannot add back what was not there.
- The eyes are the anchor. In any portrait, if the eyes are sharp, the photo works. If they are not, nothing else can save it. Focus on the eyes every time.
Let’s Keep Talking
Each month I will be here with a new story and a new set of photography insights…things you can use whether you are hiring a photographer or just trying to capture your own family’s moments. I run my photography business out of my home studio here in Hebron: Deborah Heinlen Photography, specializing in headshots and team photography serving Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. If you ever want to connect, I would love to hear from you.
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
