Dena has a way of putting people at ease and establishing a rapport, which results in photographs that look natural, never posed or stiff.
Suneeta R.
Dena has an artist's eye, exceptional care and wonderful demeanor. She sets you at ease and helps capture the person and the moment.
Services
Rafte Photography specializes in helping you see the best you. We strive to make you feel empowered while being photographed. From headshots to family photography, generational stories, such as Mother-Daughter photo shoots, personal branding, senior photos, and female photography, we focus on telling your story.
We can provide Wall Art and a variety of luxurious albums.
Headshots
Personal Branding
Family Photography
Female Photography
Senior Photography
A Luxury Experience
Woman 50+
…it’s important to keep memories for yourself, and to keep memories for your family and for the family that’s yet to come…
…I think it’s valuable that you see yourself in a different environment… and that your family sees that, and sees that you are beautiful and confident and you’re a gift to the world in so many ways…
Seniors Experience
...getting my makeup done was amazing because I am not an only child so it was like only child treatment...and she did my make up very beautiful obviously...
Izzy Proler
High School Senior
Mother-Daughter
…Katy and Luba created something that is frankly irreplaceable. They were willing to make themselves vulnerable in front of the camera. I thought they looked fantastic but what I’m most grateful for is their openness and their willing to play…
…they’re willing to show the love that they had for each other and the other members of their family and I think they’re going to treasure these pictures in years to come…
Dena Rafte
…it’s important to keep memories for yourself, and to keep memories for your family and for the family that’s yet to come…
…I think it’s valuable that you see yourself in a different environment… and that your family sees that, and sees that you are beautiful and confident and you’re a gift to the world in so many ways…
…getting my makeup done was amazing because I am not an only child so it was like only child treatment…
…and she did my make up very beautiful obviously…
Izzy Proler High School Senior…Katy and Luba created something that is frankly irreplaceable. They were willing to make themselves vulnerable in front of the camera. I thought they looked fantastic but what I’m most grateful for is their openness and their willing to play…
…they’re willing to show the love that they had for each other and the other members of their family and I think they’re going to treasure these pictures in years to come…
Dena RafteSee Yourself in the Best Light
For you, for family, for memories that last a lifetime.
What to expect
Your experience begins with a complimentary consultation by phone to:
- Discuss my philosophy and make sure I’m a good fit.
- Learn what your goals are for the shoot.
- Discuss pricing options for your investment and how I can help.
Then, if you want to book, we will schedule an in-person full planning session.
Once you decide to move forward, we will meet to plan your shoot experience and cover all the bases. Whether you’re marking a career change, entering a new branding venture, or treating yourself to a goddess-like experience to build your confidence, I’ll work with you to create a roadmap toward your goals.
We’ll discuss setting, wardrobe (& you will have full access to my studio wardrobe), hair, and makeup to make sure you look and feel your best. We’ll handle the setup for the day of the shoot in advance.
On the day of your shoot, a hair and makeup team, along with your outfit choices, will be ready and waiting for your arrival. The minute you walk into the studio, you will be entering a fun and relaxed environment completely focused on pampering you so you can flourish.
Arrive for your experience, RELAX and ENJOY! We’ll have snacks, champagne, and plenty of encouragement to make sure you’re ready for your transformation and moment in the spotlight. You can be sure I’ll be your number one cheerleader from start to finish!
While I’ll be giving you directives and feedback throughout, my objective is to help you feel as comfortable, confident, and beautiful as possible so that we capture your most authentic self.
After the shoot, we’ll schedule a time to review your images for an initial reveal. You will be able to see your beautiful portraits and witness that experience and positive feeling reflected back to you.
This is your chance to pick out your favorites for prints, wall art, and more. When your images arrive, your order will be delivered to you for total enjoyment. And, you will see the end result of the experience – you as art.
We will personally deliver your portraits and install the items you’ve ordered for your home or office.
The initial consultation
Your experience begins with a complimentary consultation by phone to:- Discuss my philosophy and make sure I’m a good fit.
- Learn what your goals are for the shoot.
- Discuss pricing options for your investment and how I can help.
Planning for the shoot
Once you decide to move forward, we will meet to plan your shoot experience and cover all the bases. Whether you’re marking a career change, entering a new branding venture, or treating yourself to a goddess-like experience to build your confidence, I’ll work with you to create a roadmap toward your goals.We’ll discuss setting, wardrobe (& you will have full access to my studio wardrobe), hair, and makeup to make sure you look and feel your best. We’ll handle the setup for the day of the shoot in advance.
Getting ready for the shoot
On the day of your shoot, a hair and makeup team, along with your outfit choices, will be ready and waiting for your arrival. The minute you walk into the studio, you will be entering a fun and relaxed environment completely focused on pampering you so you can flourish.
The day of shoot
Arrive for your experience, RELAX and ENJOY! We’ll have snacks, champagne, and plenty of encouragement to make sure you’re ready for your transformation and moment in the spotlight. You can be sure I’ll be your number one cheerleader from start to finish!While I’ll be giving you directives and feedback throughout, my objective is to help you feel as comfortable, confident, and beautiful as possible so that we capture your most authentic self.
The reveal
After the shoot, we’ll schedule a time to review your images for an initial reveal. You will be able to see your beautiful portraits and witness that experience and positive feeling reflected back to you.This is your chance to pick out your favorites for prints, wall art, and more. When your images arrive, your order will be delivered to you for total enjoyment. And, you will see the end result of the experience – you as art.
You as art
We will personally deliver your portraits and install the items you’ve ordered for your home or office.We can provide Wall Art and a variety of luxurious albums.
Recent Projects
Enjoy my portfolio below, I have a selection of all types of photography, and you can filter to see personal projects.
If you want to see photos in a specific style, check out our Portfolio pages. Click here to see Portfolio.
Testimonials
Dena Rafte has captured our family in photos for years
Whether working with a particular family member, or all of us at once, she makes everyone feel comfortable. She brings out the personalities of each individual she is photographing. The images she produces always show everyone looking relaxed and at their best. We are lucky we found her and have such a lovely record of our children as they have grown. Dena has photographed our most important family gatherings as well - 50th anniversary celebration, 80th birthday party. We remember these events fondly and will forever treasure the photographs.
Dena has taken so many great family photos for us
The ones that truly stand out for me are those with my father. There is one particular picture of my dad and me. It’s simple and beautiful, and each time I look at it, I feel the love we have for each other.
Dena Rafte…best photography ever!
Dena has done an incredible job for our holiday family photos, our daughter’s portraits and photos for my husband’s judicial campaign. But when it came to my personal photo session as a Christmas gift for my husband, I was a little nervous. Within a few minutes, I was having a blast! I felt relaxed, confident, strong and a bit sexy! She thinks out of the box and has an incredible way of bringing out the best in her clients! Dena doesn’t just take photos, she creates memories.
I thought to myself, "hey, not bad for 62, in fact pretty damn good for 62"
I hate having my picture taken. I am usually the one taking pictures of the family so that I don't have to be in them! To say that the session with Dena was transformational may be a bit dramatic, however I will say that it was incredibly fun and I really did feel good about the end result. As I looked through the photos, with the many wardrobe changes, I thought to myself, "hey, not bad for 62, in fact pretty damn good for 62". I treasure the photos Dena took of me. They make me feel beautiful and sexy . Bonus - my husband loves them too!
My photography session was like a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis
My 50th!! Half a century and so much to document? Wear and Tear? Through Dena’s coaching I jumped right into one of my most memorable experiences. My photography session was like a butterfly coming out of a chrysalis. Despite apprehension of my critical eye, I found it to be fun, liberating, empowering of my femaleness and time in life. I loved it and loved what I saw. Dena truly captured who I was beyond the make-up and dresses. She bottled some of my essence and that was the best 50th birthday gift. Thank you!!
Dena has memorialized so many important moments in our lives
I think the first photo that I ever received from Dena was one of my son in preschool. Last year, she took senior photos of my daughter and my son’s business headshot. From birthdays to graduations, she has memorialized so many important moments in our lives. I am so grateful to have these pictures not only to reflect back but to look forward to sharing these with the generations to come. They are truly part of our family’s history.
Dena thrives on the challenge and our family photos are a testament to her enthusiasm for the project
Family photographs are challenging. The photographer faces a range of ages and is charged with capturing the smiles of not just one, but often many individuals. Dena thrives on the challenge and our family photos are a testament to her enthusiasm for the project. We will treasure the moment in time she preserved for us and look forward to working with her again in years to come.
Dena is a fantastic photographer!
Dena is a fantastic photographer, not only because she has a great eye, but also because she has the ability to put her subjects at ease and elicit natural expressions. She is particularly good at working with teenagers and people who feel a little awkward posing for a camera. Dena has made our family photos for years, including our dog and has suggested super interesting locations. Dena has also made headshots in her studio for my husband and son for business and LinkedIn profiles. Having a good headshot is so important and Dena does an excellent job, particularly with touch-up work. Dena is a perfectionist and you can see it in her work.
Each photo helps remind me of little things…things about my kids that I can savor forever
What I love about Dena’s photographs of my children are that she captures a moment, an age, a feeling, an emotion…a part of life that’s gone forever and impossible to reproduce in real life again. Each photo helps remind me of little things…things about my kids that I can savor forever.
Contact me
If you have questions, please fill out the form below. You can also visit our FAQ, which is updated on an ongoing basis. Visit FAQ.