Matilda Love
A campy Galentine’s experience
By Cynthia Reeves / Photos by Kate Treick Photography
Like the feisty and powerful children’s book character, Matilda, the retro mobile photo booth, owned and operated by Robin Day Silver, has a beautiful yet heartbreaking story of courage and hope behind it.
Three years ago, after battling breast cancer and five painful surgeries, Silver had an opportunity to purchase a classic 1954 Shasta travel trailer. It was part of a dream business idea. Silver wanted to combine her love of events, props, costuming and sisterhood to create a memorable experience for women and families.
She loves seeing women come out of their shells — having fun and being silly.
“I think this reminds people like, hey, this feels good. We need to feel this way, you know? We need to bring this joy out into our everyday life too, even when things are hard, you always have to find joy.”
The glamper, lovingly named “Matlida Love,” is available for weddings, birthdays, bachelorette parties, special events, pop-ups and holidays. She’s “guaranteed to be the center of fun!” She is beautiful inside and out.
Pricing varies, as opportunities with the nostalgic camper are limitless. For example, Matilda can be set up for $300 for a party with costuming, props and full use of the photo booth, or guests can stop in for single strips of fun photos for $20, which includes a digital copy.
“Generally, it is about $300 for a party with a costuming and full use of the booth. Maybe a little bit more for bigger events like a wedding.”
Silver stresses that she’s flexible and customizes pricing for whatever event a customer has in mind.
This February, Silver is focusing on a vision to create unique photo sessions and parties for Galentine’s Day and the Valentine’s Day season of love, friendship and romance.
Clients can take part in posing for photos inside Matilda — like a dress-up party complete with feather boas, furs and custom-made props. She also encourages setting up a tea party outside with vintage settees and decor. Bring some wine and cheese and mark a celebration with gal pals or family.
“Moving forward, I’m going to set up a little kind of lounge tea party vibe in front of it, so that they have a place to kind of sit and hang out.”
Silver particularly loves the idea of women connecting and developing friendships or mother-and-daughter bonding time too.
Silver says “Matilda,” the book and musical, were her inspiration for the camper’s name because, like the character, she had issues with a parent. At 16, her mother moved out and left her behind.
“I’ve always closely related to the story, with the exception of Matilda’s father, for mine was very loving. But I didn’t hear the words ‘I’m proud of you’ from my mother until my late 40s, let alone the acknowledgment of my ‘gifts.’”
Very much like Matilda, and the relationship she develops with Miss Honey in the story, Silver spent most of her adult life with a goal to align better with women. She is pleased that she “developed the types of relationships that I had always hoped for with my own mother and sister … and more importantly, the kind that I could only pray to have with my own children.”
Silver finds it inspiring that we don’t have to sit in the pain of what happened to us in our past.
“It’s hard not to lighten up and have a good time in front of a camera in cute little camper. Right?”
Matilda is a symbol of sorts for Silver’s heart and soul. It represents strength, courage, resilience and hope.
After a double mastectomy and failed reconstruction surgery that left her in constant pain, Silver left her corporate job, purchased the camper and moved from Lake Tahoe to Pensacola in search of a fresh start.
“I was coming off of cancer. I was on disability, out of work from all the complications and everything. I have permanent damage in my upper body. I couldn’t see that I was going to be able to sit at a desk again for 10 hours a day.”
So, Matilda was born and is the setting for everything Silver reaches for in her new life.
“That’s the heart and soul of Matilda. I want people to come and spend that time with their people or meet new women and bond with new women who are either struggling or have struggled and just want to feel that connection and celebrate each other.”
Her blog states her mission:
“For anyone who has ever had to fight a battle, face a Giant, overcome fear, pain and see the beauty that comes from the bullshit… this is where we change, and share, our story. Matilda sets the stage to capture beautiful moments with the people who stand by our side and help us to see the light in the dark… and maybe even laugh a little bit along the way.”
The connection to Matila, the fictional character, is seemingly everywhere. After her daughter sent her the words to Harry Style’s song, “Matilda,” She knew the camper must carry that name. All the pieces of her life were summed up in the song including a happy ending:
“You can throw a party full of everyone you know
You can start a family who will always show you love
You don’t have to be sorry, no.”
And Silver quotes the words of Matilda herself:
“Nobody else it gonna put it right for me, nobody but me is going to change my story”.
Silver invites customers to seek her and Matilda Love out for a few hours of fantasy fun. Whether for Galantine’s or another special event, she would love to capture moments and memories that redefine us and tell our stories.
