The Nelsons | November 12th, 2016

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'You will forever be my always.'

Holly & Ray are two of the kindest, warmest souls that we've ever worked with. From the initial meeting over coffee to their Dauphin Island engagement adventure session to this special day, what a journey & honor it has been to capture their love story. 

The bride, Holly, & her entourage got ready at the Fort Conde Inn. Hair & makeup was provided by the lovely ladies at Salon Thirty-One. 

Ah! First looks with dads are so special & this one was no different. 

Excuse me while I wipe the tears from my eyes! I love first looks especially theirs. <3

Holly & Ray said their vows in the beautiful St. Catherine Siena Parish Catholic Church on Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL. 

The newlyweds danced the night away with their closest family & friends underneath the stars at the Mobile Botanical Gardens. 

Vendors:

Bride's Dress: Holly's Mother's dress; alterations, remodeling: The Timeless Bride

Bridesmaids Dresses: David's Bridal, Vera Wang

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse

Florist: Belle Bouquet Florist

Cake: Cakes by Judi

Catering: Tyner's Catering Inc 

Transportation: Old Shell Trolley Club

Second Photographer: Caleb Scot Photo

Venues: Fort Conde Inn, St. Catherine's & Mobile Botanical Gardens

The Eubanks | November 5th, 2016

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Meg & Joseph were married on a beautiful November day. Flagstone Farms made for the perfect background to their wedding day. Family & friends gathered to watch these two become one. 

*Personal note: I've known the groom for several years. We laughed, we cried & we experienced life together thanks to one of Safe Haven Church's small groups. Those short 9 months spent in Tuscaloosa were life-changing.

Eventually we had to grow up. Got adult jobs & moved a part. Long story short, Joseph met the lovely Meg Mooneyham & asked her to be his bride. I met with her to discuss wedding photography & instantly knew we'd be the best of friends. And knew Joseph had found the best girl for him. 

Meg spent the morning sipping on mimosas & laughing with her closest girlfriends. *Hello lucious lashes!

And Joseph spent the morning as in any typical Saturday in the fall by watching football. 

Then it was time for the groom to see his bride for the first time all dressed in white.

And in the quite moments before she arrived he looked at me with tears in his eyes & said, "I'm getting married today!" "Yes, Joseph you are. And you found the best girl for you." It was a moment I will treasure forever. (AH! Love watching my friends get married.)

One of my most favorite moments from a wedding day is the recessional. It's that "just married - ahhh" feeling. LOVE!

Ah - I simply love these two! So much. 

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Eubanks! 

Vendors:

Bride's Dress: First Avenue Bridals & Formals - Cullman, AL

Venue: Flagstone Farms - Vance, AL

Cake: Mary's Cakes & Pastries - Northport, AL

Catering: Have A Bite Catering - Warrior, AL

Bridesmaids Dress: David's Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen: Men's Wearhouse 

DMP & Ducks | December 15th, 2016

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2016 was a huge year for DMP - we set out to focus on weddings. We wanted to celebrate our couples with a end of the year party! 

On December 15th, 2016 the Taylors (June 11th) met the Rivers (August 13th).

We always thought it'd be super cool for DMP couples to met one another. These couples are not only experiencing their first year of marriage, but allowed DMP to capture the start of their journey together. How cool is that?!

If you live in Mobile, chances are you don't live here because you fell in love with the weather. Tuesday night was a warm 70 degrees, but come Thursday night (the night of our tour) it was a lovely 40 degrees - maybe. So we bundled up in blankets, sipped hot chocolate & enjoyed the warmth of hot hands. We cruised the streets (& water) of Mobile & sung Christmas carols. One of our favorite parts was seeing the Oakleigh District decked out in Christmas lights. (*Please excuse the blurriness - all pics taken on an iPhone.)

And that's a wrap on our FIRST annual DMP Christmas Party! 

Thanks to Gulf Coast Ducks for the great time & Serda's for the hot chocolate! 

A Year in Review | 2016

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2016.jpg

As the year comes to an end, one of our most favorite things is looking back at everything that took place. And wow - what a year 2016 was! 

In 2016, DMP turned it's focus on weddings & set forth a goal of 20 weddings in 2016. And y'all, that was accomplished with the help of a few dear photographer friends. (Two weddings shot with Michelle Quimby Photography & one with Ashley Brooke Photography.) Weddings are our favorite – hands down. There’s just something special about capturing one of the biggest days in someone’s life. This year we watched clients, who felt more like friends, exchange rings & become one. We laughed, we cried & we danced the night away. 

2016 Goals

  • Take the wedding industry by storm. Check.

*We have THE BEST couples around so this was super easy! ;)

  • Get published. Check. 

So incredibly excited about our partnership with Premier Wedding of Mobile Bay & super honored to have been a part of their first publication. 

The Ratcliff Wedding was featured, too! Check it out here! 

  • Give back. Check.

Recently during Rising Tides Society’s #TheRechargeChallenge & they asked us to define success. Now success means something different for everyone. For me, it means doing what you love & having the ability to give back.

In May, DMP traveled to Ghana with a team from St. Andrew's Baptist Church - Panama City, Florida. There we had the opportunity to photograph families who had never had family portraits made. What a treasure. God designed me, Deborah Michelle, with a talent. And keeping that talent to myself would be selfish.

May success for me, personally, & my business continue to be defined by that smile of seeing your family in a photo for the first time.

View entire trip with this link. 

*This trip would not have been possible without these families participating in Portraits for Ghana. How cool is it that they received family portraits all while providing someone across the globe the same opportunity? 

*Including these sweet babies during their first year of life!

Photographed a family session that turned into a PROPOSAL!

*Not pictured, the shaking hands & fast beating heart behind the lens.

Consumed more coffee than one can count. (*Goal for next year, keep up with that!)

Thanks to my dear photographer friend, Anna Filly, for some new headshots! Click photo to see the full gallery. 

Witnessed 10 seniors, high school & college, accomplish a huge goal – graduate! So proud. 

Discovered that peek-a-boo can save a family photo session.

Repaired a few bouquets & pinned many boutonnieres thanks to my flower shop skills that came from that part-time high school job. Lifted hay-bales, became the best light testing model around & danced the night away with new friends. 

Traveled to the seashore (my favorite place) for 5 sessions & a wedding. *This is why we’ve planted our roots along the gulf coast. Sorry Jen, we're not moving to Birmingham. 

Photographed a very unique birth announcement for a best friend at Chick-fil-A.

But one of our favorite memories of 2016 was defining our WHY. In April, we were asked to photograph a family session composed of four generations. You see these images would freeze a moment in time that could never be replaced. Just a few short months later, the sweet matriarch of the family would take her place in her heavenly home. This is our WHY - capturing moments that last a lifetime. 

2016, you will go down in history as one of the best yet most challenging years in DMP history. But when you trust God with your dreams, He will give you more than you could imagine. We simply cannot wait to see what 2017 has in store!

*Here's a preview of some of our 2017 DMP Couples - stay tuned for their weddings in the new year!

The Hornes | October 22nd, 2016

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Karleigh & Jonas said "I Do" underneath the oak trees at the Bragg Mitchell Mansion in Mobile on the perfect fall day. 

I will never forget the day I received my first message from Karleigh - it was about two months before her wedding day & she was in need of a photographer. And I just so happened to have that Saturday available. *Praises!* 

"I'm actually a wedding photographer too!" Wait, what?! Karleigh is the lady behind K Rae Photography here in Mobile, Alabama. Needless to say I was stunned. A photographer trusts me to capture her very own wedding day?! After the initial shock & phone call to my mom, we met & everything felt right as we went over details. 

And then she said she was getting married at the Bragg Mitchell Mansion & all my dreams came true. My southern soul fluttered. #suckerforantebellumhomes

I loved Karleigh & her mom's relationship because it reminded me of mine with my mom. Getting ready shots are some of my favorites - before the rush when all is calm. 

They're MARRIED!

Their bridal party was the best! 

Such a fun celebration!

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Horne! What an honor it was to be a part of your wedding day. 

Vendors

Bride's Dress: Timeless Bride

Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang at David's Bridal

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Mens Warehouse

Florist: Belle Bouquet

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Bragg Mitchell Mansion

Wedding Coordinator: Kristen Looney

DJ: DJs by the Bay

Cakes: Taylor Made Bakery

Caterer: Naman's Catering

 

The Hopkins | October 15th, 2016

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Norman & Mallory became husband & wife on the perfect fall day. And when I say it was perfect, it truly was. These two have known each other since youth but a few years ago that friendship turned into something more beautiful & God orchestrated. Their love for Christ showed in every moment of their wedding day & it was truly an honor to witness. 

Arran Farm Events was the venue that stole the bride's heart. It provided the perfect place to get ready, say I Do & then dance the night away all in one spot. (Photographers everywhere rejoice!)

*Loved their reaction to seeing Mallory for the first time. Now it's time for her to see her groom!

*Cheers coming from the upstairs. So cute. 

Stunning. 

Brotherly love at it's finest!

Every relationship between father & daughter is different, but this one reminded me of mine. It was such a special moment to capture. (*Trust me it was hard to keep it together!) 

Mallory & Norman's ceremony was one of the sweetest I've witnessed. The groom's father fought back tears as he charged his son with the responsibility of leading his bride. And then a dear family friend led the two in their vows - which I confess made me cry. Oh how sweet God's plan for these two is! Finally their pastor lead in the exchange of rings & announced them as husband & wife! 

*Love, love, love these moments right after the ceremony. It's the "we're married - can you believe it?!" feeling of excitement. Also, the Hopkins bridal party was the best!

Now let's celebrate the newlyweds!

Mallory's sister & matron of honor rapped her toast. Yeah, that's right. Rapped it. Fresh Prince of Bel Air style. It was awesome. 

*Bonus pictures of the bride & groom. You're welcome ;)

Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Hopkins! It truly was an honor to be a part of your wedding day. 

Vendors

Venue: Arran Farm Events

Coordinator: Crystal Williams Events

Videographer: Paige Rouse

Bride's Dress: PRIVATE LABEL BY G Kenneth Winston - purchases at Dimitra Designs 

Bridesmaid's Dresses: Monique Lhuillier purchased at Vow to be Chic

Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang - purchased at Men's Warehouse

*Personal note: I met Mallory many years ago while traveling around for youth camp. (Shout out to Mud Ministry!) And when I received a message from her asking me to capture her wedding day, I was excited to say the least. I remember Facetiming her one day to discuss details for the upcoming day & giggling like little girls as she told me about her man. Oh Mallory, I am so happy that you found the one that God had for you all along. I cannot wait to see how you glorify the kingdom in your marriage. You are incredible & one stunning bride!