Motherhood Project Models Needed

I have an upcoming photography project which requires a few fresh faces and test session models.  The theme is Celebrating Motherhood and my desire is to get the moms out there in front of the camera and to celebrate your relationships with your child(ren).

Here are the details:

• Available dates are February 24th and 25th or March 3rd
• This will be a black and white film session in your home
• This is open to any age mother and child(ren)
• There is no cost to the participants
• A fine art gift print will be provided to each mother
• A signed model release will be required for use in promotion and class discussion

Please inquire by email to denarobles@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to be involved on the dates listed above.

Snow Sessions

I am still going strong and my camera is still clicking away, even in December and even in the snow.  For the past (too many to count) years I've always closed my portrait season in early November for a few months to throw myself into the holidays and to wait for the nicer weather.  We have made the decision to pare down our holiday spending and celebrations to minimalistic proportions, and also now have a college student returning home for the holidays...and so do many of you.  And waiting for the nicer weather??  It is Michigan, we could be waiting for 6 months or more!  Enter winter portraits, enter snow sessions.  Enter you and the people you love gathering-no matter the weather. 

Fall and Winter Portraits

No warm sun? No problem!  It seems like it is winter for 6 months out of the year here in Grand Rapids Michigan, right?  So why not embrace the winter landscape, the chill, the snow(!) the wooly sweaters, scarves, knit caps & blankets and maybe even a bonfire. Come get cozy with your family in Michigan's 'other' season with a winter photo session.  Upcoming available dates are December 2nd and 3rd, December 9th, 16th and the 23rd!  For the first time ever, I may even have a few limited sessions available for you and your gathering family on December 24th.  You bring your winter style and I'll bring the hot cocoa! (e)denarobles@gmail.com to get the details and to book your session.

Fall Family Mini Sessions 2017

We were so lucky to have extended summer weather this year and beautiful summer color and late evening light to go with it!  This adorable family session definitely took advantage of that golden evening summer light, photographed on film in East Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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Family mini sessions are booking on Saturdays and select Sundays through November.  Bring on the cozy sweaters, the woolen hats and knitted blankets and the thermos of cocoa, I love working with you outdoors in every season!  (e) denarobles@gmail.com to select a session date.

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

Grand Rapids Newborn Photography

Sigh.  I love my job.  I love the bitty babies, the growing babies and the big 'babies' too.  Keep bringing those babies to me Michigan.

East Grand Rapids Senior Portraits

The more time I spend photographing and chatting with the graduating class of 2018 the more assured I am of a really strong, productive and professional  future for our country.  Thank you parents, teachers and community for instilling so much faith and respect in our youth.  Here is Ben, from East Grand Rapids High School with a really bright life awaiting him.  Best wishes in everything you pursue!

Fall Mini Sessions on Demand

Whew, we made it through labor day and the first day of school!  Now hold on, we are about to propel full force forward into fall and holiday season.  NOW is the time to book your family photo sessions for holiday cards and gift giving.  The good news...this year I am doing mini sessions on demand, which means you no longer have to try to fit into a weekend mini session limited event.  I get it, your schedule.  My schedule. This year, let ME try to fit into your week.  Bookings start today.  Drop me a line at denarobles@gmail.com to get on the calendar.  New this year, if you and a friend book for the same date I have a gorgeous gift for both of you!

East Grand Rapids Family Photography

As my family grows, grows up,  and moves forward in life I am ever more grateful for all the years and years of photographs I have created.  We have our own quirky traditions that have been carried on in specific annual photographs which mark their growing bodies and different stages in their lives and as a family.  I cannot stress enough the importance of not only recording your children, but also as parents, getting in the photographs yourselves!   The time really does pass quickly and every day is precious. This East Grand Rapids family is entering several big milestones with one son prepping for college and the other two finishing their last year of elementary school. This is going to be a momentous year for them and I was so happy to be there to document this time.

Forest Hills Central Class 0f 2018

It is that busy time of year for all of us.  We are winding down the summer bliss and gearing up for the new school year and the upcoming holiday frenzy.  I do about 90% of my portrait shooting in 2 months of the year...which is right now!  Here is a small showcase of one of my early planners (love those) for high school senior portraits.  This is Ryan, Forest Hills Central rising senior.

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If you haven't booked your Senior Photo session yet, don't panic, there is still time!  I will always do whatever I can to fit you guys in.  As a parent of a recent graduate, I know what a tremendous milestone this is for families.  I also know how many times over the course of senior year a professional head shot is requested for different publications and high school graduation activities.  Parents, think about this for a second...your child's next professional photo opportunity could be at their wedding.  gasp!  Do this now.  You'll thank me later.  Then the wedding photo can wait for years and years.  :)   drop me a note, denarobles@gmail.com

Learn to Shoot Portraits

Parents! Grandparents! Nannies!  This fall learn to photograph your favorite kids, in all their glorious silliness.

This fall's session of Coffee & Cameras is learning to shoot portraits of your kids and create artwork like this.  The 3 part class will start at learning to work that fancy-camera-with-all-the buttons-and-the-lens-that-changes, aka DSLR, with the optimal settings for portraits. Next we learn how to set up a simple shooting space and how to engage your subject.  This session is what I call the 15 Minutes of Fame!  We finish the class off with learning to cull and edit your photographs and assemble and print a storyboard collage for your home.  No experience necessary, camera and cute kids are.

DATES:  

Wednesday mornings, 10:00-11:30 -- October 11, 18, 25

or

Sunday afternoons, 3:30-5:00 --October 15, 22, 29.

All the Info:

• Classes are limited to 4 adults, your kids will model for you at home
• Classes are 1.5 hours long for 3 weekly meetings
• Your choice of Weekday mornings or Sunday afternoons beginning October, times & dates as follows: Wednesday mornings, 10:00-11:30 October 11, 18, 25 or  Sunday afternoons, 3:30-5:00 October 15, 22, 29.
• Tuition is $150 + printing

FAQ

What kind of camera will I need?  A DSLR is best suited for this class and for the designed instruction.  There are some great hybrid cameras on the market now which are small and easy like a 'point and shoot' but still allow you to change all your exposure settings for optimal portrait performance.  I am happy to advise you on your camera choice.

I have a good camera and am interested in learning to use it for portraits, but have no idea what all these buttons and dials are for, is this class right for me?  In a word, yes!  In more words, this is a project based class specific to shooting fun portraits of your child in a simple set up and in controlled lighting (don't worry, these examples are all window light!)  Since we are focusing on one outcome here, all the skills needed for this will be learned along the way. Later Coffee & Cameras classes could cover the camera skills needed for sports photography, storytelling lifestyle photos, creating artwork for the home, etc.

Are there any hidden expenses?  Well.  Sometimes I have to bribe my kids to allow me to photograph them.  If you learn this and have fun with it you might find yourself wanting to spend meeeellions of dollars on new cameras and lenses, but I don't recommend it!  For the class, I will make recommendations on where to print your final artwork, and the cost incurred will depend on the size you choose to print (around $3-$30)  The set up here is super simple, if you don't have a blank wall in your home next to a window, you may want to hang a sheet, or purchase a large piece of foam core (about $5.)

Am I limited to this black and white look? Nope.  This is what I will be teaching for this class, but you can make adjustments to suit your style.  Here are some examples from previous 15 Minutes of Fame sessions.

Interested? Have questions?  send me an email, denarobles@gmail.com

Summer Wildflower Sessions in East Grand Rapids

Hello West Michigan (and I am looking at you right now Grand Rapids and EGR!!)  One of my favorite outdoor locations for shooting summer wildflower sessions is peaking right now, a month early.  If you haven't grabbed your High School Senior appointment or annual Family Photograph, let's do it now before the flowers die and the city mows it all down.  Send me an email at denarobles@gmail.com to get on the schedule.

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

EGRHS Class of 2017

This is a big year in my home and a big year for us in our community.  When my son is a senior and graduates, it feels like half the town is graduating...I've watched these kids grow up together since we moved here in 6th grade!  I've watched you in band concerts, football games, school trips, service projects, team dinners, regattas, school plays, driver's ed, Winter Whirl and Prom, in the hallways and hanging out in the village.  Congratulations to all the families in our graduating Class of 2017!  

Here is Kaja, whose parents wanted to commemorate this milestone in their family with cap & gown photographs.  I am booking more sessions this weekend if you want to do the same.  Quick and simple, promise.   (e) denarobles@gmail.com

Family Photos in Gas Light Village

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!   

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Kowalewskis were photographed at Gas Light Village in East Grand Rapids using a Contax 645 and Kodak Portra 400 film by Dena Robles

Then, Later and Now

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.

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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.

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.

EGRHS Class of 2017

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

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!