Senior Pictures

I met Katie and her sister Ashley when they were in 6th grade, the year our three community elementary schools merged into one middle school. I met them with braces, glasses, blemishes, unruly hair and ‘mom I don’t care’ awkward stares. I’ve watched them evolve into their own identities and into the confident, witty and beautiful people they are today. I look forward to hearing about all their college adventures and adult lives. Thanks Katie for finally getting in front of my camera :) These are just a few of my favorites!

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Katie was also photographed at Reeds Lake in Grand Rapids, MI. A popular place if you know where to go and at the right time! She was photographed on Fuji Pro400H film with a Contax 645 by Santa Barbara based portrait photographer Dena Robles.

East Grand Rapids Class of 2020 Portraits

June marks that time of year for me…time for senior portrait sessions. I made a trip back to Grand Rapids a few weeks ago because the Class of 2020 holds a special place in my heart. I’ve watched these students grow up in my neighborhood since 3rd grade, the year we first moved to Michigan. When the rain started pouring down a few minutes before this session we got creative and ducked into a coffee shop, utilized the stoops and overhangs of local buildings and brought out the bright dotty umbrella. Here is sweet Olivia!

I always encourage parents to jump into a photo or two during senior sessions, sometimes they are my favorite frames of the day. :)

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Olivia was photographed by California based lifestyle portrait and editorial photographer Dena Robles in Grand Rapids, MI using Kodak Portra 400 on Contax 645 and Canon 1v. If you are located in Central Coast California OR in Michigan and would like a session of your own, please email me at denarobles@gmail.com

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Love Letter to Michigan

Dear Michigan,

Thank you for the many blueberry fields and the vast apple orchards.  Thank you for treating us to glorious perfect summers and the crisp brilliant autumns and the winter wonderland.  Thank you for the summer rain and the fireflies that follow. Thank you Michigan for the unsalted sea and the sand dunes and the long hot afternoons resting on your banks.  Thank you for the beautiful sunsets shared with family and friends. Thank you Michigan for your beer enthusiasm, your growing food culture and for the coffee shops where many a rant was shared.  Thank you for the street fairs and the artist community. Thank you for the makers, the bakers and the markets.

Thank you dear Michigan portrait clients for appearing in front of my cameras over the years and for trusting me enough with your memories to return for more and more and more again. Dear Michigan, thank you especially for growing up with my children and parenting beside me. Thank you for the lifelong friendships and the smiling faces. You are all missed.

Love always, me.

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Hello to Santa Barbara, CA! We’ve been in town for about 5 months now and are happy to make our new home here in California. We are already in love with the palm trees, the salt water, the mountains, the food and the people. We can’t wait to explore and discover what is in store for us in this next chapter. I look forward to making memories with new west coast friends, and welcoming visitors from our Michigan years. I hope to see many of you in front of my cameras both here in Santa Barbara and again in Michigan dear friends. For the lovely East Grand Rapids class of 2020, I will be back in Grand Rapids for a week in June 2019 to conduct your senior portraits just like we planned way back in 4th grade! Can’t wait to see you again. xoxo.

Class of 2019 Senior Portraits

Hello High School Juniors!  Guess what? It's time to book your senior portraits.  As if you aren't already busy enough, summer sessions book up very very quickly.  My calendar is now open and I have an early bird special for Class of 2019 Portrait Sessions who book this spring.  Contact me at denarobles@gmail.com to get all the details and to secure your session spot.

You Look Lovely

I do love working with fellow artists, and collaborating with Eva to create her senior portraits was no exception.  She is a very gifted artist, on her way to a very bright future career in design.  Eva's mom is a successful textile artist and we centered this session in the Grand Rapids neighborhood surrounding her studio.  http://www.studioztextiles.com/

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Eva was photographed on Fuji Pro 400H with a Contax 645 and Canon 1v in Grand Rapids, Michigan, film processed and scanned by my partner IndiefilmLab

Welcome Class of 2018

Hello Class of 2018 and parents of Rising Seniors!  The best time to schedule your student's high school senior portraits is July and August!  Most school yearbook deadlines are the first week of October and we all know how incredibly busy the first month of school can be especially if you have an after school job or are in sports.  I am now booking the rest of July and the first week of August.  I will open up the rest of the August calendar as needed. Sessions are all created on-location.  I have several favorite spots and am open to your suggestions as well.

I have a few different session options to suit a variety of needs and budgets:

Signature Senior---$475 ($425 for sessions booked by August 8th)---this is a full length session with varied locations and wardrobe changes and includes yearbook photo and 10 digital files for personal printing

Short & Sweet Senior---$150---this is a mini session for those who would like to be sure to get the professional yearbook photo without any fuss.  Sessions are created at one location with one layered outfit and last about 30 minutes and includes yearbook photo and 2 digital files for personal printing

Additional files and printed products are always available for purchase with either session option.

Do you want to be photographed with your group of friends or your twin? I offer referral discounts and sibling specials.  Send me an email to find out more, ask your questions and get on the schedule!  denarobles@gmail.com

I hope to hear from you soon!  denarobles@gmail.com

Grand Rapids Senior Photography

Kaja and I were lucky to hit downtown Grand Rapids *juuuussst* before ArtPrize 8 turned our city into an art feeding frenzy.  She requested her senior portraits around downtown art murals and at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, so that's what we did, discovering some new spots along the way.  Isn't she lovely?!

Kaja was photographed by Dena Robles downtown Grand Rapids Michigan on Kodak Portra 400 with a Contax 645, processed and scanned by ProPhotoIrvine.

Michigan High School Senior Portraits

We have so much diverse landscape here in Grand Rapids, which is perfect for portrait photography.  I love that our city is small enough that we can quickly go from one location to another to seek out the colors, textures and light needed to enhance our sessions.  Here is a quick sneak peek of Rebecca's recent high school senior portrait session.

Rebecca was photographed on Fuji 400H film with a Contax 645 in Grand Rapids, MI.

East Grand Rapids High School Senior Portraits

It is hard to believe that summer is threatening to wind down with the start of the new school year just around the corner.  As I watch  my own son and his friends enter senior year at East Grand Rapids High School my heart beats an extra step to see how much these kids have grown and matured.  We have a deadline of October 7th to have senior portraits completed and turned in, which give us a deadline of September 18th to conduct your full Signature Session.  Head Shot Only and Mini Sessions have an extra week, ending September 30th.  If you haven't booked in with me yet, quickly send an email to denarobles@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

This is a sneak peek for Emma of our recent full Signature Session together here at Reed's Lake.  I can't wait to get her full gallery to her.  Don't ever let her tell you she isn't photogenic!  

Downtown Grand Rapids and the 3 Girls

These lovely ladies have been friends since 3rd grade.  In just over a month two of them will be starting high school together in Grand Rapids while the other moves across Michigan.  Sad face. These are the times that we feel so fortunate to have our relationships continue so easily with social media.  It doesn't hurt to have a few special outings and a fun photo session to help remember the best times!  This is downtown Grand Rapids on a chilly and windy early summer day, captured on Kodak Portra 400 film.  

Summer Portrait Session Calendar is Open!

With graduates, prom, and the beginning of high school senior portrait session my calendar has been filling up quicker than usual this spring!  I have decided  to open my June, July & August portrait booking calendar a bit early this year. Please email me for scheduling or any questions you may have!  denarobles@gmail.com