Meet Deborah Allen: Wedding and Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deborah Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deborah, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
While everyone has their own definition of success, there are three habits that have made my vision of success a reality. First, I have learned to create my business goals using baby steps in order to achieve new heights. This is not a new concept, but it is one I have failed many times. Having my short and long term goals physically posted keeps me aware of where I am and where I want to go. Otherwise, a tucked away Word document became out of sight and mind, which prevented me from moving forward. It was easy to lose sight of short and long term goals if I did not have them posted in plain sight. Second, prioritizing and keeping balance is a must. Which is more fun: laundry or updating my website? I usually feel my life is balanced but delicately. This concept is similar to washing dishes; it requires work that is never ending. I remember learning this concept as a teenager. A teacher from church placed an empty jar on the table. Then she began to fill it with plastic, colored cubes. The pink cubes represented time spent on homework, the blue cubes showed time with friends. The pink and blue cubes both represented good things. However, as the jar filled up there was not enough time for church or acts of service. It is the same for me today. I am an adult with a house to keep clean, relationships to maintain and a business to run. All are good things, but too much of one “colored cube” can fill my jar and leave other responsibilities unattended. So I make sure to balance the different aspects of my life jar. Third, you know what they say about honesty being the best policy. We are human. In running a business, I’ve learned new things and taken risks, which sometimes results mistakes. Having the courage to be honest and “eat crow” when I’ve erred has always worked well for me. Overall, creating organized, visual goals, maintaining a balanced life and possessing integrity have been a guiding light to my success. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My portfolio is filled with images showcasing natural light photography skills and interactive poses. While there are specific rules of photography, I tend to bend a few to allow my light and airy photos to shine. Yet, sticking with one style has not been an easy task. As much as I love my soft tones, I also love other photographers’ work that range from dramatic warm tones to calming blues. I’m grateful to have learned to love and embrace the style of my art. In a proud yet humble manner, there is a skill I would like to share in this article. As a natural light photographer, I am also strong in flash photography. Do you hear the worlds of flash photography and natural light colliding? I quickly learned that my natural light knowledge was not enough to capture wedding receptions. When I used to cull my reception images with stress, I now love to share those photographed moments with pride. (I also share this with humility too. I still have a ways to go and flash knowledge to learn.) To my new clients, I know that feeling of smiling nervously for the camera and just hoping for the best. I don’t want my clients to feel that way. My ultimate goal is to guide my clients through easy posing that makes them look and feel stunning! I want them to understand that, if desired, they can also have those “Instagram-perfect” photos to share. But more than that, I want to showcase their favorite version of themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Grand Canyon Brewery is new in Flagstaff, AZ and is absolutely amazing! Pink Jeep tours is a must, especially in Sedona! Relic Road Brewery in Winslow, AZ just adds to the Standing on the Corner experience! But don’t forget the Turquoise Room restaurant and the La Posada hotel!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Amy and Jordan are wedding photographers in Scottsdale, AZ. They run their business with a balanced and full of love! They are absolutely amazing leaders in the industry and community. https://www.amyandjordan.com/

Website: https://www.deborahallenphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborah_allen_photography/