CANTON, Ohio — “For the clout, honestly, we just wanted the Instagram pictures.”
There's plenty that goes into getting the perfect picture for social media. Lighting, angles, and background, just to name a few things. But two Akron photographers are hoping to take away some of the hassle with their selfie studio, The Babe Cave.
Aisley Herndon and Allie Sayre own Studio 31 in Akron. The 3-story building, which opened in May, is not only home to the Babe Cave, Akron's first selfie studio, but also an event space, boudoir shoot area and offices.
While the two are separated by more than a decade in age, the women who specialize in editorial and couple's photography respectively, fused both of their styles to create a unique influencer wonder for people to enjoy.
In just month, the studio has seen more than 500 bookings and has amassed quite the following on the popular social media platform, Tiktok.
"Booked right away as soon as I saw the Tiktok—I was so excited," said Brooke Elswick who made the drive with her friend from Columbus to visit the studio.
And they aren’t the only ones. The original video, giving a tour of the studio, has been viewed nearly 500,000 times.
The studio is currently home to 12 different sets and groups or individuals can rent out the space by the hour and take as many photos as they want---and you don’t need a fancy camera to do it.
‘”We built all of these sets so that they could be taken with an iPhone,” said Aisley Herndon.
Whether you want to float in the clouds, stretch out for twister, take a jab at boxing or even dive in to the harry styles fandom, there’s a set to suit everyone’s personality.
To keep things fresh, Aisley and Allie plan on switching out two sets each month so that the experience is always current.
For most people, the mirror selfie is the norm, decent lighting, and a good view, but at the Babe Cave you get the full experience.
“There’s lighting, there’s tripods, there’s lens. There’s all kinds of stuff to help you take your own pictures,” explained Elswick.
And if you're worried about not knowing how to pose or lacking experience, Aisley says all you need to do is show up for yourself and the rest will fall into place.
“A good picture is gonna be whatever makes the person feels good, so if you’re in here and you feel your best then it’s a good selfie—forget what social media says," said Aisley.
Studio 31/ The Babe Cave is located at 752 Canton Road. For more information on the space and how to book, click here.