Pose 901, Memphis’ newest selfie studio, leaves no room to be camera-shy, with twelve uniquely Memphis sets, perfect for striking a pose and snapping a pic. The studio opened last month as a yearlong pop-up with sets that will rotate every three months or so.
Following the nationwide trend of selfie studios, co-owners Michalyn Easter-Thomas and Antoine Lever wanted to set their studio apart by incorporating Memphis culture and history in their set designs. “For example, we have our ‘Hustle and Flow’ set that is a tribute to all Black Memphis artists, throwback and current, so we have Black Moses and Isaac Hayes, all the way to Pooh Shiesty,” Easter-Thomas says. Other sets include a boxing ring with Memphis v. Errbody plastered on the wall, a recording studio complete with headphones and microphones to pose with, and a VIP booth that Lever claims as one of his favorites.
“We wanted to make sure it reflected Memphis through what it looked like but also through how it was curated,” Easter-Thomas adds. In fact, the co-owners, who met while at Christian Brothers University, commissioned Memphis-based designers for each of their sets. “Luxe Interiors by Keila V., Raphael Small [of RAPHDesignLLC], Evo’k Designs — those were the main three who designed over half of our sets,” she continues.
“Memphis tends to be behind in things that the rest of the nation is doing,” Lever says, so when Easter-Thomas presented him with the idea, “I was like hell yeah, I’m on board.” While Lever brings his experience as a photographer, Easter-Thomas, a Memphis City Council member, says, “I’m the one who just likes taking pictures, so I have the mindset of what Memphians might like.”
A self-proclaimed Millennial enthusiast, she assures, “This isn’t just a Millennial thing; we’re going all the way up to age 109.” As such, the studio plans to host family nights, so kids under the age of 10 can join in on the fun, and the studio will be available for party venues, hour-long group sessions, and professional photoshoots in addition to 45-minute individual sessions.
Plus, for those who plan to go solo, the studio has camera stands available, and employees are more than happy to snap a few shots. “We wouldn’t leave you out there,” Easter-Thomas says. “We’d even make sure you have the right angle.”
“It’s a one-of-a-kind, dope, kind of like a hypnotizing experience,” she says of the new studio. “You can immerse yourself in the set and feel like you’re somewhere else. We have music in here, projectors, different things going on. You’re not gonna want to leave.”
Tickets are available to purchase online or at the door. The studio is open Thursdays-Sundays and is located in Whitehaven at the Southbrook Town Center. “A lot of good things are happening in Whitehaven,” Easter-Thomas says, “and we’re happy to add to it.”
For more information, visit pose901selfie.com and keep up with Pose’s Instagram page, where they will tease out future set designs.