SHERRY BRADEN , MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER
2012 PPA INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Sherry hails from the Texas Panhandle, and a family of avid photographers. By age 7, Sherry had her first camera, and at age 11, her dad built her a darkroom, teaching her to develop, enlarge and print photographs. Together they formed a deep love for photography.

Sherry has always loved wildlife and nature, and thus began at a young age to photograph all of God’s creation. This continued into her adult life, photographing landscapes and documenting the wonderful and exotic places she and husband Rick have been privileged to visit.

Admittedly, Sherry is a “Hopeless Sentimental”. Raising two wonderful daughters gave her a desire to “capture the moment”; thus she documented the many aspects of her girls’ lives with her camera. It is Sherry’s firm belief that our MEMORIES are etched much more deeply when photographs accompany them. Her home is proof that not much that has happened in her life will be forgotten, as it has numerous photographic displays of her family throughout.

When the opportunity to photograph professionally presented itself at “empty nest” time, Sherry attended school at the Professional Photographers of America headquarters, and purchased all of the necessary professional equipment and lighting to begin a business. Fifteen years later, she finds that the digital revolution has been a fabulous change, and embraces the creative opportunities that it affords her.

Sherry specializes in Fine Art Wall Portraits of both families and children, and has photographed numerous weddings, along with the bridal and engagement portraits. “People” photography has been a true joy, as she tries to portray WHO the people are and capture their relationships, not merely create a “roadmap of their faces.”

Having 4 grandchildren born in only 3 ½ years, Sherry has been heavily engaged in creating many portraits of each of them, and also documenting their lives, just as she did her own daughters’. She stays very busy with her camera, and loves life sprinkled with the happiness that the grandchildren bring.

While being named an "International Photographer of the Year" in 2012, Sherry received the distinction of "MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER" in Jan., 2013 by the Professional Photographers of America. She has become well-known throughout her area, among both peers and clients, as an accomplished, artistic photographer. She is very involved in print competitions, and has won several prestigious awards for her prints: Twelve Loan Collection Prints, 2nd Place Internationally with Wedding and Portrait Photographers of America, 2 Judges’ Choice Awards, 3 Distinguished Print awards, Best Illustrative Print Award in SWPPA Regional Competition, and Highest Scoring Portrait Print at the Regional level. Over 50 of her prints have been displayed at the National Convention held yearly by her association.

Sherry has been a member of PPA and in the photography business for over 27 years.

Sherry says she feels truly blessed to do what she loves the very most…..photography…..what she believes God created in her to do.