Meet Debbie Allan | High School Senior, Family and Headshot/Branding Photographer

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

Hi Debbie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I first started Debbie Allan Photography, I was a mom to two young kids, striving to balance work with being present in their lives. Being a self-employed family photographer gave me that flexibility. Most of my photography sessions were held on weekends, and I managed business tasks during my children’s school hours. Now that my children are young adults, I no longer need to adjust my schedule around their activities, yet I still prioritize personal time. As a business owner, knowing when to “switch off” can be challenging, but I’ve found a rhythm that works. Each day, I dedicate an hour or so to exercise and appreciate the beautiful hiking trails around my home in Bailey, Colorado. My husband also works remotely, and taking a break for a hike during the day allows us to reconnect and recharge.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I first began Debbie Allan Photography, I was a mom with two young boys, focusing my marketing efforts on young families—I could relate to their journey. As my children grew, I felt a strong desire to expand into High School Senior photography. However, back in the late 1990s in New York, where I lived at that time, High School Senior photography wasn’t prevalent. To encourage local families to schedule photo sessions for their seniors, I conducted several promotional shoots, which generated a lot of interest. I began to attract attention from parents at our local high school, Sleepy Hollow (the home of the Headless Horseman). Our eldest son was part of the Class of 2019, and I was fortunate to work with many families of his classmates, which allowed my High School Senior business to flourish in the fall of 2018, as I photographed numerous local high school seniors.
Then, the unexpected challenge of the COVID-19 lockdown came. I had to pivot and figure out how to continue working. Fortunately, most of my senior photography takes place outdoors, so with social distancing, a mask, and a long lens, I was able to keep capturing memories for my clients. To my surprise, I found myself busier than anticipated, as many parents of Class of 2020 and 2021 seniors wanted to celebrate their children in unique ways, given that many traditional events were canceled from the school calendar—proms, homecomings, and more.

With the move towards more people working from home during early 2020’s there was also a huge demand for updated headshots. Having an up to date bio photo became more important for a great deal of professional who were no longer working in a traditional office environment. I continue to offer headshot and branding photography to clients and and I thoroughly enjoy the creative process involved.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having recently moved to Colorado from New York my husband and I are continually exploring and discovering new and exciting places.

When friends visit, we enjoy taking them to Staunton State Park and Pine Valley Ranch for some gentle hikes. For those seeking a bit more adventure, we love hiking the scenic trails at Guanella Pass, Kenosha Pass, and along The Colorado Trail.

Fairplay is always on our itinerary, as it is a great town for a stroll and a trip back in time when visiting South Park City Museum. The museum is a historic reconstruction of a mining town from the days of the Colorado Gold Rush and the later Colorado Silver Boom in South Park in the late 1850s through the 1880s. Whilst in Fairplay we love to stop at Snitching Lady Distillery, it is an award-winning Whiskey, Brandy & Rum Distillery. We love their artisanal cocktails.

Leadville is another gem we love to share with our guests. Strolling down Leadville’s main street allows us to appreciate the stunning architecture, vibrant storefronts, and local businesses housed in charming Victorian buildings.

Georgetown and Idaho Springs are also on our itinerary, and for a taste of city life, we often head to Denver’s Rino – River North Art District. The district’s blend of urban charm and unique industrial revival creates a perfect backdrop for visitors. Historic warehouses and factories now serve as venues for jazz bars, restaurants, brewpubs, art galleries, and creative studios. Our go-to brewpub is Ration Beerworks.

A visit to the area would not be complete without taking in a concert at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater. For our guests visiting out of the concert season we love showing them the visitors center, hall of fame and the trails that located in the area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Craig, has been my unwavering supporter since the inception of Debbie Allan Photography. His encouragement and backing have been invaluable, from helping me establish my first website to nurturing my brand and stepping in to care for our children while I worked. I could not have achieved this without him.

Website: https://www.debbieallanphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbieallan/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-allan-6347283b/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbieallanphotography/

Image Credits
Debbie Allan Photography