I recieved my Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Photography from The University of Memphis in 2002, and after graduating, I worked with several local photographers for experience while continuing to do my own work. I have had work published in Memphis Magazine as well as included in group exhibitions, one of which was by invitation in Basal, Switzerland.

My Fine Art and Mission Work
When I was studying for my bachelor's degree, I started photographing country stores. One night as my husband and I were driving down pitch dark backroads, I spotted a lighted oasis up ahead, which turned out to be a country store! I had been in country stores before- at a young age when I would go fishing with my dad- I remember getting minnows, crickets and potato logs in these places. We ventured into this particular store and the owner, her daughter, their dog, and their friend were sitting around talking and watching the Super Bowl. They graciously let me photograph them and their store that night and it turned into a passion to find as many country stores as I could- to document them before they became overrun by Walmarts. I loved everything about these stores: from the old exteriors and arrow signs directing street traffic toward the store to the colorful fresh fruits and vegetables and rows of neatly stacked food items inside. The owners were all a rare breed of people- kind and generous and full of wonderful stories! I have returned to many of the stores, and sadly, a large handful of them have closed down. My dream is to publish a book of my collection of images in this series.

My husband and I went on our first mission trip to Malawi, Afica in the summer of 2008. We worked with The Ministry of Hope, which is an organization founded in Malawi by a Malawian to help out the orphans, widows and sick in their country. The MOH built feeding centers for the numerous orphans in order for them to get their only source of food. They also provided the gospel for the orphans! We worked at four of these feeding centers, providing the orphans with a VBS, a medical ministry, a hygiene clinic, and we built a chicken house at one center. My husband and I plan to become more involved in mission trips in the future and use the images I take on these trips as fundraisers for different ministries!

Brooke Ledbettter | Email me