Photographer Maddie McGarvey Writes and Shoots Long-Form Prison Project for The Marshall Project
Independent photojournalist Maddie McGarvey has embarked on her inaugural major project with The Marshall Project, which began on May 8, 2026. This two-year initiative investigates the Leath Unit at Indiana Women's Prison, focusing on Heather Hornberger’s experience during her pregnancy while incarcerated and the subsequent life of her daughter, Innocence, as they approach her second birthday after release. Based in Columbus, Ohio, McGarvey oversees all project aspects, believing that merging photography with writing enriches narratives. Her previous work has earned her accolades, including the top prize in the February 2026 Pictures of the Year competition for her documentary 'Legacy of Daughters.'
Key facts
- Maddie McGarvey combined photography and writing for a Marshall Project report on incarcerated mothers.
- The project was published May 8, 2026.
- It focuses on the Leath Unit at Indiana Women's Prison and follows Heather Hornberger and her daughter Innocence.
- McGarvey is based in Columbus, Ohio.
- Her Trump rally photo was in TIME's Top 100 Photos of 2023 and on the front page of The New York Times.
- Her documentary 'Legacy of Daughters' won first place in Pictures of the Year in February 2026.
- The article discusses the trend of photographers getting bylines for reporting.
- McGarvey advises that dual roles work best for long-form projects.
Entities
Artists
- Maddie McGarvey
- Heather Hornberger
- Innocence Hornberger
- Breann Leath
- Gordon Parks
- Eudora Welty
- Lewis Carroll
- David Jablonski
- Octavio Jones
- Michael Swensen
- Ken Klein
Institutions
- The Marshall Project
- Indiana Women's Prison
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
- Ohio University
- TIME Magazine
- The New York Times
- Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute
- Missouri School of Journalism
- LIFE Magazine
- Cox Media Group
- Reuters
- Tampa Bay Times
- San Antonio Express-News
- The Associated Press
- Gannett
- Scripps College of Communication
- Fort Myers News-Press
- Outdoor Advertising Association of America
Locations
- Columbus
- Ohio
- United States
- Indiana
- Leath Unit
- Indiana Women's Prison
- Erie
- Pennsylvania
- Mississippi
- Tampa
- Florida
- Palmetto
- Kentucky
- Silver Spring
- Maryland