A Year in Review | 2021 Pups & BTS

I am a Sweet Home Alabama Photographer who loves serving easy-going, joyful clients who love their dogs! One of my goals for 2021: photograph more PUPS! And looking back, I can confidently say I did just that. And to conclude a great year, I’m reliving some of the moments that happened behind the scenes.

Here are all the adorable PUPS from 2021 & a few more BTS images. Cheers to a New Year, friends!

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Pup Portraits

I became a “dog mom” 8 years ago to the sweetest Cavalier King Charles. He changed my life & brought so much joy into my life. It wasn’t long until I realized that so many others consider their four-legged companions as family too. Call us crazy & obsessed, but it’s amazing how loyal & loving such a small (or big) creature could give to a human.

A few of my clients have given me the title of “dog whisperer” & I love it! I love meeting all the pups & hoomans that love them so. 🐾

DMP is a BIG fan of Hand in Paw therapy teams here in Birmingham, Alabama. I had the opportunity to photograph two of their Picasso Pets sessions this year. I photographed the event two years ago, but seeing the beginning of the paintings & meeting the artists were super cool.

Brittany, Director of Communications for Hand in Paw & DMP Bride 2020, & Debby with the finished portrait painted by local artist Thomas Andrew.

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Behind the Scenes

A lot of times you only see the final portrait, but never knew the chaos that took place behind the scenes. Sometimes you find the wedding coordinator serving her bride nuggets or a groomsman carrying the bride’s gown. Other times it’s the parents dancing just to get their child to smile or the countless cups of coffee keeping us going.

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Tuesdays Together Birmingham - Rising Tides Society

2021 brought about a new & exciting change for me. I took on the role as leader of Birmingham’s Tuesdays Together Chapter. TT is a community of small business owners & entrepreneurs, from hobbyist to seasoned professional, gathering the second Tuesday of every month (unless otherwise noted!) in the spirit of Community Over Competition. Find us on Facebook! Honored to be able to connect to so many incredible people here in the Magic City in a very unique way. Stay tuned to see how this group makes waves in 2022!

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Thank you for supporting DMP in 2021!

Woof, woof! DMP’s furry assistant popping in to say “thanks”!

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Looking for Weddings???

Click here for that recap!

A Year in Review | 2021 Lifestyle Portraits

2021 - oh my. Where do I even begin?! You were completely different from years past, yet oddly familiar to the one you came after. Masks were still a thing but vaccines made us photographers, who see multiple families weekly, a little bit safer.

I spent my time in both Birmingham, Alabama & Mobile, Alabama serving clients from all ages. Newborn babies, big sisters, college seniors, dog-moms, extended families & everything in between!

Thank you, sweet client turned friend, for trusting me with your memories. DMP celebrated year number SIX in July & I still have to pinch myself when I realize that I am living my dream. You have brought this Alabama small business owner so much joy!

Enjoy browsing some of my favorite memories from Lifestyle Portraits of 2021.

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Portraits

DMP celebrated so many exciting seasons with so many wonderful clients. Everything from awaiting babies to college graduations to saying YES & so many mini sessions in between. I also got to meet up with several returning clients for updated family portraits, which was most certainly a highlight to this pandemic part two year that we had!

ICYDK - I work at Birmingham-Southern College part-time in the Student Development department. And one of its icons is the Ginkgo Tree. So when it bloomed this year, I knew I had to shoot “Golden Sessions”. Love how these turned out! So much!

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Newborns

One of the many joys of being a photographer is getting to be the first one to capture that family portrait with a new addition. Ten families welcomed me into their homes to capture the first few days of their baby’s life. What a treat to capture those tiny toes & sweet details in the nursery. Bonus: getting to watch several of my couples become parents! Love being able to catch up & meet their little one.

LOVED being able to capture Kelly & Quinten’s journey to parenthood. From their announcement last year, maternity session, meeting their baby girl in the hospital & to this year’s family photos. Goodness I adore them!

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Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Special thanks to my husband; my number one fan!

You encourage me to be a better person & challenge me to go beyond in my small business. Thanks for being the best dog dad while I am away on Saturdays photographing weddings.

And thanks for taking unlimited number of pictures for this photographer-wife of yours. I appreciate everything you do to keep this photographer’s dream going!

All my love,

Debby

*P. S. A bonus blog is coming your way soon. Hint: woof, woof!

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Looking for Weddings???

Click here for that recap!

Benjamin | Lifestyle Newborn Portrait Session

I’ll be honest, this Alabama photographer once avoided newborn portrait sessions UNTIL my couples & best friends started having babies. There’s no greater joy that cheering my clients on throughout life’s journey. Who says we have to stop being friends after the wedding day?!

Now I’ve only known Kylie & Kyle for a year, but when I found out they were adding to their family I was so excited!!! Benjamin was born right at the beginning of this pandemic & since being home have only welcomed a few guests at a safe distance.

I suggested we do a front porch session to keep everyone safe & pop inside for a few in their ridiculously adorable nursery. And the best part?! Their house has so much great natural light that it made my photographer heart very happy. The view from their front door to the couch was perhaps my favorite part.

Can you believe that Kyle made this porch swing for his family?! Just imagine the fun memories that’ll be made out here.

Welcome home Benjamin! You’ve got two of the best parents & I cannot wait to watch you grow up.

Brittany & Cooper | Downtown Birmingham, Alabama Engagement Portrait Session

This Alabama bride-to-be was one of my first contacts to make in Birmingham, Alabama a year ago & we had an instant connection. We’re both dog MOMS - both to two adorably handsome Cavalier King Charles Cocker Spaniels.

Brittany works for an incredible non-profit here in our community, Hand-in-Paw, & she trusted me to photograph several of their events last year (*shameless plug, sign up for the Mutt Strut - it’s such a blast). Last year she got engaged to the best dog dad for Chester & asked me to photograph one of the most special days in her life. I about fell out of my chair with excitement!

Brittany & Cooper are two of the chillest people that I’ve ever met. They’re the type of friends who I could call that would always be down to grab a drink at one of Birmingham’s local breweries after work or meet up for dinner with the pups in toe. Their entire engagement session was so laid back & effortless as the they simply enjoyed being together.

Brittany chose the first location, Shoppe Bham. And I must return. It was the cutest little spot for some cozy, laidback engagement portraits.

Brittany is incorporating succulents into her wedding decor, so this detail shot of her ring is perfect!

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Next stop, downtown Birmingham at the Elyton Hotel. If you think these portraits are great, just wait until you see the rooftop ones! >insert heart eyes<

I’m in love with all things rooftop. Such a gorgeous view of downtown Birmingham, wouldn’t you agree?!

Cheers to this sweet season of planning my friends! Literally cannot wait to capture your 2020 wedding day!

Venues: The Shoppe & Moon Shine Elyton Hotel