diff --git a/chord_drs/models.py b/chord_drs/models.py
index 11f66dc..903c248 100644
--- a/chord_drs/models.py
+++ b/chord_drs/models.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ class DrsBlob(db.Model, DrsMixin):
     location = db.Column(db.String(500), nullable=False)
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        logger = current_app.logger
+
         # If set, we are deduplicating with an existing file object
         object_to_copy: DrsBlob | None = kwargs.get("object_to_copy")
 
@@ -104,10 +106,12 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 self.size = os.path.getsize(p)
                 self.checksum = drs_file_checksum(location)
             except Exception as e:
-                current_app.logger.error(f"Encountered exception during DRS object creation: {e}")
+                logger.error(f"Encountered exception during DRS object creation: {e}")
                 # TODO: implement more specific exception handling
                 raise Exception("Well if the file is not saved... we can't do squat")
 
+            logger.info(f"Creating new DRS object: name={self.name}; size={self.size}; sha256={self.checksum}")
+
         for key_to_remove in ("location", "filename"):
             if key_to_remove in kwargs:
                 del kwargs[key_to_remove]
diff --git a/chord_drs/routes.py b/chord_drs/routes.py
index e223c44..a1be118 100644
--- a/chord_drs/routes.py
+++ b/chord_drs/routes.py
@@ -475,6 +475,7 @@ def object_ingest():
     try:
         filename: str | None = None  # no override, use path filename if path is specified instead of a file upload
         if file is not None:
+            logger.debug(f"ingest - recieved file object: {file}")
             file.save(t_obj_path)
             obj_path = t_obj_path
             filename = file.filename  # still may be none, in which case the temporary filename will be used