Personal – Debbie Dean Photography

Tamera, Brianna, & Keelie: Christopher Newport University, Senior Portraits

Oh man… just wait til you see these ladies. Waltzing them to and fro around Christopher Newport University for their senior session was making me fall in love with my alma mater all over again! And capturing their friendship in front of my lens was such a treat!!! With graduation right around the corner, spending time with these almost-grads reminded me of the special season April is for seniors… the anticipation of finishing something you’ve been working towards for years, the bittersweetness of all the special insanities that only college offers coming to a close, the excitement of what the next chapter will hold… such a fun, weighty time!!!

It has been so fun to walk with my friend Tamera through her CNU experience. She, Brianna, & Keelie met through various clubs & classes on campus, and their joy together has been so fun hear about and now to capture with my camera. These seniors brought the sass and sweetness for their photos together, and I couldn’t fit their session into ONE blogpost… part two coming next week!

Luter Ladies! Both graduating from the Luter School of Business.

My beautiful friend! So proud of you, Tamera!!!!

Day Family: Hampton Homestead

As we hit the one year anniversary this week of covid descending on our nation and changing all our lives in various ways, I have been thankful as I reflect on the people God knit around me in my life as a single lady, so that even in the changes and ebb and flow of covid isolation, I have not felt alone! The Days fill me up and hold a special place in my heart as wonderful, dear friends from my church who have the most crazily wonderful growing herd. Their family has been built through foster and adoption, with eight kids and counting, ranging from 1.5 to 22 years old. Katie & Steve are people I want to be like, embracing dreams and pressing into the hard by God’s strength, going after good works that display His beauty and love to others. I have loved watching how covid has brought GOOD on their homestead, as they’ve done immense work to their property and their familial relationships, and also brought others of us in, throughout covid, in safe ways, to be blessed by their land and animals and food. Enjoy some of my favorite images of their wonderful crew, including some extended family as well!

Baby Nae had just turned one at the time of our session last November… isn’t she the cutest???

The Day crew: Steve & Katie with 7 of their 8 kiddos!

Missick Family: City Center, Newport News VA

Last night, I got to meet and hold the little newborn man who is one of the stars in today’s photoshoot… how fast time goes!! (Though for preggo Mamas, I know things can often seen slooowwww… that was Sen during this session, just eager and waiting for baby Judah to get outta her belly!) This family is one that makes me thankful for life, laughter, rawness, and being real a humans and Christians. They teach me so much about the power of prayer and the power of a good meal (preferably Puerto Rican cuisine!!). I loved capturing their growing crew last month and am so thankful that I don’t only call them clients but dear friends. 🙂 Enjoy a few of my favorite images from our holiday-y shoot in Newport News, VA!

Alimentary Roots: Portrait Session

There are moments in photography when you pull your camera from your eye to look at the shot you just captured and can’t help but grin exuberantly, shriek with glee, and freak out your client in the excitement their beauty gives you. I consider it such a privilege to capture people in all their differences and loveliness, and I especially love doing so with people I know deeply.

Shooting the below photos for my bestie and roomy Ruby (some people call her by her actual name… RACHEL….. but not I!) was one such session full of those “oooooooooo!!” moments. She is a beautiful soul!!! Living with her and walking through life with her, I know well her compassionate heart, her stunning face, and her eagerness to help others when it comes specifically to cooking and eating in ways that help, heal, and give happiness to the tastebuds and body! She is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, passionate to show others how powerful food is and how much it matters what we put in our bodies. I have learned so much from her, and continue to pester her for cooking wisdom as I’ve become more accustomed to the kitchen in 2021 through my keto journey!

Ruby has big dreams, big goals, big plans in how to bring hope and healing to bodies and souls through food and farming. She uses her blog, Alimentary Roots, to share thoughts and wisdom as she walks towards these passions, hoping simply to serve others well. Please head over and give her writings some attention! They’re fascinating and fun to read!!!

Rubes, I love you and am so thrilled for what is to come. You and your beautiful self inspire me daily and I love getting to show you some love in this blogpost today!

Stewart Family: Mariner’s Museum Park, Fall Session

I wish everyone could know this family. Darnell & Quana became good friends to me in 2019, and their down to earth personalities, honesty about the hard things of life, and “God is good all the time” faith has been such a gift to me. (Not to mention dance parties with hide & seek games with Sa’leena & DJ are. off. the. chain!!!) They recently lost their third child, a premature baby girl, and I have seen them show me how to walk through life one day at a time in the midst of great suffering, finding God to be present in each step forward. Seeing their faces at church every Sunday morning, even through masks and socially distanced, has encouraged my faith.

Our time in Newport News for their family portrait session last month brought me much joy! I hope you enjoy some moments of our time together. Happy Friday!

Porter & Cheryl: Newport News Couple’s Session

It is such a gift to have couples in your life who have weathered the storms of marriage, kids, jobs, travels, aging, and the like, and who continue to show you in their words and how they choose to spend their time that Christ is a delight and worthy of serving with each passing year. Porter & Cheryl are two individuals who show me Jesus through their kindness, patience, and faithfulness. When Porter contacted me asking to schedule a session for them, I was so tickled he would want to bless Cheryl with photos of just the two of them!!! Enjoy some favorites from our mini session at Mariner’s Museum Park a few weeks ago… and consider blessing a couple you love and respect with gift of a photoshoot this holiday season!! 😉

Will & Beth: Norfolk,VA, Family Session

Oh. My. Lanta. How I love these photos and these THREE people!!! Beth is a sister from my church who I have walked through life with more closely these last two years. She is one of the kindest people I know, so full of compassion and sincere care for others. Her husband Will is also a man of character, hardworking and genuine, so eager to serve others. Walking with Beth through her pregnancy has only amplified how much I see this couple’s trust in God, awareness of His grace, and declaration of how much we all need Him. I am so eager to see how God will continue revealing Himself to them and through them as little baby boy Palmer enters the world in February 2021!! We had a great time waltzing around downtown Norfolk a few Saturdays ago… enjoy a few highlight shots of our time together!!

Eric & Sharon: Gloucester Wedding

Anyone else miss the pre-covid wedding days? Celebrating with friends and family, sans face coverings and social distancing? While I know our current circumstances and the various regulations upon us are limits we all just have to accept as reality for right now, I still peruse weddings I shot in 2019 with such awe and glee, seeing mask-less faces and guests cozied up next to one another! I pray we get to be there again soon. Until then, enjoy some highlights from a wedding I shot back in May of 2019 for a dear couple from my church, Hampton Roads Fellowship! Watching their little blended family (Sharon & MJ, Eric & Cameron) become one surrounded by our HRF family was such a relaxed, joyful celebration!

(Note: I’m still shooting weddings in this season, maneuvering covid restrictions and seeking to bless couples as they deal with these crazy times! Message debbiedeanphotography@gmail.com to get wedding packages and booking details!)

Tyler: Yorktown Senior Session

I love how the world of photography allows me to meet such a variety of people here in Hampton Roads!! I was introduced to Amber through a Facebook connection, and when she said she wanted to book a senior portrait session for her son, “who loves baseball and the beach,” I was all in. A few weeks ago I met up with rising-High School senior Tyler and his family, and had a blast capturing him around Yorktown, VA. He was such a natural in front of the camera. It was an extra treat to have his Dad aka baseball coach present for some of the shots. Enjoy some of my favorites from our time together!!

Daric & Holly: Salisbury University

Last month, I was able to take a weekend to see friends in Salisbury, Maryland, where I resided from 2016-2018. A couple who I loved doing life with during those few years were Daric & Holly. They showed me how to love Jesus and love people in such practical ways, being constant fun, encouraging presences at meals, Bible studies, movie nights, and the like. Daric even offered to teach me guitar and we had a few great sessions… before I flaked!! They both supported me both financially and in being good friends during my time as Cru staff, and those years in Salisbury would not have been the same without them!! (I’ll especially always hold dearly the time a friend and I visited Daric at work and got a FULL tour of a crematory!!) Y’all bring much joy to me and others, and it was SO fun to photograph y’all that weekend. 🙂

Enjoy some favorites from my session with Daric & Holly around Salisbury University!!