Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sherry Brooks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sherry, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

As a photographer, I pride myself on making my clients feel great in front of the camera. I think everyone can take a great photo given the right circumstances and guidance. I also pride myself on not over-editing my images because I want to make my clients look like themselves. My goal is to create images that my clients love that show real people. I will retouch my images to remove blemishes, stray hairs and distractions in the background but I don’t change face or body shapes. My clients pay me to make them look their best but they should still look like themselves.

When my adult daughter took me to see Barbie this summer, I was inspired to create a Barbie themed photo shoot with her. The message of Barbie is one of encouragement, acceptance and the idea that women can be whatever they imagine. After seeing the movie, I wanted to create images that were feminine and pink but that showed all the parts of my daughter. She is intelligent, witty, brave, social, sassy and funny. This was one of the most fun personal projects that I have worked on. I am hoping that these images can encourage more women to be proud of who they are. Because being a woman should be celebrated!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Sherry Brooks and I am a photographer, retired CPA and empty nest mom. I started my photography journey in my native Orange County, CA. I have been in business for over nine years and I love what I do! I relocated to Chandler, Arizona in 2019 and I love shooting in the desert! I’m an Arizona State University Alum, a SCUBA diver and huge ASU Football fan!

I have always loved taking photos but when I picked up my first DSLR camera in 2012 I was hooked! I was inspired by my daughters to learn everything I could about my camera so that I could take better photos of them. Working with my clients brings me so much joy. When clients book a session with me, they will be working with me the entire time. I don’t contract out my work to other photographers or hire someone to edit my images. My goals are to create a photo session that fits my client’s needs and provides them with images that they love. I also don’t over schedule myself so that my turnaround time is reasonable. I know my clients want to see their images as soon as possible!

My favorite subjects are people! I specialize in Senior photos, College Graduation photos and Family photo sessions. I am always honored when someone chooses me as their photographer because they are trusting me with treasured memories. I have several locations in the Chandler, AZ area that I like to use for photo sessions but I’m always open to trying new things as well. I love when clients have a suggestion or an idea for a session because that means the images will be all the more personal.

I am most proud of the customer service that I provide and the quality images that I deliver to my clients. I love when former clients rebook with me! It is the best compliment when I know that my clients enjoyed working with me enough to trust me a second or even third time.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

People are often confused when they learn that my first career was in accounting. The assumption is that an accountant can’t be creative but I have always been able to tap into both sides of my brain. I worked hard to gain my CPA license and I am very proud of that accomplishment. I also have other talents – in the past I have played piano, guitar and hand bells. I grew up taking dance lessons and tap is my favorite! When I got serious about photography, I loved tapping into my creative side and other people saw value in my work. When my friends started asking me to take photos for them, another photographer encouraged me to start my own business. My business training has helped me handle the business side of things so I have been able to do both the practical and creative sides of Sherry Brooks Photography!

Have you ever had to pivot?

In the summer of 2019, my husband and I relocated from California to Arizona for family reasons. It has been a great move for us but it was a difficult time for my business. I had built up a solid clientele in California and I basically had to start from scratch when we moved. Of course, just a few months after we moved the pandemic hit which pretty much halted my business for awhile. It was definitely a difficult and discouraging time as a photographer and I considered winding my business down. My family encouraged me to keep going. It took some hard work, patience and networking but I am glad I stuck with it!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.SherryBrooksPhotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherry_brooks_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherrybrooksphotography
• Twitter: @photosbySherry

Image Credits
All images are copyright of Sherry Brooks Photography.