John and his wife Madalyn in Yunnan China
For thirty years John Derryberry has been photographing people. At age fifteen he bought his first real camera, and within two months he had sold his first portrait. While still in college he shot for the John Haynsworth studio, photographing governors and their families, and was Bob Mader Photography. After graduating with honors from SMU in Cultural Anthropology and Studio Art, John moved to Japan where he developed his skills and ideas about photography, studied Shakuhachi (the Japanese bamboo flute) and received his black belt in Kendo (Japanese fencing).
John has pursued photographic projects all over the world. His adventures have taken him to Japanese puppeteers, Nepalese holy men, Galapagos sea lions, New York carnival workers, Guatemalan shamans, Italian churches and Texas cowboys.
Twenty eight countries later, he settled in Dallas and opened John Derryberry Photography. Today he is known as one of the country’s leading portrait photographers with commissions from many well known family, editorial and commercial clients.
In the studio John and his staff combine cutting edge technology with classical techniques to produce the highest quality museum grade prints. This combination of great photography and superior print making is what makes his work stand out.
For John, photographing is a meditative experience and a way to connect to his subject. In its pursuit he strives to capture the spirit of people he photographs.
“I am deeply grateful to the following artists and professionals. If not for them I could not do the work I do at the level I do it. They make me better!”
~ John
Christi – studio manager
For twelve years, she has been taking care of business so that the rest of us can be creative. Hers is the voice you usually hear answering the phone. She is the one who schedules the shoots and helps you with your orders. If you need anything, she will to get it done.
Christi’s previous life was as a buyer for A Pea in the Pod, Beyond Conception and The Carriage Shop.
Bill – artist and master retoucher 
Thirty three years in the photography world, Bill and John have worked on projects together for over twenty two years. Specializing in our larger more complex prints, he won’t let a print be finished until it is perfect. ”Most people would consider us irrational for the amount of effort we put into an image, but we feel that we are creating something of consequence.”
In the past he has worked with legends of photography Bank Langmore, William McIntosh and Bob Mader. In his twenties, Bill’s wild side led him to ride his motorcycle across the US and Canada.
Dana – printer and shoot assistant
For eight years she has kept the prints coming. Today you will see her in the shoots, behind the computer watching for styling issues and sometimes making funny faces. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in photography she worked in Milan, Italy in the fashion photography industry.
When Dana isn’t working you can find her digging in the garden, cooking up a mean salsa or honing her skills as a pool shark.
Madalyn (w/monarch butterfly) – stylist, and world’s most over qualified assistant 
Wife of twelve years, by my side and often in front of me for fourteen. Madalyn studied mechanical engineering, anthropology, art history and studio art at Stanford University. Her masters work in semiotics and design at the Rhode Island School of Design lead her to publish her critically acclaimed art book Woof (think weaving not dogs), published by Abrams Press, which was sold in New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s book store.
Her private label is Sow’s Ear Ranch Design.
Favorite things: knitting incredibly beautiful objects and deconstructing life’s complexities.
Lenore – Makeup artist and happiness guru. She has graced us with her serene wisdom for fifteen years.After working with Chanel she went independent with a mission to make women look and feel beautiful. They all love her makeup and her wonderful energy. She is also a great wardrobe consultant, and she can shop for clients who haven’t found the perfect outfit for the shoot.
Secretly she really wants to be a mermaid.
Jeanna – Make up artist and hair stylist
It’s been seventeen years since John talked her into moving here from her home in Lexington, Kentucky. Since then she has become a master makeup artist for many genres.
“From the first time we worked together I knew she was going to be great”, John says. Since then she has worked in LA and developed advanced skills in fashion and film make-up and hair styling.
click here for Jeanna’s website
Mayra – makeup artist
We’ve had eight years of fun together. Brides and mom’s love her energy and her makeup!
A self confessed makeup junkie, she believes the reason she became a makeup artist was to always have an excuse to purchase all the makeup she wanted.
After almost twenty three years in the business the textures, colors and tools, are all still fascinating to her. She loves her clients and relies on their feedback, and her own instincts, to transform or enhance their beauty.
“I enjoy helping women feel good about their appearance. It empowers us…”