Personal Portrait Session

Stephanie contacted me a few months ago inquiring about a professional head shot photography session. As we conversed a bit about location, wardrobe, lighting and style preferences I realized this was going to be more than just a photography session for work and a LinkedIn bio pic. She shared that she hasn’t really every had a photography session just for herself and wanted to celebrate and document this time in her life. I usually enter into a portrait session as a collaboration and am more than thrilled when a client is ready to do the same. We met up at the Californian Hotel in Santa Barbara late in the day on a hot Sunday afternoon this summer. We walked to different areas in the Funk Zone and the resulting photographs are the product of our collaboration.

* * * * * * * * * * * If you are interested in a personal portrait session I am booking on the weekends through the end of 2024 in Santa Barbara County. You can start the conversation about your individualized photography session through my contact page in the menu or by email denarobles@gmail.com * * * * * * * * * * *

High School Senior & Grad Photos in Santa Barbara

Hey hey hey class of 2025! It’s that time of year again and you’ve probably had your standard yearbook photograph taken. The one where everyone looks the same with just the same lighting and 3/4 turn to the camera. Great.

Let’s talk about capturing the REAL photographs of the REAL you documenting this huge milestone in your life. Chances are, this will be the last professional photograph you will have taken for years, until you get your post university professional head shot or perhaps your wedding photos…

A photography session with me is a simple collaboration between you and I. You choose the locations, the look and the length of session and I will work to put you at ease and make it a fun, painless experience. Come as you are and I will document exactly who you are at this stage of life. No boring fake suit and tie or black ‘dress.’

Sessions range from $150 for a mini session to $350 for full session with set of 20 edited full res digital files. Send me an email to set up your individualized photo session denarobles@gmail.com or inquire through my Contact link.

Newborn Photography in Santa Barbara

Meet baby Finn with his rock star mom and new big brother Sebastian. We decided to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather here in Santa Barbara as well as all the gorgeous California sunshine and landscape. Finn was photographed on the grounds of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. Finn agreed it was a wonderful place with so much to see…as per usual, normally sleepy babies like to be wide awake during my sessions to take in all the world around them.

Santa Barbara Pregnancy Photos

Clara and I arranged our schedules at the last minute to squeeze in a maternity photo session just before the arrival of her second child. With a 14 year age difference between her first and second babies, this was a very important moment for both her and her teen son. This is an amazing experience for both of them and I was thrilled to help them record it.

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Clara and Sebastian were photographed at Ellwood Bluffs in Goleta California by Dena Robles. The photographs were captured with Contax 645 on Portra 400 and Hp5 films, processed and scanned by IndieFilmLab.

High School Graduate Photos

Over the years of photographing high school seniors I’ve had so many students and families realize the importance of documenting this ‘growing up’ milestone. Somewhere around age 12 kids and parents don’t often interact with each other in photographs. Annual family sessions don’t keep happening annually, and all the ‘memorable moments’ seem to happen separately from each other, and thus, the family camera is not pulled out as much. Granted, teens are taking their own selfies with filters and posing with friends…parents are still trying to grab a shot now and then but are often greeted with hands covering faces or silly expressions, pulled faces or my favorite ‘the death stare.’ A high school senior portrait session is much more than a yearbook photo. It is a culmination of a forming identity and a display of newfound maturity. It is often the last ‘formal’ photograph created until wedding photos or corporate head shots. I’ve had many students return to me to purchase photos from our senior session for graduation announcements, college applications, press releases for awards earned, publications in college etc etc. It’s more than a yearbook photo, it deserves more than an iPhone snap or mall kiosk, or even a photo from Dad’s big-camera-with-the-lens-that-changes-and-everything. Even at 17 or 18 years of age, teens are still more receptive to working with a professional. And at 17 or 18 years of age, parents belong IN the picture with their youth, not behind the camera. Next time it happens could be in wedding photographs. yikes.

Here are a few favorites from my recent session with Josh. I was delighted to have his mom jump in for a few photos!

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Josh was photographed at Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids Michigan by Santa Barbara based senior photographer Dena Robles. His session was shot on Kodak Portra 400 film with Contax 645. Senior sessions are still being offered in both West Michigan and Southern California. Please email dena @ denarobles@gmail.com to book your session