One of the best photographers in NYC. He is so passionate about what he does and it shows. The first time I came to him years ago I had professional photos taken for my real estate profile and I loved it. Recently, I went to him for my maternity shoot with my significant other for our bundle of joy. Ricardo and his team helped us to feel comfortable and we had fun doing it. His quick turn around makes us also want to come back for newborn photos. Book him like today ! You will not be disappointed. read more

Ricardo Andre Studios - Professional photo 1 - Session Photography Near Me - New York, New York

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This review is long but it is the truth. Please read as I would not want this experience to happen to anyone else. Do not. I repeat DO NOT WORK WITH THIS GUY. He is a scammer and a liar. I was super excited to do a boudoir shoot for my birthday, and since I had purchased it off of Groupon since September, I didn't want to let it expire so about 3 weeks ago I called Ricardo to set up an appointment. When I got to the building, I buzzed the apartment number, and then I opened the gate. The inside building door was open and I walked in. Out of nowhere this girl starts yelling at the top of the stairs saying, "why does someone keep buzzing for no f****ing reason?" and in my head I'm just like, "am I in the right place?" And she turns to me and asks if I'm here for Ricardo and I'm like yes. In my mind I'm thinking the makeup artist is someone he hired on payroll or something but as she's doing my makeup she tells me that she's Ricardo's daughter. Weird. Thankfully I brought my OWN foundation just in case because she tells me that she doesn't have my shade. Rule of thumb: as a professional makeup artist you should have EVERY SHADE. Another red flag. Not only that she sent her friend, sister, whoever to get lashes since that was another request from me (and it shouldn't be). After she did my makeup she asked how I'm paying and then she charged $75. I told her that I was told $50 when I spoke to Ricardo. I was furious. She did a good job but I personally know other professional makeup artists who wouldn't do that and still do a better Job. After the shoot he tells me to come back after I change and take a look at the photos. He tells me to rate the ones that I like 5 star but doesn't tell me that if I go back then all the photos I selected get removed and I have to start the WHOLE selection process again. As I'm going through the photos, he's on WhatsApp videochat with his family with children literally yelling in the background and just being extremely unprofessional. As I'm going through the photos, the last photos he took did not appear on screen and he's looking at me clueless like this never happened to him before and turns out it wasn't on his memory card. So I went to go change and do the last pose again. Then after selecting, Ricardo asked me, "Am I the best photographer you ever had?" And I tell him "no, but this is one of the cool shoots I've done". Then he asks which other photographers I've worked with, and as he goes through the photographer's profile he criticizes the photographer who has done superb work and says that their photos are "too retouched" and that he works with different agencies, blah blah blah. Bullshit. You don't criticize someone else's work just because your own work is subpar. What frustrates me was that after he redeemed the Groupon (which was $79) he said that to get the edited photos and the gallery it was going to be $500. $500?!? I told him I'm not paying that, then he said that he'll "throw in 10 edited photos" and that he'll only charge $200 (additional to the $79 since he said that price was only to book him which made no sense). Looking back I shouldn't have given him anything. Not even a dime. He preys on women's vulnerability and does things in the moment and does not keep his word. He also makes people rate him on the spot in front of him just so they can feel pressured and lie then takes their money. The unedited photos were nice but he doesn't give you the full online gallery as other professional photographers actually do. He gives you a Google drive link (via text, not email) to only the photos you selected. Just unprofessional all across the board. Update: The Groupon only said 2 professional photos (which isn't even fair either). Ricardo sent me the 10 edited photos (plus 2 that I didn't ask for and were not my favorites either.) He did a TERRIBLE, half-ass, lackluster job editing. I could've done a better job editing them. In one photo he edited my left hip but not the right hip and I'm like why was that edited at all. He then used some beauty skin retouching effect that made my lips and body smaller. That's not editing or retouching photos. He doesn't know what he's doing and I'm surprised why he's getting so many rave reviews about his work because it's trash. read more

Ricardo Andre Studios - Text thread of the photographer getting me confused with another client - Session Photography Near Me - New York, New York

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Buyer Beware! Especially women!! I will start by saying he does take half decent pictures. But the whole process is unprofessional, unsanitary, and slightly sleazy. People were in and out while I was half naked for my boudiar shoot. At one point I was left in an unclean bedroom while he photographed a couples maternity session. Then I was in my underwear getting photos taken while someone (there were 5 strangers total in and out) was in the same room making lunch. After our shoot and before looking at my pictures, he guided me to google and tried to force me to leave a five star review for him. The "makeup" included in the package was unsanitary and from one of the roommates personal (dirty) makeup bag. I still have not received my edited photos and he is longer responding to my messages. read more

The only place I go to for any family photos. He's done my boudoir, baby photos, Christmas cards and mommy and me! I always feel comfortable and Ricardo gets soooo many good shots in one quick session so my toddler doesn't get bored. She loves him! You're in good hands. read more

This guy is amazing, I must say. There were a few snags in communication, but Ricardo made up for it with his professionalism. I booked an appointment a month in advance with a Lifebooker deal. He was extremely accommodating with when I could do my shoot too. A day that I thought wouldn't work for him ending up being the best day for both him and I. Winning... I had this idea of how my shoot was going to go in my head. I was going more for cute & tight little dresses. Ricardo had other things in mind... Photos were from classy to racy. Dresses to little cutesy outfits to boudoir. It was perfect. And he picked out a few great outfits too! His makeup artist, Bianca is so nice & hilarious. She knows her makeup stuff. She was very accommodating when the first look she gave me didn't feel like me. She made me up again, more suited to my style & personality. The shoot with Ricardo was wow. That is the accurate word to use for this shoot experience. I can't even give proper adjectives to explain how amazing this shoot experience was. He is so unbelievably talented. He is your cheerleader throughout the entire photo shoot. Also, he coaches and critiques exceptionally well without making you feel like $#!+. And that is something only a select few people in this world can master. Poses I didn't think would work were ridiculously gorgeous. The shots were insane! I liked that he asked my why I wanted to do this shoot. I have him a vague, BS answer at first. He asked again, delving for details in a more refined manner. I finally cracked & gave him the true reason. And with that, that reason ignited an off-the-wall photo shoot. He even carefully selected songs for each theme during the shoot. My kind of guy ^_^ He showed me my photos throughout my shoot and I kept saying 'I don't know who that woman is in those photos...' He just laughed at me. I'm literally still blown away at how great my shoot was. I'm baffled that he is not more well-known. But then again I'm not well versed in the photography world. A deal worth far, far more than its value. Can't wait for the finished product. Will post update photos when they're available. read more

Loved it!!!! Great experince and great vibe all around!! I'm a shy person and they made me feel extremely confortable!

Myself and my Wife had a great experience at Ricardo Andre studios! It was a very relaxed ,yet professional atmosphere. We received a great many shots to choose from.Our biggest was choosing shots! There were so many, and all of great quality! Thanks Ricardo! read more

Simply the best. I had the pleasure of working with Ricardo twice. First at the harlem.location for my photo shoot and again for a friends 35th birthday party. Ricardo is a true artist. He helps you with posing for all those who are new to the camera. Photo finishes were amazing and top notch quality. I would hire Ricardo again and again! read more

This was the worse photoshoot experience I've ever had . This is not a studio , it's an apartment. Pictures came out horrible , non edited , bad backdrops , the backyard isn't nice at all . We had to go outside the building complex to take pictures on the next building stairs , very tacky . Ricardo was quick to take my money but none of the photos were ready for print , I had to go days without because he claimed he didn't have any WiFi ' very unprofessional' never again . read more

I am the owner of ModMara and I have shot multiple collections and looks with Ricardo. Very pleasant guy to work with! I rate Star because the Photographer and his staff/ glam team are very professional. Clean environment to work in and they are very creative. Weather you have your own ideas or not their creative input is there to assist you and the owner is well connected to lots of industry professionals like designers, makeup & hair. So all in one service. And I love the decor of the place! read more

To sum it up - absolutely horrendous experience! DO NOT believe all of the rave reviews you read here - if you take a closer look, many of these individuals have only written 1 or 2 reviews on Yelp! which leads me to believe they only came here for the sole purpose of writing the review which Ricardo himself pushed them to write (as he similarly did to me). I purchased a deal off LivingSocial for a boudoir session in March and arranged a date with Ricardo for a Saturday in April. I was extremely excited to do this shoot as I had never done anything like this before. After already having set a date a few weeks past, Ricardo reached out to me flat out telling me that he accepted a gig for a wedding in Cuba on the same date we had already booked. I was annoyed, but fine. I later learned on the day of my shoot that this was not true - the "wedding" was in Jamaica, which is a far cry from Cuba! I held my tongue. I arrived at Ricardo's studio on time for MY session, only to find another girl who had also apparently been booked for the same time, which I was never made aware of. I would expect to have been made aware of this prior or even for him to have asked if this was OK with me. Ricardo was all too quick to accept my money for a book and subsequently ask me for a good review. I did not receive my raw images until a week later after having first sent a follow-up email that was IGNORED and then a subsequent text message expressing the issues I had with the (lack of) professionalism. Fast forward to June 1st (my shoot was April 23) and I still had not received a single edited image OR the book that I paid $800 for. While I was pleased with the final product (which I finally received on June 14th), there is MUCH room for improvement in terms of client relations. If you are willing to wait months on end for the finished product, go ahead and book. Otherwise, find a better organized photographer with more professionalism in terms of treating his clients. I don't care how good your work is - if your turnaround is horrendous and you're lacking in professionalism when communicating with clients, you lose my business and future referrals. read more

I booked a Lifebooker for a Boudior photoshoot and make-up with Ricardo and it was a fantastic experience. I was a little wary about going all the way up to Harlem since I live in Brooklyn, and his assistant was accommodating and offered to come to my apartment. That actually made me feel much more at ease about traveling so far on a Saturday and I did end up going to their studio uptown - as it is appropriate for a photoshoot and mine is not!. Once I got there, any unease about using a Lifebooker for this kind of service faded quickly. His assistant and make-up artist were professional and did everything they could to make me comfortable. We pumped up music and drank some champagne - it was like a party with some girlfriends. Ricardo got there around the time my makeup was almost finished and I was impressed with him immediately. He is warm, personable and charismatic. I was so nervous to do this kind of photoshoot - I've always felt pretty unphotogenic. I just got married and this is my gift for my husband - but I was kind of skeptical that this would turn out the way I wanted it to. I told Ricardo that I wasn't really feeling the typical Boudoir thing, and was more into the American Apparel look, and we had a ton of fun playing with all of the options I brought to be photographed in. He was so happy to give me what I wanted - even using my wedding veil, and made me so comfortable that I surprised myself by some of the racier pictures I took. It's so rare and special that a photographer can make a regular girl feel like a gorgeous model in a span of a few hours, but Ricardo did it. I've seen a few of my photos so far and my reaction was 100% "OMG THAT"S ME? I LOOK SO HOT!!" Not for one second did I feel like I was getting bargain service nor was I treated like less than a client for purchasing a service for 90% less than it was worth. This is the first time I have ever purchased a discount deal (lifebooker, groupon, livingsocial, etc) where I felt GUILTY afterwards - like I stole something. I would recommend this experience with Ricardo to anyone, and cannot wait to see my web gallery to surprise my new husband!!! read more

Ricardo. Is. The. Best. Hands down - this was well worth the money and I would definitely do it again! Like a lot of others, I gave it a whirl through a deal on Lifebooker, a little hesitant since I'd never done anything like this before, but it was the best experience for which I could have asked. Expect to have music and champagne warm you up while you get your gorgeous make-up done by the incredible Takara Thompson (@BEAUTEEMONSTA)!!! Seriously, she made me look amazing - the before and after shots were wild! Ricardo came in, showed me some books he had done for others to get my head wrapped around poses, facial expressions, and most importantly the "bunny lip"!!! We got started as soon as make-up was done. I ended up not doing much to my hair as it's naturally wavy, but I'd suggest bringing your own curling iron or styling products you use personally to the shoot. Fortunately, I had a friend (former model) come and help me out during the shoot. She laid out my clothes and was my cheerleader for the day. Ricardo helped choose some of the clothes, suggesting what he thought would look best in the different shots. I used some of his suggestions and some of my own :) Ricardo worked with me, making sure I was comfortable, but also that my modeling skills were as refined as possible. You could definitely tell, as the shoot progressed, my poses got better and better. His assistant helped take a few shots as well as his daughter (a budding photographer in Paris). They would stop and show me the shots as we went along, but not too much time, because we had to get in all the wardrobe changes before the time was up (another person was scheduled after me). I think we ended up taking way longer than we should have, but Ricardo and the crew didn't seem to mind at all. We were all talking and hanging out at the end, as we choose which photos to get printed and do a little editing in Photoshop. Overall, Ricardo (and Takara) were incredible. I will definitely do this again and would suggest it to anybody, no matter how sexy you feel. Ricardo will make you feel sexier! The shots I chose were printed and mailed to me within two weeks and I couldn't be happier! What are you waiting for??!!?? Book your shoot NOW!!! read more

Working with Ricardo was an amazing experience. I decided to do a boudoir photo shoot partially for my boyfriend and partially for myself, and I've never felt more confident or sexy. The makeup artist / hair stylist (who's name I forgot, so sorry!) was absolutely phenomenal. She created an amazing look that I would have never chose for myself, but I absolutely loved it! I wish I could have her do my hair and makeup every day. When the photo shoot started I was definitely very nervous and very stiff, but Ricardo was great at making me feel comfortable and confident. By the end it felt like I was looking at photos of a different person, they were so good! I just did my photo shoot tonight, and I can't wait to see the end result! I would recommend every woman try out a boudoir photo shoot with Ricardo. I guarantee you'll feel fabulous afterwards. read more

My experience with Ricardo was flawless. His entire team was both professional and fun at the same time. They made me feel comfortable and confident from the very start. Whether this is your first boudoir shoot or your 100th, I would recommend Ricardo every time. Not only was the experience great, but the book I purchased is absolutely incredible! The day after I had my shoot, Ricardo sent me a Dropbox of all my images. We exchanged a few emails back and forth (he is extremely responsive), and I gave him a list of my favorite photos (almost all of them!). He then worked his magic and put together a beautiful hard cover book with my favorite photos as well as the photos he thought were great. The work he did on the photos is beautiful, creative, tasteful, and inventive. The book is amazing, a true work of art, and I am so glad that I chose Ricardo to make it all happen! read more

My wife and I had an amazing time with Ricardo for our maternity shoot. He captured a lot of great shots and made us feel extremely comfortable. When our baby is born we will definitely use him for our newborns photos. Thank you Ricardo for being professional! read more

Great experience. Ricardo and his assistant Remi are the consummate professionals who not only take pride in their work, but excel at it. The studio is safe, clean and easy to find. Felt 100% safe the entire time, from beginning to end. The evening got started with just Remi -- discussing looks, outfits, makeup and hair. She is amazing. I initially considered doing my own hair and makeup, but luckily changed my mind. We all think we know what looks best on us -- and many of us do, but if you're going into something like this for the first time (like I was), leave it to the pros. Things just look different on camera. I can't thank Remi enough for her creativity and talent. Ricardo came about an hour later, after I was much more relaxed, thanks to engaging conversation with Remi, playing with her adorable dog and the 2 mimosas. He is great at warming you up. Each look (or outfit/location change) was more comfortable than the next. If anything, I would recommend saving your favorite outfit for the end, because Ricardo is SO great at making you feel comfortable that the best photos will come at that point, when you're game for anything. I want to emphasize that I've never done this before, but never once did I feel at all uncomfortable. Awkward in the beginning, sure, but never uncomfortable. I actually did my shoot over a month ago, but waited to review so I could comment on the finished product as well. I initially purchased a Lifebooker coupon, but then wanted more photos than what the coupon offered, so Ricardo not only honored the 3 photos from the coupon, but also gave me a really good deal on the extra photos. And then some, because he takes so much pride in his work and is so damn good at it (and is an all-around nice guy). My book is beautiful. My husband loves it. The photos are tasteful and there's no crazy photo-shopping. His edits enhance what's already on the picture, completely free of your typical photo-shopping gimmicks. While this was my first shoot like this, I doubt it will be my last. Hopefully Ricardo will still available for next time :). read more

I read all of the reviews probably several times before my appointment to convince myself that this would be a good experience and I'd have a handful of decent pictures for my fiance. This is way outside of my comfort zone and I was really nervous about it but knew my fiance would appreciate it as a wedding gift. The whole day was amazing. Everyone was great and made me feel so confident. When I mentioned how nervous I was, Remi made me a mimosa and asked if I wanted more throughout the day. She felt like my best friend and biggest cheerleader during the shoot. When I arrived she looked through what I had brought, picked out a couple outfits she thought would photograph well and then styled them for me. My hair and makeup was great. I had bought a lifebooker package that didn't include hair so it was another $40 (cash). Remi helped me communicate with the the makeup artist (Takara) to make sure she understood what look we were going for. Ricardo was fantastic. Incredibly patient and helpful. Before we began, we went through a couple look books. I pointed to photos I was drawn to and from that he figured out what direction I wanted the shoot to go in. He walked me through each of the poses and movements and provided real time feedback. He was such a pleasure to work with and made me feel so comfortable, which I thought was not possible given my trepidation going in. I honestly cannot believe that it's me in those pictures. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Ricardo for anyone considering boudoir. It was such a fun experience and I'm amazed at the output. Ricardo has such a great team. I cannot give Ricardo enough stars! read more

Great guy. Our first time shooting together, he guided me to get wonderful confident shots. Can't wait to shoot with him again!

This photographer is a scammer. I should have known better when I looked him up and saw some shady reviews but I decided to give him a chance. I did my photo shoot with him in 2019. The photo shoot takes place in the living room of his apartment. During my photo shoot, he was shooting another two girls at the same time. It definitely wasn't a professional environment. I was sharing my appointment. The apartment was very busy with people coming and going during the photo shoot. After the shoot, he pulls up a website so that you can give him a good review after the shoot. Which I decided not to write. He sends the pictures with his watermark on them. He charged me $650 to get the gallery with my pictures without the watermark. At no point did he tell me, that the gallery had an expiration date and he would eventually delete it. When I reached out this year because I didn't see my gallery online, he gave me the run around. When pressed about it he called me to tell me that the gallery expired and was deleted. We went back and forth as I was telling him, that my other friends that did boudoir shoots with other photographers received a memory stick with their gallery on it, so they would have their pictures. He provided me with a link, that has an expiration date on it, unbeknownst to me. He yelled at me and told me he provided the service and doesn't owe me anything. Then proceeded to hang up the phone on me. He is rude and extremely unprofessional. There are too many talented photographers in New York City to give your money to him. read more

I had so much fun doing my boudoir shot with Ricardo. I walked in feeling nervous and walked out feeling confident and sexy as hell thanks to Ricardo. He was very helpful in setting up each look and instructing me on how to pull it off so it felt and looked natural. The end result being him capturing something In me I didn't know I had... My inner sexy beast I'm encouraging every woman who's ever thought about doing something like this to see Ricardo because he will exceeded you expectations. Also his assistant Remi was awesome!!! She rocked my makeup and was great at helping me relax when I first arrived. read more

I am just getting around to leaving a review from my shoot 4/24/14. I wanted to make sure I got to spread the word on how AMAZING Ricardo is! My boyfriend accompanied me on the boudoir shoot and I was happy to see how at home they made him feel. I was worried he'd be bored the whole time. Ricardo involved him throughout the shoot and wanted us to connect as he photographed. I have never done anything like this before, and I can be super shy, but it was amazing how I was walking around half naked and felt ok about it 0_0. Just goes to show how comfortable the whole shoot is and how good he makes you feel. I cannot say it enough, he is a true artist! I look forward to doing more shoots in the future. I would like to do a couple shoot so my boyfriend and I have some great shots. I'd easily give 10 stars! I cannot wait to see the web gallery and edits/prints! I'm like a little kid on Christmas. From what he showed me I was blown away...and I'm the type of girl who hates every pic taken of her. BOOK HIM. NO REGRETS. PS---EDIT----- CiCi did a beyond amazing job on hair and makeup....WOW she's great! I took her business card so I know who to call when I need makeup for a special event!! read more

This was an amazing experience! I've never done anything like this before and Ricardo and his team were very patient and supportive through the whole process. I started with Remi doing my hair and makeup, which turned out awesome - I am glad I let Remi just do her thing, because generally I am into a more natural look, but she said it wouldn't really pop in the photos. She definitely made me feel very comfortable - we discussed outfits and looks and she got me a drink and helped me relax and get in the mood! Ricardo came around later and we jumped right into it! It took a little bit to for me to get used to being in front of the camera, but Ricardo is a great coach and definitely has a vision for how he wants to see you and how he wants the pictures to come out. He knows what works - definitely trust him to do your shoot! After the shoot he and Remi were always very accessible by email if I had any questions about my pictures or book. Loved this experience and I would definitely recommend for anyone looking to do boudoir! read more

I had an awesome time with Ricardo and Geo. The pics were beautiful and the makeup was on point. At the end of the shoot, you have to pay for individual pics but they will work with you if the price tag is too much. Will for sure use them again. read more

I had an amazing experience with Ricardo and his team. I was initially nervous as I had little experience with photo shoots but they did a great job of making me feel comfortable and helping me to look my best. The final shots were beautiful, tasteful, and truly special. I even ended up ordering a book as I was so pleased with his work. I look forward to working with him in the future! Thank you! read more

This is an update to my prior review. 1 extra star - for the fact that Ricardo actually followed up with us and was very apologetic about the fact that we did not get what we were promised. 2 extra stars - apart from the fact that Ricardo made sure we got what we had originally been promised, he also edited a few additional pictures and more importantly sent us complimentary prints from some of the best shots from the shoot. Additionally, he also offered us a complimentary family shoot, which I thought was nice. read more

If I could leave a sixth star I would because I had such a wonderful experience today with Mr. Andre and his lovely assistant photographer, Luna. They were both warm and genuinely friendly from the start. I found this photographer on Amazon Local and after visiting the website and reading reviews I chose him over the competitors. I'm glad I did because even after I spaced out and neglected to check the expiration date, Mr. Andre agreed to shoot us. The coupon was for an hour and a half with 6 edited and retouched 8x10 photos, but what we got was a four hour shoot all over the studio, in his courtyard, and even Central Park. We brought four changes of clothes along with the outfits we wore at our wedding, but when we exhausted every combination he loaned my husband his own shirt to get the right look and we appreciate it. We captured some magical shots because he very clearly described his vision for the scene and without being offensive told us how to improve each shot. We really appreciated how when he saw us in our wedding outfits he took us to central park and we are more than pleased with all the results! Highly recommended! read more

I had an amazing experience with Ricardo yesterday. The studio was extremely easy to find; very conveniently located on a quiet block in Harlem. When I arrived, I set up and immediately started to get my makeup done by an extremely talented artist. This was my first time taking boudoir pictures so I was naturally nervous. My first two looks were dresses to ease into a comfortable manner in front of the camera. With the help of Ricardo's guidance, I was able to step out if my comfort zone and get some amazing pictures taken. I highly recommend Ricardo and his team. You will get the pictures you are looking for that will last forever. read more

I saw the offer on LivingSocial for the Boudoir photography session with Ricardo Andre. I read all of the amazing reviews and thought I would give it a shot never having done a photo shoot and especially a boudoir shoot but I wanted to commemorate a special birthday for myself. Booking with Ricardo was easy and he made me laugh which went a long ways to easing my nervousness. Getting to his studio could not have been easier. He offered to send someone to the subway to meet me and walk me to the studio if I felt uncomfortable which I thought was amazing. I didn't take him up on the offer having been in that neighborhood before - and I felt perfectly safe. The block he is located on is amazing! Ricardo was in the middle of a shoot for a professional model but he took a quick break to greet me and introduce me to his make-up artist Calista (forgive me if I spelled it wrong) and showed her a couple of pictures of how he wanted me to look. I loved what he picked out. Spot on! When we started shooting he helped me by giving me instructions that the best pictures are the ones where you are thinking of someone or something and not posing. He even stopped and showed me the difference in my photos. The guidance and encouragement he gives really helped me jump right into the shoot and I went farther than what I thought I could but was hoping I would. I wanted really beautiful, sexy photos and I got them. They definitely look like me but he made me feel gorgeous and sensual and it shows in the photos. I brought a lot of choices of things to wear and Ricardo helps you pick out the outfits and adds jewelry and even a big floppy hat! Love those photos! Halfway through the shoot he had Calista do a hairstyle change. The shoot must have lasted 3 hours. The only advice I would give is if it helps you bring your own music. Ricardo does have music playing during the shoot but I wish I would have brought my own - just for myself. I would definitely highly recommend you book a boudoir shoot with Ricardo - you will end up feeling sexy and special and it shows in the photos! Looking at the photos always gives me a huge boost to my confidence. I may come every year on my birthday! read more

Last month I gave my boyfriend one of the best gifts, I think, a guy could ever hope for from his girlfriend/ wife: professional, classy, beautiful boudoir pictures of myself. And while I initially signed up and stripped down for his benefit, it turns out that it was a really empowering, enlightening experience for me! To this day I still sneak away with the book whenever I need a pick-me-up or boost to remind myself of how hot and sexy I truly am! My quest for the best boudoir photographer in NYC began here, on Yelp. Ricardo's reviews by far blew everyone else out of the water, and it just took a few minutes scrolling through his website to see why. Every woman he's ever photographed looks HOT! And super sexy. And confident. And classy. One of the main reasons I ultimately went with Ricardo was because I'd seen boudoir pics from other photographers online and they looked pretty cheesy. I didn't want the girl-next-door or 1950s pin-up look (although he could likely do those, too); I wanted the sort of look that I'm sure my boyfriend fantasizes about (within reason! Again, I'm a classy lady). Ricardo absolutely delivered in capturing what I had in mind, even though I was definitely too shy and embarrassed to actually convey that on camera at first. No matter, though, because after a few drinks with Ricardo's awesome assistant Remy (check out my review on her crazy make-up skills, which deserve a shout-out in and of itself!) and his own excellent coaching skills, I was eventually totally eating it up and feeling like a professional super model by the end of the night. Whenever I would get stuck or lose "that look" or shrink away into my little bubble of insecurity, Ricardo was right there coaxing me back out. And when you're that vulnerable and on display and hyper aware of all of your little imperfections, it's great to have a coach treat you like the rock star you really are inside. Ricardo was funny, encouraging, positive, and gave great direction throughout the entire experience, and the book we had printed out really reflects how professional and awesome a photographer he is. I actually teared up when I first skimmed through the book before giving it to my bf. I was so beautiful! I had no idea I could be that hot, and it's this memory that I keep coming back to if ever I feel meh. He also managed to expedite the whole Photoshop/ printing process seeing as how I waited until the last minute to come up with this as a gift idea for the bf lol. And yes, the bf was super stoked about his gift and kept saying how much he'd have liked to show it off to his friends, although he knows he can't ;) So if you're thinking about doing a boudoir shoot for your bf/husband (or even just for yourself, honestly! What an ego boost!), I couldn't recommend Ricardo highly enough. What I thought was going to be a demoralizing and embarrassing evening actually ended up being one of the best things I've ever done for myself. =] read more

FLAWLESS. If you're the type of person who values quality precision and detail, especially when it comes to your own self-image, then Ricardo is your man. He is internationally experienced and has worked with numerous models, dancers, and fitness professionals. Ricardo and his team do exceptional work. That being said, I would consider it a disservice if he and his team were to rush through my photos in order to reach an "okay" finished product, just so they can move on to the next client. I know for a fact the pride Ricardo takes in his artwork, so he wouldn't release anything less than par by his standards. Quality takes time. And trust me, it's worth the wait. read more

I had an amazing time doing a boudoir shoot with Ricardo today. I've never had professional photos done before and I was a little nervous going in, but Ricardo and his wonderful assistant Luna made me feel so comfortable and at ease that my photos came out gorgeous and I had a blast doing them. Ricardo is an incredibly talented photographer and made me look like a rockstar in every shot. The studio is only a short 5 minute walk from the 2 and 3 trains, and is very easy to find. Although I only paid for an hour-long shoot off of Lifebooker, Ricardo and Luna spent literally the entire day with me shooting, and then reviewing the photos at the end to get my input on which ones I liked. Although I felt shy and awkward at first, he was patient and knew what to say to get me to open up and have fun with it. The hair and makeup girl also did an incredible job. I reviewed a lot of photographers from Groupon, and I am so glad I went with Ricardo because their quality of work just does not compare. The shots look sexy yet classy and elegant, and I ended up ordering a book because I was stunned at how great they came out. I am thrilled that I found Ricardo now because I will not hesitate to call him for engagement and wedding photos one day. I can't wait to recommend him to friends and show off my beautiful pictures! read more

I had an amazing shoot with Ricardo and wanted to wait to write up my review after seeing and commenting on the finished product. I would have rated Ricardo as 5 stars on the experience itself and after seeing the finished book I can also say that I am totally, completely sold on 5 stars for him on the final product. I found Ricardo through a Living Social deal and had an absolutely fantastic experience. I was equal parts excited and terrified about doing a boudoir shoot, and what got me over the hump was realizing I'm not getting younger and I'll want photos to look back on when I'm 80 that I can point to and say, yep, I DID look pretty rad. So here's what distinguished the experience with Ricardo for me: MAKEUP Let's start with makeup. You should definitely take this option. It's an extra hundred dollars, and after you see how it come out it photos, you will be so so pleased. Let them make you feel extra beautiful. I personally think you should come with an idea. They asked me if I wanted to look glam, super sexy, etc. and I didn't know which originally led to some confusing and backtracking on work. They were super super patient with me but make it easier on yourself and maybe come with a rough idea of how you want to look. COMFORT LEVEL AND COACHING This was a pretty nervewracking experience for me personally. Ricardo had a great, calming vibe and gave great tips on how to get into the right mindset. He doesn't 'pose' you but does explain how you should be thinking about it and will stop and give you more pointers along the way. By the second outfit, I felt like I was in my element, which I never thought I'd say about being half naked in a stranger's studio. Also, there is at least one or two female assistants around. They are all professionals and were 100% committed to making me feel comfortable, offering me my choice of music to get into the zone and telling me not to worry about anything thy were doing and just do my thing (They even offer you a glass of wine! Take it). THE PHOTOS I absolutely loved the artistry of Ricardo's portfolio both on Yelp and on his website. The stuff that comes out of the camera raw is pretty amazing, even without any editing/photoshop. I think that's a sign of real talent. He goes for angles that you will see at the end and think WOW. He will make you look beautiful and help your butt, breasts, whatever your insecurity is look great even WITHOUT a ton of photoshop. This was especially to me having seen my before and after shots; the quality of the shots is there even before editing. The editing is enhancement, not fixing mistakes during the shoot itself. His assistant shooter Melinda is also fantastic and I loved her shots as well. PROPS Ricardo and team have a pretty huge assortment of clothes, jewelry, and shoes to help supplement whatever you bring. They have an eye for what will look good on you. I had never bought lingerie and had no idea what would look good. I am still amazed how they would come in, look at what I had spread out, and pair it perfectly with the 50+ pieces of fashion jewelry they kept in the studio to jazz up the shots. Overall if you are considering a boudoir shoot, I would highly recommend Ricardo. I am a Type-A research nerd and looked at and contacted several other boudoir studios in the City. There's a reason Ricardo has such a positive and large presence on Yelp compared to others and I thought his packages were very high performance and value. Have fun!! read more

Ricardo is amazing! His work is flawless! He is a professional and great spirited guy. When I am back in New York, I will definitely book with him again! read more

I had a lovely time! Ricardo and his team were very professional and did a great job of helping me to feel at ease (I particularly liked the part where Ricardo gave me a tutorial on how to pose for the camera in a studio setting and insisted that I tell a story with my face and body--it's not something one thinks about much for everyday photos), and the makeup artist did a great job with both my hair and makeup. The photos themselves were also really amazingly good. Ricardo has a really great eye for color and composition, and he also was able, despite my incoherently stated aesthetic preferences, to really capture the kind of atmosphere and mood that I wanted represented in the photos. All in all, I'm extremely pleased with the results. read more

I had a wonderful time shooting with Ricardo. He has the ability to make sure you feel like the only person in the room, engaging and full of positive energy. It was a great decision to do the shoot with him and I will do it again. His cousin (forgot her name) and make-up artist Kevin Nivek are amazing :), I had a look totally unexpected and absolutely loved. They were the best and Ricardo's turnaround time for getting the pictures to me, surpassed my expectations. Wishing them continued success in their creative endeavors!!! read more

I found and chose Ricardo Andre through Lifebooker. My fiancé and I have been together for 7 years and I really wanted to surprise him with something totally hot and out of my comfort zone. Needless to say my bridesmaids delivered the final product to him right before our wedding ceremony and taped the reaction...priceless! I had the shoot done a week before my wedding and Ricardo jumped through hoops to make sure the photos were selected, edited, and my book printed and delivered before the wedding. Really goes to show he values customer service. When I arrived at the studio in Harlem, I was met by his make up artist who did an AMAZING job and even pumped up my hair for a glam look. She poured a glass of champagne for me and helped me feel more relaxed. She even stayed for the first hour of shooting and having her there helped distract me from looking directly at the camera. Ricardo really knows his mechanics, meaning lighting and angles and was able to provide some excellent direction to get the shoot moving the right way. This helps big time when you have zero modeling experience. I would definitely do it again and have even recommended Ricardo to some other bride's to be! Thanks Ricardo! read more

Ricardo exceeded my expectations when it came to doing a shoot like this. He is extremely detail-oriented but makes you feel completely comfortable at the same time. He's an expert at what he does. When I got my photos they looked like something out of an edgy magazine. He does art, not photographs, that will become keepsakes for you and your significant other. He really knows how to capture beauty in the most creative of ways. If you're working with Ricardo you're in more than good hands. read more

Let me start off by saying there really aren't enough positive things I can say about my boudoir shoot with Ricardo Andre! I am a new mom so I purchased a living social deal for a boudoir shoot to rekindle the romance between my husband and I, post baby. And while I had lost most of the baby weight, I am plus sized so as the date of the shoot approached I found myself becoming nervous about how I would look on camera. I had absolutely nothing to worry about - from the moment I entered the studio Ricardo and Kevin (check him out on Facebook at Kevin Nivek Kiadii LR), the make up artist, worked endlessly to make me feel comfortable and look my best. I gave Kevin and Ricardo complete creative freedom while on the shoot and I am so happy I did - they both encouraged looks that I would have never thought would look so good. Kevin and I chatted and drank wine while he worked on my make up and hair but there was no mirror in the room so I didn't see the look till he was finished. When he showed me I was completely blown away - I still looked like myself but all of a sudden it was the model version! My make up has never been so beautiful- including on my wedding day. And Ricardo took the base look and only improved upon it . I had brought a bunch of clothes with me but in my sleep-deprived new-mommy fog, I hadn't really thought about what I wanted to wear. Ricardo put outfits together for me, pulling both from my clothes as well as from accessories and staples he had on hand. Ironically the most racy outfit he picked out had me initially convinced I was going to look like a fat two-dollar hooker, but I had seen glimpses of how good I looked in some of the earlier outfits on his camera so I decided to trust him. So glad I did - the photo came out amazing! Not only did I look beautiful (and not fat), but the outfit only looked sultry (and not slutty) as I had feared and the photo was truly one of the best photos of the shoot! I ended up happily agreeing to get a book done of the photos - my husband saw a few of the sample photos Ricardo sent me by text and I can happily say the "spice" is back into our marriage. But I know I will continue to work with both Ricardo and Kevin for special occasions in my family's life. Ricardo took a few off-the-cuff shots of my 4-month-old daughter and husband before they left the studio after dropping me off at the shoot and the photos were so good that now my husband and I can't wait to do a family shoot (and I know I want to work with both Ricardo and Kevin for my husbands 40th birthday in a few years). But for now, if you are a woman looking for a photographer and makeup artist who will work endlessly to make you look a feel your best no matter your age, race, shape or size, look no further and run to Ricardo's studio! read more

Really great experience- had a lot of fun with something way out of my comfort zone. Remi and Ricardo are both fantastic at making you feel at home and as relaxed as possible. Pictures also turned out beautiful! If you're on the fence about doing it- you should just do it, and go with Ricardo, can't imagine anyone being better. read more