Meet Sherry: Heart Behind Dansby Photography in Westminster

A personal note from the woman behind the camera

Hi, I’m Sherry Dansby.

Most people meet me with a camera in my hand, but there is a lot more behind that camera than shutter speeds, lenses, and edited images. Photography, for me, has never been just about taking pictures. It has always been about noticing people. Really noticing them.

I know what it feels like to want to be seen, but also to feel nervous about being seen. I know what it feels like to carry parts of your life that other people may not fully understand. I am a transgender woman. I have lived with epilepsy since childhood. I am a caregiver, a person of faith, a small business owner, and someone who has had to rebuild more than once.

All of that shapes how I photograph.

When someone steps in front of my camera, I never want them to feel like they have to perform perfection. I want them to feel safe enough to be themselves. Whether I am photographing a headshot, a family moment, a boudoir or pin-up session, a red carpet event, or a simple portrait in someone’s home or favorite outdoor space, my goal is always the same: to help people feel respected, comfortable, and valued.

I do not work from a studio. I come to my clients. That matters to me. On-location photography feels more personal, more human, and often more comfortable. Sometimes the best backdrop is your own neighborhood, your living room, your workplace, a local park, or a place that already means something to you.

My approach is calm, patient, and collaborative. I will guide you, but I will not rush you. I will help with posing, but I will not force you into something that does not feel like you. I pay attention to body language, comfort, confidence, light, and little in-between moments that often say more than a perfectly posed smile ever could.

A lot of my work is rooted in dignity.

That word means a lot to me.

Dignity means the person in front of my camera is not just a “client.” They are a human being with a story. They may be celebrating something. They may be starting over. They may be nervous. They may be grieving. They may be stepping into a new chapter. They may simply need one good photo that helps them feel a little more like themselves.

I also believe photography should be accessible. Not everyone has a large budget. Not everyone feels welcome in traditional photography spaces. Not everyone knows how to pose or what to wear. That is why I try to keep my work approachable, honest, and people-first. I would rather build trust than pressure someone into something they do not need.

My faith also plays a quiet role in how I see people. I believe every person has worth. Every person has a story. Every person deserves to be treated with care. Photography gives me a way to honor that.

So yes, I am a photographer. But I am also someone who understands vulnerability. I understand resilience. I understand the courage it can take just to show up.