Based in Calgary, Leah Hennel serves as senior photojournalist for Postmedia's Alberta publications, with her work regularly featured in the Calgary Herald. Her visual reporting focuses on three core areas:
"The best stories emerge when people forget the camera and simply live" - Hennel on her photographic philosophy
Leah Hennel has carved a distinctive niche in Canadian journalism through her evocative visual storytelling. Beginning as a staff photographer for Alberta Health Services, she honed her ability to capture raw human emotion during critical moments in healthcare settings. This foundation shaped her transition to the Calgary Herald, where she expanded her scope to document broader societal narratives across Alberta.
This annual retrospective demonstrates Hennel's unique ability to curate visual narratives that balance hard news with human interest. The 2018 edition featured 43 images capturing everything from wildfire recovery efforts to jubilant Stampede celebrations. Her composition technique reveals intentional use of negative space to emphasize subjects' isolation in vast prairie landscapes, particularly effective in her coverage of drought-impacted farmers.
"A single frame of a rancher's weathered hands cradling parched soil told more about the agricultural crisis than any statistics could convey" - Western Canadian Photojournalism Awards Committee
Hennel's 224-page visual ethnography documents disappearing aspects of agrarian life through 160 photographs shot over seven years. The work stands out for its participatory methodology - she embedded herself in four farming families across seasons, capturing intimate moments like predawn milking rituals and intergenerational land transfer ceremonies. Publishers Weekly noted how her "unflinching yet compassionate lens documents both the romance and harsh realities of modern homesteading."
This COVID-era series for Prairie Books NOW redefined disaster photography by focusing on small acts of perseverance. Rather than sensationalizing pandemic hardships, Hennel's images highlighted creative adaptations - a teacher conducting outdoor algebra lessons in -15°C, or seniors exchanging recipe cards through storm windows. The project's innovative use of diptychs contrasting pre-pandemic and current scenes earned recognition from the Canadian Association of Journalists.
Hennel consistently prioritizes stories that challenge urban-centric perceptions of rural life. Successful pitches highlight specific cultural practices or economic innovations in communities under 10,000 population. For example, her 2023 series on Indigenous seed-saving cooperatives combined agricultural photography with oral history documentation. Avoid generic "small town charm" angles - she seeks stories demonstrating rural communities' active role in addressing climate change or technological adaptation.
With her dual expertise in photojournalism and environmental reporting, Hennel excels at translating complex issues like water rights or soil degradation into relatable visual stories. Pitches should identify concrete human subjects who personify larger trends, such as fourth-generation farmers adopting regenerative agriculture. Provide clear access to photographic opportunities - she typically spends 3-5 days embedding with subjects to capture authentic daily rhythms.
A recurring theme in Hennel's work examines how traditions adapt across generations. Successful pitches might explore youth-led revitalization of heritage crafts or multigenerational family businesses navigating digital transformation. Her award-winning series on Ukrainian-Canadian bread ovens demonstrated how to present cultural preservation through portrait sequences and architectural photography.
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Photography, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
