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Simplicity is elegance

Posted on by Robi

Simplicity is elegance

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance” – Coco Chanel

It is not necessary to build scenes with non-existent skies, when a simple garden, some flowers and a correct light achieve beautiful photos, where the protagonist – the girl – takes centre stage.  

Age-appropriate makeup, a simple dress, pretty accessories, and the right lighting make for flawless, natural, shots that capture your true beauty and essence.

All our photoshoots include approximately 5 costume changes.  In addition to quinceanera dresses, classic “princess” style and spectacular and elegant evening dresses, we also recommend wearing simple dresses where beautiful accessories are placed to highlight the natural beauty that young girls have.

 Simplicity is the new trend in quinceañera sessions where the photographer’s skill is all about highlighting natural beauty. 

Simplicity is elegance

Only the best quinceanera dress will do

Posted on by Robi

Only the best quinceanera dress will do

Planning ahead based on your physique and location

At Robi Studio we think the selection of dresses for a photo session is very important and several factors must be taken into account:

  • Your physical build 
  • Your skin
  • Your hair colour 
  • The location selected for the photo session

This process requires meticulous planning, which is why before a new photoshoot we spend time with you in order to select the appropriate choice of clothing. 

For example, if your complexion is very light we do not recommend an ivory dress, since it would look all one tone.  The opposite is true, so if you have a dark complexion you can get away wearing light dresses.   But even the bright dresses need to be chosen keeping in mind other factors like hair and eye colour and of course, the background location since light and the surroundings will influence the correct choice.  For example, green dresses shouldn’t be chosen in a natural environment like a park, unless you wanted to camouflage of course!

Natural tips

If your photoshoot is in an enclosed space like a room, a formal dress would look very good even if of very elaborate style and with a long train. If, on the other hand, we are working with you in a tropical park, much simpler dresses should be used, with appropriate colours that stand out.

Another tip is that colours should not be repeated in a session, to ensure that the end result is a varied and lively album.

At Robi Studio we include approximately five wardrobe changes per session, from our great selection:

Quinceanera Evening dresses.  “Flowy” dresses “Urban” style clothing, Scenic costumes (vintage style, for example) and much more!

Only the best quinceanera dress will do

Getting to know your photographer or capturing your inner beauty

Posted on by Robi

Getting to know your photographer, or capturing your inner beauty

Creating a positive relationship

We passionately believe that there should be a positive relationship between the photographer and the subject.  With us, you will be dealing with the photographer from the moment you get into our studio and to the final selection of your photos.  This approach is what makes us different from other competitors when, quite often, you may not meet the photographer until the day booked for your photoshoot. 

For us, the art of getting to know you is just as important.  Our objective is not only to give you some lovely photographs but to make sure those images reflect the very best of your personality.  We can’t do this without getting to know your likes and dislikes and talking to you first, of course. 

Feeling good about yourself

The most successful photographers in the world make a point of establishing a relationship with their subjects.  We search for the best angle, the most appropriate light, the ideal environment for you, and so on. We also want to make sure you are feeling comfortable.  You need to look natural as there is nothing worse than a forced, stiff, pose.  We are around to direct you and make you feel natural, not to tell you what to do.

For example, one of the most important things is keeping you moving, making you feel relaxed to connect with you.  A successful photo shoot is almost like making a movie together; we direct and offer props. At the same time, you play up your role, and by so doing, you express your real personality, for long-lasting and natural images you’d always be proud of.

The alchemy between photographer and subject

The alchemy between the photographer and the subject must come out in the finished images.  At Robi’s Studio, we are with you all the way, capturing your interests and helping you select the best dress, accessories and hairstyle so that you will be delighted with the final results as well as the overall experience.

The Swankiest Quinceanera Venue

Posted on by Robi

The Swankiest Quinceanera Venue

Are you really looking for the swankiest quinceanera venue, the ultimate in opulence and elegance for that extra special photoshoot?  Look no further,  there is nothing like Villa Casuarina, the former Versace mansion, and now a world exclusive boutique hotel. 

The mansion dates back from the 30s and it was extensively renovated and refurbished by Gianni Versace, with the addition of super expensive touches like inlaid 24 carats gold tiles in the famous swimming pool, Versace (naturally!) fabrics, and priceless antiques.  It is the ultimate in opulence and a venue that will give your special day an additional edge.

The logistics of filming in Villa Casuarina are quite complex, especially as we have to be mindful not to interfere with guests staying at the hotel. If you intend to book this venue you will need to give us sufficient time and we will need to take extra time to plan the day with you and any of our suppliers – not a booking that can be made at the last minute and one that requires greater input than others, but with stunning end results.

The Swankiest Quinceanera Venue

Quinceanera photos in Covid19 times

Posted on by Robi

Quinceanera photos in Covid19 times

A list of Covid19 precautions we have in place for your safety.

Covid19 has inevitably created challenges and paradoxically has put restrictions on what should be one of the most relaxing experiences for a girl on the occasion of her big day, the opportunity to be free and express herself without many obstacles.  Sadly these are the times we live in, so we at Robi’s Studio have had to rise to the challenge, to make sure we continued to offer you an outstanding experience, but with all the precautions you would have expected us to have during the Covid19 pandemic. 

We thought you’d like to know what these precautions are and we have listed them here for you:

  1. We can only see you by making an appointment.  Unfortunately for your safety, we need to make sure we only have a set number of people in our studio.  We can’t afford the risk of having too many people at once, so we are obliged to ask you to come in at a set time – at least you can also be assured of our undivided attention!
  2. The use of masks is obligatory – for your own sake and that of our staff we ask you to be considerate and come to our studio wearing a face mask
  3. Hand sanitize as you walk in (we provide the hand sanitizer)
  4. We limit the number of people to 4 in total and during the photo session only 2 can accompany the girl
  5. We send you all the photos by email for you to pick a selection at leisure, rather than having to come to our studio, to avoid the risk of additional contact
  6. We thoroughly disinfect every area after each session, every time a client leaves the photo studio
  7. Whenever a dress is tried out these are steam disinfected to avoid the possibility of cross-contamination

We know this is a more formal approach than before and we hope these restrictions will not be for us for too long, but your welfare and that of our staff is our concern and I am sure you will help us, while we will continue to offer you the best service for your special day even during the Covid19 pandemic.

Robi and the team

Talking of quinceanera makeup

Posted on by Robi

Talking of quinceanera makeup!

A critical success factor

Today we are talking about Quinceanera makeup. Along with the wardrobe and accessories, makeup is a critical factor in a photoshoot.

A poorly executed makeup can ruin your look; for this, we give so much importance. Quinceanera makeup is an elegant makeup that should highlight all the unique beauty of a young woman in her 15 years. Ideally, the teenager should look natural, beautiful, and never overburdened, highlighting her innate beauty.

Using the right color palette

Keep in mind that for photo sessions, the Quinceanera makeup is not the same as you would use for a party since we are using lighting equipment. For this reason, we must be cautious, for example, not to apply excessive shine or eye shadows or loud colors.

Our experts use high-quality products that guarantee the results and durability of the makeup during the photoshoot, starting with an application of the correct base, an illuminator, and then the most suitable tones for your skin. The outline of your eyes is fundamental, and we only use all the latest techniques to give more amplitude to your eyes and your gaze. Finally, your lips as they are the protagonists of all makeup so that it accentuated perfectly with the style of the dress.

Match your accessories too

If you are going to use very bright accessories, it is also essential to ensure that there are no exaggerated highlights, so we will have to adjust the makeup with more matte effects, for example.

Remember that you want to be proud of your looks when you will see your photos again, and our experts will work with you to ensure the success and timelessness of your photos.

For our sessions, we use different wardrobe changes, so the idea is to use neutral colors and only the lipstick match the color of the clothes.

What’s included in our Quinceanera makeup package:

  • Basic makeup and hairstyle
  • Option to hire the makeup artist throughout for color changes, touch-ups, and different hairstyles matching the wardrobe in use

To close, always remember that you do not have to be “in disguise” but tremendously beautiful!

Talking of quinceanera makeup!
Subtle makeup works better for quinceaneras

Photo album tips

Posted on by Robi

Photo album tips

How do you pick the right photo album?

Picking the right photo album can be difficult, the choice is huge and so is the price range, from machine-made inexpensive books to the ultimate in hand made elegance, with materials to match. 

Tips

  1. Feel comfortable with your album – it’s what you will use to showcase your best memories so even its size matters.  Make sure you are happy with the finish; you may be a leather, or a fabric person, the choice is yours!
  2. Size matters – don’t just go for the largest one available especially if you have to travel with it, or even better, pick a large one to safely keep at home and a smaller one to take with you when you are visiting your friends or relatives.
  3. Don’t forget at some point you will want to store the album too, so make sure it fits your shelves!
  4. Pick a lay-flat album – this will allow you to achieve an amazing cinematographic experience,
  5. Make sure the internal seam is invisible, you don’t want a nasty seam to spoil your beautiful pictures.
  6. Don’t stinge on quality since a well-built album should be made to withstand the passing of time.

At Robi Studio we only offer you the best of European design.  Our extensive collection of photo albums comprises materials from genuine Italian leather, ideal for embossing or foil stamping, to luxurious fabrics such as silk in an amazing array of fashionable colors.  An elegant outside cover and luxurious linings complement the final look, to give you that wow factor that will make you proud to showcase your photographic collection at any time.  Some of our albums even come with e-displays too, we shall be delighted to showcase them to you, just book an appointment with us to discuss albums as well as perhaps our extensive range of dresses and other accessories!

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Outstanding photo albums
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Tiaras to make you feel like a princess!

Posted on by Robi

CROWNING GLORY!

…or the best tiaras to make you feel like a real princess!

Today we ask Robi all she knows about tiaras with some tips on how to pick the ones that will make you feel even more special on your special day.

But first a little bit of history.  Women have worn headbands for special occasions since ancient Greece. Initially, some of those headbands were very made of simple materials like headbands made of flowers and other leaves, becoming more elaborate in Roman times and used as a reflection of the wealth of the wearer.   The tradition continued in the upper classes during the middle ages with some very elaborate hairstyles in which the purity of the simple band got lost, turning into some kind of bejeweled helmets instead!  It wasn’t until Napoleonic times when tiaras, as we know them today, started to become fashionable. 

Of course to begin, tiaras were only accessible to the very wealthy as they were made of precious stones, keeping some of the most fashionable (and expensive) jewelers very busy.  But we are digressing now! At Robi’s Studio, you can have your tiara as part of the rest of your quinceanera outfit (with matching earrings and bracelets) from our extensive collection of 50 plus items.  You don’t have to buy a tiara with us as it comes as part of our package, but if you really like to own your own there are online stockists like The Quinceanera Mall for example, and many more.

Robi, do you match a tiara to your physique and face?

Absolutely! If you are petite and maybe have a slightly round face you will need to go for a tiara with some height in the middle. These are often called wishbone tiaras.  But I prefer to call it a classic tiara!  On the other hand, if you are tall and maybe have a more narrow face you shouldn’t go for something that may give you even more height, so something like a simpler yet still elegant headband would be more appropriate.

Tiara and face shape
Note how the tiara matches the shape of the face and hairstyle

Do you need to match a tiara for your hairstyle?

That goes without saying.  If you are going with a complicated hairstyle and have lots of hair we may advise you to go for a tiara which makes more of a statement. On the contrary, if you have thin hair and plan on a simple hairstyle then something smaller will look much nicer. The bottom line is that both the tiara and your hairstyle have to match perfectly. You also need to wear a tiara with the appropriate ties or mounts, to make you feel comfortable on your special day.

How about the dress?

Well, many of our dresses can be very elaborate and have beaded bodices for example, so your tiara should be a good match to that style or it may not go well together. For example we have tiaras with stones that match the color of your dress.  The tiara is an accessory so it has to be matched with your chosen outfit and that applies to bracelets and earrings too.

A final word of advice?

I’d say follow your instincts! You want a tiara that makes you feel like a princess so a perfectly coordinated choice of accessories will be the final crowning glory!

Above all at Robi’s Studio we aim to make sure everything is absolutely perfect, from your dress, to your hair and of course all those much-needed accessories, like a tiara which will be the crowning glory of your very special day!

Come and visit us in our new studio!

Posted on by Robi

Come and visit us in our new studio!

During our days of Covid19 isolation we looked back at our existing facilities and we decided to take the huge step of relocating from our commercial premises to a new custom photo studio unit.  After much thought, the usual searches and agonising decisions we identified the right studio in south Miami.  On Friday 15 the removal truck arrived and we finally moved to our new location – not an easy task with our full dress collection and mountains of photographic equipment!

Buzzing with creativity

We are now successfully settled in our new studio in 7160 SW 47 Street. There is a definite buzz of creativity in our new location.  The studio is encircled by boutiques, wedding and party planners, florists outlets and more – all extremely handy for your quinceanera party arrangements! 

New production facilities and parking

The new studio has also allowed us to expand our production facilities, with the latest cutting edge photographic technology yet maintaining our huge selection of dresses and accessories.  We have also created a new comfy Robi’s Espresso Cafe, which fres coffee that we lovingly make for every visitor and which we hope you will be able to share with us in your next visit.  Free WiFi is provided too to all of our guests, as well as ample parking space.

Full selection of dresses no matter the budget

Please don’t forget that because of Covid19 we can only receive by appointment, so just give us a call or drop us an email and we will make sure we can accommodate you in the shortest possible time.   We would also like to remind you that no matter how small or large your budget is you still have full access to our complete selection of dresses and accessories, to make your day truly super special!

My team and I are looking forward to welcoming you to our new studio!

Robi

New opening hours as follows:

Tuesday to Friday 10:30am to 6pm; Saturday 11am to 4pm – we are closed Sundays and Mondays

Quinceanera photos with animals?

Posted on by Robi

Quinceanera photos with animals?

Our lovely quinceaneras often ask us to provide photos with animals as this is something which has become very fashionable.

Your personal security is paramount

The first point a quinceanera needs to consider when working with animals is personal security.  Whatever animal you may have in mind for your photoshoot you need to feel safe and confident with it around. And this doesn’t just mean not being afraid of it, but really feeling good about it.  So if you like horses for instance don’t go for tigers or camels only because they may look more glamorous, but go for the animal you really like having around as it will enhance the experience and this will come out in the end of the results of your quinceanera photo shoot.

Animal perception

Remember that animals can be very perceptive of feelings.  If you are comfortable with them they respond positively. If you are afraid or uncomfortable or hyped up they are more likely to have unpredictable reactions and they could get nervous.  You need to be calm and – if appropriate – you need to let the animal come to you without paying them too much attention or getting over-excited.

Working in harmony

We only work with licensed specialists in the sector who follow all safety regulations and are trained to handle animals but a tiger, even if tamed and trained, remains a wild animal so you have to work calmly with us and trust our team not only for beautiful pictures but also your welfare.  All the animals we hire come very well-groomed of course but working with them may also take longer, as we need to capture those unique moments of perfect harmony between you and the chosen animal.

For your quinceanera photoshoot, we can provide horses, camels, tigers, lions, snakes, wolves, eagles, parrots, alligators, owls, and virtually anything which is available through fully registered handlers. 

Pick the right quinceanera dress

Finally, specific dresses are very important in this type of photo session. You need to select clothes of appropriate colors so you are prominent, photos with animals just becoming a prop and not the other way around!  The focus of attention needs to be you – as it is your day and we are not shooting a wildlife documentary. 

If you are interested in having an animal in your photo session you need to speak to us and will help you out with the selection of the right animal and the appropriate quinceanera dress, to ensure spectacular end results.

Quinceanera photos with animals?