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A Special Tarrytown Resident Celebrates his birthday today |Debbie Allan Photography |

Today is an exceptional mans birthday. He is an amazing father, husband, volunteer fire fighter and wears the hats of plumber, electrician, carpenter etc in our house (he also has a full time job!!)

Happy Birthday sweetheart. Thank you so much for being YOU.

Missing in action (again) | Family Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

February was a busy month of reorganizing, preparing for a new phase for Debbie Allan Photography. My studio space is almost complete. The canvases and prints were hung last night with the help of Mr A. I realized that I need MORE BIG CANVASES. I was laughing to myself, as I am always saying to clients bigger is better. I should listen to my own advise! So today I am going to place a huge order. I think this is a work in progress as there will still be space to fill.

It is looking great and I am really excited to do the big unveil........soon.

No sneak peaks I am afraid.

Instead I have a little slideshow for you to enjoy. On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending Sophia's 5th Birthday. She had chosen a rainbow theme, which had proven a little challenging for the Chief Party Planner as there is not too much rainbow "stuff" out there. CPP pulled it off so well, so much attention to detail. The cake was superb.

Sophia was on a cloud the whole time, just look at the smile on her face. She was already planning her 6th birthday party, as she sat waiting for her cake to arrive!

Another winter newborn | Westchester and Hudson Valley Newborn Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

Dodging snowfall and snow days seems to be the theme lately. We ended up being so lucky that we scheduled baby O for Monday as this week looks to be yet another very snowy one. As I type this entry the snow is falling steadily once more. Happy that I have an easy commute today - down the stairs!

It was a pleasure to meet baby O and his family yesterday. At only 8 days old he was already very aware of the world around him and was not too keen to curl up and act like a newborn! He was much more content to stretch out and explore the space around him.

"Big" brother was such a joy to spend time with. He was so gentle and tender with his new baby brother. I look forward to seeing their relationship grow. They are going to be perfect play mates.

Thank you so much for welcoming me into your beautiful home and a huge thanks for the tasty lunch too. What a treat.

Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

Back in November I was invited to Sleepy Hollow Middle Show to take part in their Career Day. I was honored to be asked to participate in this wonderful event. Students were asked to sign up for two workshop sessions. Each session gave the students the opportunity to meet with a professional in a field that they were interested in. The selection and variety of careers represented were phenomenal. The Village Judge, a Police Officer, several TV producers and Chef from a local upscale restaurant were just some of the 25+ careers represented.

The response from students was overwhelmingly positive and can be summarized by the comment, “I can’t wait until next year!”

Students were asked by the art teacher to create an art piece representing each career. This artwork was presented to each of us as a gift. I was thrilled with mine and it now sits in pride of place on my desk.

Newborn Baby Asher | 6 days old | Park Slope, Brooklyn |Debbie Allan Photography

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the most adorable baby boy, Asher. His parents made me feel so welcome in their gorgeous apartment. When mommy had told me about their floor to ceiling windows I was very excited. What a perfect place for a photo shoot. His nursery was beautifully decorated with an owl theme.

The light was AMAZING. Asher was AMAZING. Mommy and Daddy were SO PROUD (and AMAZING!) I wish I had a second shooter as I missed capturing them adoringly watching on as I captured images of their handsome newborn baby boy. The pet cat even enjoyed watching over Asher and managed to get in a few shots too!

I was in awe of their calmness given they had been parents for less than a week. Asher is one lucky little boy.

First newborn session of 2011 for Debbie Allan Photography | Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Newborn Photgrapher |

Baby Noa arrived seven weeks early, back in December. Amazing to think that at three weeks old she was having her first photo shoot and technically she should not have been here quite yet.

As the third baby in the family she was getting lots of love and attention from big brother and sister. They have adjusted so well. It has been tough for them, with mommy on bed rest and then in hospital for so long. Mommy and Daddy's calm manner certainly has a great deal to do with the way I and J were so carefree and happy. They gave her a nickname before she was born, the cutest nickname I have ever heard, Twinkle. I have a feeling that may stick around for a long time.

At a birth weight of 4lb 14oz, Noa is my smallest newborn to date. All of my hats swamped her little head. Hard to believe that she has already started to out grow some of her premmie clothes.

It was tough getting her mommy's wedding ring to sit on her delicate toes for one of my favorite newborn poses. With a little help from mommy we managed it eventually.

I am looking forward to seeing more of the L family at the pool this summer. It seems like a distant dream right now, as I look out of my window at the snow covered garden.



A blog entry just does not seem complete without a slideshow these days.

2010 in Pictures

Well the first week of 2011 is almost over already. I have been reflecting on the year 2010. It was a great year for Debbie Allan Photography. I had the pleasure of meeting so many new families and catching up with many "old" ones too. I love seeing how much each child has grown and how their little personalities begin to take shape.

I feel so lucky to be doing something that I absolutely LOVE.

2010 was a wonderful year, filled with opportunities and I feel sure that 2011 will be even bigger and better.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE 2010 A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I look forward seeing you again in 2011 and welcoming new families into my little world too.

Sit back and enjoy this slideshow, highlighting 2010 as seen through my lens.

PHOTO CREDIT TO GRETCHEN MCFARLAND for the image I appear in!

My New Years Resolution for 2011 and beyond ...... book a family portrait session for my family EVERY year.

Canvas Cluster Layout | Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Family Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

Thanks to a great photographer friend, Stephanie and her photoshop talent I am now able to create custom canvas cluster layout ideas. I put together this one using some of my favorite images from M and R's engagement session. It features 4 8x12 canvases and 1 16x24.



I am looking forward to creating several clusters for our house.

What I am working on today | Engagement Session NYC | Debbie Allan Photography

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting up with M and R in Chelsea for their engagement session. It was the coldest day of the year so far, but they toughed it out and did not complain about the frigid temperatures and icy wind that was blowing off the Hudson!

This session was especially fun as I was working with Natasha. She always likes to think outside the box and so in order to get the first shot she had in her mind she had people tripping over her in the entrance to Chelsea Market on a busy, pre Christmas Sunday afternoon. It was so worth the funny looks we got as she absolutely bagged the shot she was after.

Cannot wait to see the rest.

I am finishing up my gallery this week. I am LOVING working on them and reminiscing - it was such a wonderful afternoon.

Thank you so much for your patience M and R. Here are my favs so far.





I put together a slideshow of the images from their gallery. I LOVE it and hope they will too.



Thanks to a great photographer friend, Stephanie and her photoshop talent I am now able to create custom canvas cluster layout ideas. I put together this one using some of my favorite images from M and R's engagement session. It features 4 8x12 canvases and 1 16x24.








Natasha and I are looking forward to partnering more in 2011. We have our first joint wedding venture in April. If you know anyone who tied the knot this holiday season please let me know. We have some great promotional offers for engagement sessions in the making.

HAPPY NEW YEAR | Personalized DVD and Case at a special price| Debbie Allan Photography

So happy to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I am looking forward to 2011 and the opportunities it will bring for Debbie Allan Photography.

I have a list of plans for 2011, with some wonderful developments brewing.... for now I have the first of many announcements to make:

I am excited to inform you of a New Year Special Offer to all clients who booked a session in 2010. If you would like to purchase a high resolution DVD featuring all images from your 2010 session gallery I am offering a fantastic reduced price of $850 for the month of January. That is a saving of $145.

Each DVD will come in a gorgeous, personalized presentation case, with magentic closure. They look and feel sturdy, yet beautiful. They are the perfect way to preserve those precious images.







I know you will agree this is an amazing offer and one that will not be around for long.

Contact me before 31st January to order your copy.

Last newborn of 2010 | Stamford Connecticut Newborn | Debbie Allan Photography

I had the pleasure of meeting baby Kavin and his family this week. What a perfect way to end the year. He slept so soundly for almost the entire time. Just when it was time for photographs with proud mommy and daddy he woke up.

At one week old he was so content to curl up in a ball and sleep. I LOVE LOVE LOVE his perfect little lips.

His maternal grandmother was visiting from India. I just had to have an image of her with her first grandchild. She was a little reluctant when I first asked her, but once she decided to partake she was so natural in front of the camera. I was thrilled with the image below. It was such a tender moment. The second I clicked the shutter I knew it was going to be amazing. I cannot wait to hear what she thinks of it.



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I am looking forward to editing the rest of the gallery as they are truly incredible.

Happy New Year. I will return in 2011......

Belated Merry Christmas

Wow, what a busy run up to Christmas it was. My poor blog got neglected once again. I was expecting December to be a quiet, catch up time, but I ended up with several last minute shoots as well as several layflat book orders and before I knew it Christmas Eve was upon us.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are now preparing for your New Year Celebrations.

Our Christmas did not quite go as planned. Our friends were stuck in UK due to canceled flights and so they did not make it to Tarrytown to celebrate Christmas with us, which has been the tradition since we moved here five years ago.

Somehow I guess it was meant to be that they were not here as the boys both ended up having to go to the doctor on Christmas morning (after opening their gifts). They both have Strep!

As you can imagine Christmas Day was rather quiet around here. I am hoping we will be able to have a belated Christmas with Roz and Stuart over the New Year weekend. Fingers crossed their third attempt to fly back from London tomorrow actually happens.

It was great to get out today. I took the boys to the NY Botanical Gardens. We are heading back tomorrow morning to see the Train Show.

Santa was kind enough to send me an annual family membership to the gardens and so you can expect to see lots more photos through the year!

For now my favorite from today.

Layflat Albums

I had so much fun putting together my latest layflat album. I enjoyed looking back on a gallery I had put together back in April. It was a pre communion shoot for Emily. It seems like such a long time ago.

If any previous clients would like me to put together an album of their gallery please do not hesitate to contact me. They are such beautiful keepsakes. Something you will want to leave out on display on your coffee table for all to enjoy.











I think you will agree - this is beautiful. Layflat Books are truly spectacular. Exactly what their name implies, they lay flat so photographs aren’t distorted by binding or creased by a hinge.

Anna Turns 3 | Stamford CT Family Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

Having two boys I do not get a chance to hang out with too many three year old girls for tea parties, so as you can imagine I was excited to be invited to Anna's 3rd birthday party. Mom had gone all out on the party planning and her attention to detail was AMAZING. The girls enjoyed flower shaped sandwiches, butterfly shaped cookies, personalized Hershey Kisses and pretty pink lemonade with butterfly straws.

They decorated their PINK cupcakes with sprinkles and spent some time dancing/flying around like butterflies as well as completing a little craft activity.

It was fun to watch how they enjoyed wearing their butterfly wings the entire time. Such girlie fun. A million miles away from my mommy world!



I put together a little slideshow for the family to enjoy.

Newborn Twins | Upper East Side | Debbie Allan Photography

I was thrilled to be contacted by the sister in law of one of my local clients. She had just given birth to twins and had seen the newborn shoot I had done of her nephew earlier this year.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to work with the A family and their adorable babies. G and G were a month old and were already in an amazing routine. Mommy called that a gift from NICU. The routine was thrown a little off by their first photo session, as little sister thought her brother was food at one point.

It is always a little more challenging doing a multiples shoot - to get both babies settled and asleep at the same time. However G and G seemed to be so at ease and most relaxed when they were next to each other. It was incredible to see them together.

Their personalities are already developing and it was so much fun to see them in action.

Mom and Dad are so calm and confident with them. I always love meeting first time parents and seeing them taking their new roles as parents in their stride. It was hard to believe they were new to it.

Thank you so much for welcoming me into your beautiful home.

I owe Daddy a huge apology. Not being a football fan I had NO IDEA that there was such an important game on during your session. I hope you did not miss too much. I was wondering why Manhattan streets were so deserted as I drove home!



Daddy Look a like





This slideshow requires tissues - they are so perfect. I love the way even their legs and feet snuggle up together.

Sisterly Love | Tarrytown Family Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

I was worried that we were not going to have a chance to connect this year for the McC family shoot. Mom had scheduled it months in advance and then the night before the scheduled date one of the girls was unwell. This time of year can be tough keeping the children germ free.

Between my schedule and theirs is was proving a little challenging to reschedule. So glad it worked out. I always have such a wonderful time with C and G. They are both growing up. C is a very proficient reader now and was excited to read to me from one of her new books. She is quite the little book worm. Little sister G did a great job reading to me too, with a little ad lib here and there. I love that.





Enjoy the slideshow

S Family Christmas Photo Session | Sleepy Hollow Portrait Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

It is impossible to believe that it was a year ago that I last photographed the S family. We headed to Rockwood Hall for this years session, which is one of those places I never tire of going to. The views of the Hudson and the Palisades are amazing. It was a little chilly at times, but we covered a lot of ground, which helped to keep us warm.

Little M, is almost three and was not really into having is photograph taken this year. He likes to be in charge and his plan for the morning did not involve having family photographs taken. Big Brother R is so patient and understanding. He was a huge help to me in ensuring that M was in the shots. Thank you so much for your assistance R.

This was the first shot of the morning and is one of my favorites. It sets the mood for the rest of the gallery. M looks like he is brewing a plan!



I love this one of R being spontaneous. Fortunately I was ready to capture him having fun.

Family Christmas Photo Session | Tarrytown Family Photographer | Debbie Allan Photography

The holidays are rapidly approaching, which I find hard to believe. As every family photographer knows this is the busiest time of year, with many clients booking sessions for their annual family Christmas card.

I have known the D family for quite some time, but this was their first photo session with me. We decided their home was the perfect backdrop for the session. What a great choice. The children felt relaxed, playing on their own "turf".

I love three year olds and little Miss D was so much fun. We played hide and seek for a while. Listening to her count was the cutest thing. She idolizes her big brother and watches his every move.

I have so many favorites from this session. I think mom and dad may have a hard time selecting from their gallery.

Proud Parent| Town Wide Kid Helpers - TWKH | Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow

Two weeks ago on a warm Sunday afternoon a group of VIPS gathered in the Children's Room at the Warner Library for a celebration. The VIPs ranged in age from 3 - 10 years of age. These children all have something very special in common.... their love for the community in which they are growing up and a sense of understanding what it is to volunteer time and energy to help others less fortunate than themselves.

Major Drew Fixell honored each and every one of the children at this special award ceremony, presenting each child with a certificate and reading a proclamation, declaring Monday 25th October Gunpowder Kids Day.

For a more detailed article see Tarrytown Patch








A huge thanks to Rob for the amazing cupcakes he provided for the children.