Blood Ties: Dean Hinnant’s Intimate Family Documentary

Our guest tis week is Dean Hinnant, the Street Photography Magazine featured photographer in the January 2024 issue. Dean’s journey as a photographer centers on an intimate, ongoing documentation of his five siblings. The oldest of six children spanning nearly two decades in age, he transforms his role as big brother into a powerful creative force through his project titled “Blood.”

The project gained deeper meaning following his parents’ divorce, which spurred Dean to focus his lens on preserving and exploring the unbreakable bonds between siblings. Armed with his Leica M6 TTL – a camera with its own remarkable history as the former tool of National Geographic photographer William Albert Allard – Hinnant captures both candid moments and environmental portraits that tell the story of his family’s evolution.

Dean developed his distinctive photographic voice during a six-month road trip across America in 2021, documenting the country’s emergence from the pandemic. This experience honed his ability to see beauty in everyday moments, a skill he brought home to his family photography. Despite living in different cities and coordinating around split holiday schedules, he never goes anywhere without his camera, ready to capture those in-between moments when his siblings come together.

His approach emphasizes trust and respect, allowing his subjects to be themselves while acknowledging their individual paths. This philosophy has led to a collection of images that resonate beyond their personal context, speaking to universal themes of family bonds, growth, and shared history. From his firefighter brother’s wedding to his youngest sister’s budding interest in photography, Dean captures the evolving dynamics of siblinghood with remarkable authenticity.

Working exclusively in film, Dean’s project stands as a testament to photography’s power to preserve not just moments, but the complex emotional landscape of family life. His work reminds us that sometimes the most universal stories are found in our most personal connections.