The Rowells | Hermitage-Rippy Estate Mobile, Alabama Wedding

Two high school sweethearts tied the knot on a lovely spring Saturday in Mobile, Alabama. The Hermitage-Rippy Estate served as the perfect host to their out of town guests with its Southern charm, grande oaks and blooming azaleas.

Kaileigh & Blake simply wanted to share their wedding day with those closest to them. From the moment he watched her walk down the aisle to the end of the night as he twirled her around on the dance floor, their dreams came true. Congratulations to two of the sweetest people I’ve been able to work with. Enjoy your new adventure as husband & wife!

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Loved this moment between the bride & her mother.

Ah! One of my favorite portraits from the entire day!

*Also LOVED the soft color palette that Kaileigh chose for her bridesmaids dresses & bouquets.

Story behind the cake: Blake recalls meeting Kaileigh one day at school. She was dressed up as a pirate & some flirting was involved. How cute to include that “meet-cue” in their wedding day?!

Vendors who made this wedding day a dream come true for the Rowells:

Photography: Deborah Michelle Photography

Photographer’s Assistant: Ellen Talbot

Venue: Hermitage-Rippy Estate

Cake: Ginny Blackburn Parker

Abbie & Jacob | Mobile Bay Engagement Portrait Session

It’s no secret that I love the Gulf Coast. And it’s no secret that I have the absolute best clients.

Abbie & Jacob made my dreams come true when they asked me to capture their love story. Abbie was born & raised in Birmingham, Alabama & Jacob from Cincinnati, Ohio. The University of Mobile brought them together & after just three dates, Jacob knew he had found his future wife.

A year later, Jacob was down on one knee on the Bluff in Fairhope, Alabama asking for Abbie’s hand in marriage. He had the ring & planned to wait for a weekend when all of their friends were in town, but he couldn’t wait.

I am pretty sure I screamed like a little girl when I found out this beautiful girl was engaged. From bible studies to coffee chats, I have grown to adore Abbie & her friendship. And now I get to celebrate her in this exciting season of life.

Aren’t they absolutely adorable?! Also shout-out to Jacob for looking dapper in his sports-coat in 90+ degrees.

After our time in downtown Mobile, we headed across the bay to catch the sunset. And let me just tell you, it was worth it.

See that bench in the background? That’s the spot where Jacob asked Abbie to be his wife!

Seriously cannot wait to kick off 2020 with these two!

Kaileigh & Blake | Hermitage-Rippy Estate Mobile, Alabama Engagement Session

Two high school sweethearts are beginning their forever this Saturday with a Mobile, Alabama Wedding day. It’s wedding week for Kaileigh & Blake & I am thrilled to be their Alabama Wedding photographer.

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with the two of them for their engagement session at the same spot they will say I Do! They chose the Hermitage-Rippy Estate in Mobile, Alabama because of it’s Southern charm & its gracious hosts. And I consider the Hermitage-Rippy one of Mobile’s hidden gems. The extravagant white columns invite you in, while the oak trees encourage you to stay awhile.

I love engagement sessions because they give me the opportunity to get to know my couples before their big day. For this Alabama girl & a tall farm boy from Idaho, it all begin in one Math class at Baker High School. Blake recalled, “it’s the only bad grade” that he had in high school…perhaps because he was a little distracted by the pretty brunette next to him. It didn’t take long before they began dating, followed by a Bellingrath Gardens & Home proposal two Christmas’ ago.

Her favorite thing about him is that he keeps her laughing & how he cares deeply. And he loves that their souls feel connected way beyond their years. They share the same morals & values & will vow to keep them as they build their very own family.

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See ya’ll in just a few days! Kaileigh, you’ll be the one in white. Blake will be waiting for you at the end of the aisle. And I’ll be the lucky one capturing your day one as husband & wife!

Venue: Hermitage-Rippy Estate

Shelby & Bryan | Springhill College Mobile Alabama Engagement Session

The love story of two athletes was revealed to an audience of one Alabama Wedding Photographer and several of Mobile’s grand oak trees that line a drive on Springhill College’s campus in south Alabama. Shelby a softball player. Bryan a baseball player. These two met in high school and Bryan recalls the moment he first saw Shelby, “She was the prettiest girl I’d ever seen.” To which she now smirks and holds his hand a little tighter. He would later sneak a kiss in the hallway and take her to a school dance.

A couple years later, Bryan planned the perfect proposal with two diamonds in mind. One made of dirt and grass and the other sparkled. That’s right, he proposed to Shelby before one of her softball games that she helped coach. He completely surprised her by involving players and former teammates. Talk about the perfect proposal for these two! Getting to know them throughout their session, I can tell they balance each other out well. She holds the quiet, nurturing spirit while he is the most outgoing gent who brings a smile to anyone who will look his way.

I am delighted that they chose me to capture their love story that is four years in the making and look forward to having a front row seat at their June wedding day.

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Ah! Forehead kisses are my favorite. So gentle, so kind.

Bryan picked out the prettiest ring for his girl. Wouldn’t you agree?!

A Year in Review | 2018

So you know how everyone is doing their Top 9 right now? Well of course I did mine and it was all pictures of me and none of my work. And honestly that hurt as an artist. Did no one like my work? Did no one see all the portraits I captured this year? Lies. All lies. You, my friend, spent the past year celebrating with me as a person. Sure you loved my work but you were invested in my personal highlights even more so. 2018 was a big year for just that. I got the chance to be the bride for once and wear the white dress. I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with my best friend.

Even though this past year was a great year personally it was not my favorite professionally. Moving my small business was hard, but luckily I have a team here to help me. If I could put a title on 2018 for my business it would be, ‘Growing Pains’. Stepping back and reevaluating everything is not easy. You are a failure. You are not good enough to make it. Lies. More lies. As I type this I hear my best friend say, “Not today Satan, not today!” Y’all it’s hard. And it’s taken me awhile to realize it’s ok to admit that. One of the many reasons I adore established photographers like Katelyn James and Jenna Kutcher is because they are so open and honest about their struggles both personally and professionally.

Often times I question why I am a photographer, but then I am quickly reminded why. I have a faithful few clients who I photograph year after year. One I have photographed for 10 years and three children later! They are the reason why. They believed in this girl with a camera and continue to support me.

One photographer I follow posted this the other day on Instagram and I completely agree. “If 2018 taught me anything it’s to feel the moment - the hurt, the disappointment - forgive (yourself or others) and MOVE ON. Stop living in a permanent state of punishment for a temporary choice. You’re allowed to fail. Hell. You NEED to fail. Failure teaches us grist and purpose more than success ever will.” (@alisha_crossley_photography)

Goodbye 2018, this girl is eager and expectant of good things to come in the new year. Some might even say magical (*hint to where DMP is relocating to).

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Highlights of 2018

• Photographed 7 DMP weddings & second shot with Elizabeth Gelineau Photography & Anna Filly Photography to bring my year total to 9 weddings!

• Created laughter between a bride and her best friends.

• Captured 12 families during this season of life. A few brought me to the sea shore where I could wiggle my toes in the sand, another allowed me to announce their families’ big news, and all brought about tickle fights and mighty laughter.

• Played dress up with three of my Deborah Michelle Brides as we awaited their wedding days.

• Shared quite a few tears. Moments shared between a bride and her mom get me every time; first looks too!

• Fueled my love of floral design by assisting Lisa of Thorne and Thistle for a couple of weddings in Auburn, Alabama. Upon arriving to a new city, I reached out to several local vendors to try to connect. Lisa took me in and showed me a different side to weddings. It was a treat to work with such a talented floral designer. I could not help myself but to take a few iPhone pictures here and there.

• Celebrated two college seniors from opposing universities.

• Consumed a lot of coffee and several slices of wedding cake. After all that’s the REAL reason why I shoot weddings. Ha!

• Photographed the most dapper of men.

• Reconnected with DMP brides as they take on the role of mommy!

• Worked with some of the best in the business. Shout out to Toni Goodie, Joanna Lee, Ashley Mason and Sara Grace McClain for helping me out this year.

Not only did Ashley assist me this fall during wedding season, but she gave me the honor of photographing her fifth anniversary with Weston. They are the cutest!

• Encouraged as many puppy kisses as possible - after all the canines are part of the family too!

• Cut many rugs on the dance floor!

• Shared this season of wedding planning with several couples and discovered what they love most about their partner.

• Was invited to be a part of the most intimate moments in one’s life. And I will forever treasure those opportunities to capture their beginning as husband and wife.

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2018 will be a year to remember. A year full of hard lessons mixed sweet memories. A year where I learned I cannot do it on my own and lean heavily on my greatest team member, my business savvy husband.

Babe, thank you. Thank you for letting me soak your t-shirts in tears split over my business. Thank you for driving me to my sessions and reminding me of my talent. Thank you for pushing me to keep going when I was ready to quit. I know it has not been easy but I would not be the photographer I am today with your love and support.

To my clients, thank you. I started my business because I wanted to share my talents with people. I wanted to capture moments that you would treasure for a lifetime. For several years, I have poured out my passions to you over coffee and you invited me into your season of life. I will forever find joy serving you and walking alongside you in this journey called life.

*Oh and I bet you are dying to know where DMP is going next……

HELLO BIRMINGHAM! Alert the presses, DMP is in the Magic City. My husband and I are super excited about moving as newlyweds, establishing some roots and making this Alabama city our home.

Cheers to a New Year and a new city!

The Huggins | Fairhope Alabama Wedding

Oh where do I even begin?! Tori and Trey’s wedding day was such a delight to be a part of. First of all, it brought me back to the Gulf Coast which I holds a special place in my heart AND I got to catch up with so many of my friends, too!

Tori is one of the most laid back brides that I have been blessed by lately and I am oh so thankful. She understand how crazy my life had been since getting married myself and moving and extended me grace after late night emails. So when I walked into her hotel room on the morning of her wedding day, I was greeted with excitement from her and her squad.

One of my favorite moments from their day took place during their ceremony when they chose to wash each other’s feet just as Jesus did with the disciples. What a humbling way to start off your marriage - a promise to love, serve & submit to one another. And of course my second favorite part of the day was their time spent along the Eastern Shore after their ceremony for some ‘Just Married’ portraits! *Keep scrolling to see what I am talking about.

Tori and Trey, what an honor is was to be a part of your day one. Thank you for sharing in this season with me and my prayer is that these photographs captured on your wedding day will be treasured for generations to come.

Oh sweet momma! I love these moments shared between the bride and her mom especially when I personally know the two.

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I must confess, I cried during Tori & Trey’s first look. All the feels! So, so sweet!

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Ok fine, I am predictable BUT I just love it when couples are game for a round of ‘Just Married’ portraits around sunset. It. Is. So. Worth. It!

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Vendors who made Tori & Trey’s Wedding day the best day ever

Photography: Deborah Michelle Photography

Photographer's Assistant: Toni Goodie

Dress: Bliss Bridal Fairhope, Alabama

Florist: Belle Bouquet

Rings: Lou's Jewelry

Ceremony Venue: St. Francis at the Point Fairhope, Alabama

Reception Venue: Rock Creek Golf Club Fairhope, Alabama

DJ: Southern Aire DJ's

Videographer: Ash Tree Studios

Cake: Darrell Jennings

Catering: Rock Creek Golf Club

Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse

Hair & Makeup: Mallory with Root 43 Salon

Ceremony Music: Christian and Courtney Hilley

Reception Lighting: C&A Event Rental LLC