Portraits
When your family has a strong presence in just about everything in the community, what better place to capture the exuberant personalities than in your "own front yard" of Gas Light Village in East Grand Rapids, MI?! We may have stopped traffic a few times but we also found a few hidden corners amongst all the familiar landscapes. Here are a few favorites!
Kowalewskis were photographed at Gas Light Village in East Grand Rapids using a Contax 645 and Kodak Portra 400 film by Dena Robles
One of my favorite parts of being a family photographer is getting to watch all those little babies grow up over the years. I've been a working photographer here in Grand Rapids Michigan for just over 6 years now which means I have several families that I have photographed again and again and witnessed new family members join and little ones get bigger! This is Harrison, Then, Later and Now, along with his two little brothers.
These sweet boys were photographed last month in their home. The photographs were created using Kodak Portra 400 and Tri-x400 films on a Contax 645 and Canon Eos-1v and were processed and scanned by my partner lab ProPhotoIrvine.
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.
It certainly IS that time of year isn't it? High school senior portraits, back-to-school photos, and fall family mini sessions are keeping this little photographer happily busy! The film scans from Zach's recent downtown Grand Rapids session were filtering in to my inbox this morning and I quickly grabbed a few favorites and then a few more and then a few more to share. I can't express enough my love of shooting film for ... well, everything.
Zach was photographed downtown Grand Rapids on Kodak Portra 400 film using a Contax 645 and Canon Eos-1v, processed by my lovely partners at ProPhotoIrvine.
A quick call out to all West Michigan High School Seniors, if your yearbook deadline is early October, it still isn't too late to book your session with me. Even though I shoot film, I have some options to meet your deadline. Also, if you would like to do a quick yearbook-only session now send me an email ASAP to get on my calendar, I'd love to work with you. (e) denarobles @ gmail.com
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.
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!
Here is a gorgeous family with three energetic young men, all with distinct and individual personalities roaming the streets of Downtown Grand Rapids for photographs...the possibilities are endless with this combo! It is very hard to pick favorite photos to share here, these boys were pros.
Fall mini sessions are starting to book. This is the only time of the year for family mini sessions. Check your calendars for October 8th and 9th (and a reserve rain date of October 15th.) Watch the blog and facebook for more details or email me at denarobles@gmail.com to get on the schedule.
The Mitchells were photographed downtown grand Rapids, Michigan on Kodak Portra 400 with a Contax 645 and Canon Eos-1v, processed and scanned by the lovely pros at ProPhotoIrvine
I am trying really really hard to ignore all the 'Back-to-School' ads, catalogs, chatter, supply lists, and sales. I'm a devout lover of summer and want it to last forever. Unfortunately if we wait until school starts to shop for class supplies the shelves are empty and the shops are pushing halloween costumes. So, with the inevitable first day of school looming in just a few weeks I also start to think about school photos. That inevitable packet of one-pose awkward mugshot pictures. The ones that my mom still has hanging in the hallway of her home...highlighting the history of 70s and 80s hairstyles for your enjoyment. I was sorting through one of my storage boxes last week labeled 'kids' school stuff' and found TWENTY-EIGHT unopened envelopes of school photos spanning the formative years to date of my own children's schooling. Unopened, untouched. Why? Our school supply lists no longer have pee-chees or trapper keepers on them. They have Mac Books, wireless mouse, headphones, internet accounts, coding books. With all the advances in photography and the surge in availability and creativity of visual arts isn't it time to rethink the school photo too? I mean, why not? Wouldn't it make grandma's heart sing to have one of these personality-filled photographs instead of the awkward mugshot? Wouldn't it make our kids much happier to see themselves 20 years from now as they truly were during the school years?
ReThink the School Photo micro sessions -- $45 per child -- park location -- August 30th, September 8th or September 17th only. Email me at denarobles@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
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.
This little guy of mine turned 9 years old this week. I don't know if NINE feels much different than EIGHT for him, but for me it suddenly feels like a leap from being my baby. TEN just feels so much closer than it did a week ago. He is a deep thinker, an adventure lover, a sensitive friend, a complex student, and a constant companion. He spends a lot of his mental energy being conflicted while trying to figure out his exact place in the real world, and also being immersed in an imaginary world suited to whatever his latest obsession is. Right now, it is everything Dr. Who. A month ago he was Jeff Gordon and an absolute expert on every and any race car. Next month? I can only guess, I'm just along for the ride. I am happy we can have our coffee dates in the back corner of The Sparrows here in Grand Rapids. I learn a lot in the process about the nature of being Cameron. He uses his sketchbooks to simultaneously tell the stories in his imagination while also contemplating his heart. "I've been feeling the depressive coming" "I wonder when my maturity will come?" "I think my humor is coming back." So Cameron, I don't know of the places you will go at TEN, or NINETEEN or FORTY-SEVEN, but I call ShotGun along the way.
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
Winter and I are not the best of friends. Too much cold, grey, lack of sunshine, and outdoor activities I enjoy. However, I am thankful for the forced hibernation for a month or so and for the chance to slow down, reflect and hunker down into my craft a bit. I do imagine if I were living in a milder climate I would still find a way to do all this though, so snow and frigid temps are not necessary!
As always, I have a few photography projects brewing in the background of my commercial photo jobs. This year I am focusing on a weekly project I will unveil soon and also this monthly project: 10 on 10. On the 10th of the month I will release 10 film photographs on a theme. Simple as that really. The following photographs were actually created on Christmas day during our Puerto Rico vacation while my daughter and I shared a walk up the shore of Playa Flamenco. Enjoy!
Just as I was trying to dig myself out of busy season madness and prepping to immerse myself into a few family birthdays this week, anticipating holidays around the corner, and feeling so much UNrest and sadness around the globe...spending a few hours with this new little guy put my world right. Welcome baby Aidan. There is so much to see and you are very curious. May you always remain curious and safe and loved.
