Since 2014, Heinsen has been recognized by the prestigious Lürzer's Archive as one of the 200 best photographers worldwide. In 2024, he was voted to the top of the Top 10. In addition to his professional work as a photographer, he works on artistic photography projects that take place in various locations around the globe: in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, as well as in Bangkok and Paris. Michael Heinsen lives in his hometown of Hamburg and on the island of Mallorca.