Kersh Branz

Kersh Branz is a professional photographer, artist, and collaborator with 14 years of industry experience.

They have worked with a variety of publications, organizations, and individuals throughout the U.S. and the world. Their photography work focuses on portraiture, weddings and events, the arts, and curated projects.

Kersh is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, the arts, education and inclusion and is available to speak to both large and small groups about identity, creating art through trauma, healing, and other topics relating to gender and sexuality. They have collaborated on podcasts, world premiere ballets, projects large and small, and is currently working on a forthcoming book about gender and identity.

Kersh began their photography career working for GO Magazine in New York City in 2005 and spent several years photographing events, artists, and performances throughout the tri-state area. They moved to San Francisco in 2009 and quickly began working with numerous arts and education based groups including The San Francisco Opera and Ballet and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Their ability to capture the essence of a performance, individual, organization, or an event is unique, authentic, and recognizable.

Kersh is extremely proud to have documented years and years of protests, rallies, and celebrations in the fight for marriage equality.

After getting married in 2012 Kersh began connecting with queer parents and families in search of community.

By 2014 Kersh had created their first independent portrait series called, The Pride & Joy Project that focuses on queer mothers, transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary parents and their families. The work seeks to increase visibility and social equity for queer parents. The Pride & Joy Project has been featured in numerous publications, interviews, and pieces including O! The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, and more.

In 2016 Kersh created the facebook group, Queer Parents (formerly called, Queer Mamas*) that is a vibrant online community of over 19,000 people from more than 60 countries. Queer Parents provides a necessary space for conversation, support, and feedback for queer women, queer mothers, transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary parents and people.

In 2017 critically acclaimed dancer and choreographer Myles Thatcher, invited Kersh to collaborate on a brand new piece called Otherness for The San Francisco Ballet that explores gender and the effects of binaries in the world. Otherness made its world premiere on April 21st, 2018 featuring costume designs by Sylvie Rood, promotional photos by Quinn Wharton, and music by John Adams. The podcast, Conversations on Dance, interviewed Myles, Sylvie, and Kersh during a Meet the Artists pre-show talk. You can listen to their conversation here: Bonus Episode: Live from San Francisco Ballet's Unbound Festival.

Kersh is dedicated to creating work that is authentic and engaging. They have a strong background in the visual arts and care deeply about creating and sustaining communities especially for artists, families, and the queer community.

Kersh is currently available for work as a photographer, artist, or collaborative project.

Sub-specialites: Digital photography, portrait photography, community organizing, queer family planning and queer parenting.