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!


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.


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.


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!


Thank you for supporting DMP in 2021!

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


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Hand in Paw's 10th Annifursary Mutt Strut | Birmingham, Alabama

Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019 Dogs of Birmingham

If you know me or have been following me for sometime, you know that I love all the pups. I love being an Alabama wedding photographer BUT I love being a dog mom, too.

One of the first things we noticed about Birmingham, Alabama was how dog friendly the city was. My husband & I love taking our Cavalier King Charles Cocker Spaniel around with us especially to TrimTab Brewery on Sunday afternoons. I found out about Hand in Paw when searching for upcoming dog events & fell in love with what they are doing in our community.

Hand in Paw’s mission is to improve human health & well-being through Animal-Assisted Therapy. They currently have 150 professionally-trained volunteers that bring comfort and joy to people who need it most. One of their biggest fundraisers of the year is the 5k Mutt Strut; just picture Christmas morning but for dog lovers & that’s how I would describe it.

Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019 Dogs of Birmingham
Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019
Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019 Dogs of Birmingham
Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019 Hand in Paw
Deborah Michelle Photography Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019
Mutt Strut 2019 Birmingham Alabama Photographer Deborah Michelle Photography

It was an absolute joy to be a sponsor of the 10th Annifursary of Hand in Paw’s Mutt Strut. Huge round of applause to the staff who worked so hard (even in the rain) to make this event happen.

Proceeds from Mutt Strut benefited Hand in Paw’s Animal-Assisted Therapy programs. I cannot wait for next year, perhaps I should train my pup so he can participate too!

Deborah Michelle Photographer Birmingham Alabama Mutt Strut 2019 Hand in Paw

Full Gallery of this event can be viewed here.

*If you were a participant & are looking for a photo I snapped of you & your furry family member, email me & I’ll send it to you!

Hand in Paw Birmingham, Alabama Deborah Michelle Photography 2019