Kasey & Dylan | Moss Rock Preserve Birmingham Alabama Engagement Session

Two years and thousands of long-distance miles later, these two are getting married this fall. Kasey & Dylan are planning a destination wedding in the mountains of Tennessee, so I found the perfect little location for them. The Moss Rock Preserve in Hoover, Alabama gave us an outdoor element along with a quaint little neighborhood tucked away from the bustle of the city.

Upon getting to know Kasey, who won my New City New Year Giveaway on Facebook, she told me that her & her fiance LOVED adventures. So it was no surprise to me when they agreed to go hiking through boulders for their engagement portrait session.

Dylan loves Kasey’s spontaneity. And Kasey adores how well Dylan cares for her & her family. I only spent a couple of hours with these two, but I witnessed how well they complimented one another. I consider myself lucky to have clients that trust this Birmingham, Alabama Wedding Photographer to document their season of life. Do you care to join me on an exploration of Kasey & Dylan’s Moss Rock Preserve engagement session in the images below, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Bonus: there’s a waterfall involved!

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I don’t know who’s more smitten, Kasey or Dylan?! I’d say it’s a close tie!

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Kasey & Dylan are planning a destination wedding in the mountains of Tennessee this fall, so I found this second location at the Moss Rock Preserve perfect for them. They also LOVE adventures & nothing says adventure like hiking through boulders to discover a waterfall!

Shout out to Kasey for hiking through the rock preserve in wedges! What a champ!

Kasey & Dylan, thank you for trusting me with your love story.

I am excited to watch ya’ll move mountains over the years together. It’s going to be the best adventure yet!

Engagement Session Location: Moss Rock Preserve | Hoover, Alabama

Engagement Ring: Diamonds Direct

Kasey’s Black Dress: Two Sisters Boutique | Marion, Alabama

Kasey’s Pink Blouse: Lavish | Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Grubb Family | Birmingham Botancial Gardens Greenhouse Family Portraits

Have you ever tried to coordinate eight different schedules for one hour? Let me tell you it ain’t easy. But Deborah Michelle Photography’s New Year New City Giveaway winner, Morgan, made it happen.

Most of you probably remember or participated in that giveaway. I thought why not do a free session in my new city of Birmingham, Alabama?! This opportunity allow me to make new contacts & visit a new location for portraits. Talk about a win, win! But I knocked it out of the park with this one.

Morgan is the absolute sweetest soul. Upon winning she decided to include her entire family in on her portrait session & what a treat. I got to meet not only her & her husband, but also her parents, sisters, nephews & even grandparents! Rain may have dampened our original plan but thank goodness for the greenhouse at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Morgan’s nephews ended the session as every rainy day session should by jumping in the puddles outside.

Thankful that I was able to capture some long overdue family portraits for Morgan & her sweet family.

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Morgan’s mom & dad have been married for 31 years. The secret, I asked them, “Keep God first.”

Thirty-one years later, Rob & Shawn, have three beautiful girls; two of which have married.

But it doesn’t stop there - their oldest child has three of the most adorable boys. And bonus, two of the great-grandparents were able to be there at the session. So we had to include them in a couple of portraits as well.

The ladies. Love them so much! And can we just talk about their outfit choices for a second? So perfect.

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Meet Morgan’s oldest sister, Jordan. Jordan & her husband, ?, have been married for six years & have the three curly haired boys you see throughout these portraits. Let’s just say the greenhouse had so much for these guys to explore!

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Met Morgan. Morgan was tickled to have won DMP’s New Year New City Giveaway. Herself a newlywed as well, we shared stories of our hubbies via email & found out we shared a love for missions. Morgan & her husband, Jeffery, are currently renovating a house to flip & told me it’s been a great teaching tool for marriage. I can only imagine the ideas & compromises that have to be made when working on a project that big.

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Meet Erin. The younger sister. She may or may not model for a few local boutiques hence absolutely killing her portrait time. Her & her oldest sister, Jordan, have started a hair & makeup business called Dearly Beloved Hair & Makeup. Their work is stunning; you should definitely check them out.

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We couldn’t leave them men out of course.

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To the Grubb Family, thank you for sharing your rainy afternoon with me at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. I left with sore cheeks from all the laughter & felt like one of the family. I hope you treasure these family portraits for years to come.

When’s the last time that you & your entire crew got dressed up & took family portraits? If you can’t honestly remember, then it’s time for a session to update those frames on the mantel. Simply email me & we will go from there.

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

Church Family | Birmingham Botanical Gardens Family Portrait Session

I grew up with a brother but always wondered what growing up with a sister would be like. Sharing clothes, arguing over who gets to take the car out for a movie night, and calling dibs on the cutie down the street. Emmeline & Eleanor will share lots of memories as they grow up. But for now they spend their Sundays at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens before heading over to the Birmingham Zoo.

Emmeline celebrated her half birthday recently, so a family session was in order. She has the best of parents, Kevin & Kelsey. I loved capturing their family of four during this sweet season of their lives.

Emmeline loves her big sister!

I can just picture this recreated at her wedding one day!

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Happy Six Months Sweet Girl!

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Of course I had to steal Mom & Dad away for a few portraits too!

Looking for a family portrait photographer? I’d love to connect with you and your family. Contact me!

Dogs of Birmingham | Rotary Trail Birmingham, Alabama

By now it should be no surprise that this Birmingham, Alabama photographer loves pups! Small fluffy pups to dogs of great size. It does not matter, I love them all. So an idea was born, I should host a day of mini sessions in my new city because there must be others that love their pups as much as I love mine.

One Saturday in February, I met 9 of the most adorable Birmingham pups along with their humans too. It was woof-tastic! So without further ado, enjoy a few of my favorite portraits from the first of many Deborah Michelle Photography pup mini sessions.

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First up is Bentley. He is a 4 year old Cavalier King Charles Cocker Spaniel who adores his humans, Brittney & Trey. I may or may not be biased because my Elliot is a Cavalier too!

I had to steal them away for a few portraits just because they were the sweetest!

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Theo’s parents might look familiar if you’re a follower of DMP. Sydni & Colton got married nearly 3 years ago & since then have adopted the most precious pup. I mean just check out that bow tie!

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Brace yourself this next pup will make you surrender all of your treats.

Meet Sosa. The tiniest pup of the day! He helped his mommy, Haley, through nursing school & is the fiercest protector.

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Mac & Maisy introduced me to their parents, Micah & Bailey. And boy were they a bundle of energy! Maybe one day I will share the progress of the photo above because it literally had me laughing out loud while editing. I loved catching up with a past DMP bridesmaid & receiving suggestions on her favorite Birmingham spots.

P. S. Micah wore socks with labs on them! How stinking adorable?!

P. S. S. One of my favorite couple pics is this next one.

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Everyone meet Cosmo whose namesake comes from Seinfield (Cosmo Kramer). Samantha loves the show & knew it’d be the perfect name for her furry companion. He may me small but he is precious.

Samantha introduced to her beau, Peyton, who is also a great dog dad too!

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His name might be Diesel but I shall call him the Gentle Giant. Diesel is a 5 year old Great Dane. His proud parents are Lea & Barry. Luckily his parents have several acres of land for this pup to roam, although I am certain he enjoys the comfort of the couch too.

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Yall, it just keeps getting better!

Next up is Miss Lanie & her rather new best friend, Gunner. He is a 3 month old Goldendoodle & oh so fluffy! He was so small that I could’ve easily carried him away in my camera bag but I don’t think Lanie would’ve approved. One of Gunner’s goals is to be a service pup for his owner which will be so awesome. I am eager to watch these two grow up together.

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And last but certainly not least is Zoey. She is a 6 weeks old German Short-hair Pointer. This sweet girl belongs to Matt, Ashley & Zane. Sidenote: Zane is so great in front of the camera because his aunt is also a photographer (oh hey, Ashley Brooke Photography). I enjoyed meeting this family & their newest furry member.

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Many thanks to FETCH - A Treat Truck for Dogs for making custom treats for all of the pups photographed during Deborah Michelle Photography’s first pup mini sessions.

I just had to sneak in one for my sweet pup too!

Spoiler alert: Pup Mini sessions coming to Mobile, Alabama & Tuscaloosa, Alabama very soon!

Email me now to get on the list. I cannot wait for another afternoon of tail-waggin' & sweet puppy kisses.

Anna & Adam | Downtown Tuscaloosa Engagement Session

Who would’ve guessed that as we stood in line as kindergartens that one day I would become her Alabama Wedding Photographer as she marries the love of her life.

Anna Ruth and I basically grew up together. She shared the love of softball with me & I gave it my best attempt. We cheered underneath the Friday nights lights together for 6 years. We shared many joys but also stood side by side during life’s toughest days. I am thankful for her caring nature & it seems someone else has also grown attached to the sweet blonde who once adorned pigtails & a homemade pink watermelon dress.

Adam & Anna both serve the City of Northport as police officers. They met at work one day…and that’s when the chase began. What started out as a friendship turned into something much more. One of the things that Adam loves most about his fiance is that she loves passionately & holds tight to her family. So much so that Adam included all of her nieces & nephews in their proposal! Anna was completely shocked as the kindest man she’s ever known pulled off the best moment of their lives.

She said YES & now they’re planning a Spring wedding. I loved every moment of catching up with one of my longtime friends & getting to know the man who treats her how she deserves.

Ya’ll their outfits choices paired with the stone of the Tuscaloosa City Hall was a photographer’s dream. Oh & Anna did her own makeup. Sign me up for a tutorial please!

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Engaged & planning a wedding?

Let’s grab coffee & chat! I would love to capture your love story just like Anna & Adam’s.

Based in Birmingham, Alabama but eager to travel!