ABOUT

Kersh Branz is a professional photographer, artist, and collaborator with 19 years of industry experience.

Kersh has worked with a variety of publications, organizations, and individuals throughout the U.S. and the world. Their photography work focuses on portraiture, families, the arts, weddings, and events.

Kersh is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA community—especially queer families. Kersh is available to speak to both large and small groups about identity, creating art through trauma, healing, and other topics relating to gender identity and sexuality. Kersh is currently working on a forthcoming book that chronicles their own journey with identity and loss.

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 The San Francisco Opera and Ballet and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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 O! The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, and more.

In 2016 Kersh founded the facebook group, Queer Parents (formerly called, Queer Mamas*) that is a vibrant online community of over 20,000 people from more than 60 countries. Queer Parents provides space for connection, conversation, resource sharing, and community for queer people and parents of at all stages of their family building experiences.

In 2017 San Francisco Ballet dancer and choreographer Myles Thatcher, invited Kersh to collaborate on a brand new piece called Otherness for The San Francisco Ballet as part of their series entitled, Unbound. Otherness 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.

Kersh is dedicated to creating work that centers queer and trans experiences and voices. They have spent nearly two decades celebrating queer culture, identity, and community through their photography and art.

Clients Include

Bank of San Francisco, Lesbians Who Tech, MotherCoders, Northern California Grantmakers, Youth Speaks, The San Francisco Opera, The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Family Equality Council, Néstle, MTV, OpenTable, Bloomspot.com, EaterSF, San Francisco Classical Voice, The Merola Opera Program, Silicon Valley Boys Choir, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Festival Opera, The Domestic Violence Consortium, Architecture for Humanity, Autodesk Gallery, The San Francisco Health Department HIV/AIDS Awareness Program, The GLAAD Media Awards, GO Magazine, The San Francisco Ballet, The Commonwealth Club, The WNBA NY Liberty, and many more. 

Publications Include

O! The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, A Bicycle Built for Two, Elixher Magazine, GO Magazine, 86 Magazine, SF Weekly, SF Examiner, Offshoot Magazine, INSPIRARE Magazine, Jeanne Magazine, and others.

Speaking Engagements 
Kersh has spoken at schools and organizations around the Bay Area about gender, sexuality, and identity for years. 

HOME / ABOUT / CONTACT