Poems & Polaroids

An experience in slowing down, documenting, and treasuring. Creating keepsakes you’ll cherish forever!

Two women sitting behind a rainbow-colored table at a poetry and polaroid event, smiling with typewriters, signs, and a cartoon sign with illustrated female faces, surrounded by flowers.
An empty Polaroid photo with a blank gray area in the center and a white border.
Yellow paperclip icon with a shiny reflection on a black background.

What is it?

Poems & Polaroids is our signature pop-up experience. You tell us a little about yourself, and we'll write you an original poem on a vintage typewriter, then capture your portrait on instant film. Frame them, fridge them, or forward them to a friend!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We’ve popped up at bars, concerts, art studios, restaurant patios, vintage markets, and parties. Check our Instagram page for up to date pop-up listings.

  • Yes! We love intimate gatherings as much as we love crowded bars. Poems and Polaroids does great at birthdays, baby showers, office parties… you name it. As long as we have space for a 4-6’ table, a couple of chairs, and a compact backdrop.

    Interested in booking us? Visit the Contact page.

  • We get this question a lot. The answer is Facebook Marketplace! And we’ve found replacement ribbons on Etsy.

    Brittny owns a and 1960s Brother Wizard Deluxe Tabulator and Alyson owns a 1960s Sears Tutor.

  • We ask every person for a prompt, which is just a jumping-off point for us. These prompts can be as specific or as vague as you want. You can tell us a personal story or give us total free rein to pick something random.

    Some of our previous favorite prompts:

    • the garden is my happy place

    • roses

    • retiring from teaching

    • new mother

    • The Seagull by Anton Chekhov

    • witches

  • Yes! Writing is a muscle, and we have lots of practice flexing it under pressure. Outside of pocket poems, we have both participated in various timed writing challenges and competitions. It’s a niche skill, but we promise it’s fun, and we can guarantee no two poems will be exactly alike!

Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime via our contact form.

Get in touch 
Previous P&P Participants Say…

  • "I loved the experience so much. My boyfriend's and my first date story was captured in a brand new and beautiful way! It’s now framed in our home together :)"

    Allison, Mainframe Studios pop-up

  • "I love how personalized Poems and Polaroids feels."

    Rachel, The Swallowtails Album Release Show pop-up

  • "Awesome! Cute, insightful, makes a meaningful keepsake.

    Mike, Magic of the Night Parade and Art Market

  • "It feels like they captured my soul's essence."

    Greg, Whiterock Conservency pop-up

  • "I keep my poem with me on my desk, I love it so much."

    Sarah, Surety Hotel Vintage Market pop-up

A blue sheet of lined paper with a handwritten poem about the month of August 2026 dedicated to Greg, reflecting themes of distance, change, and introspection, signed Lemonade Studios.
A young woman with curly blonde hair smiling outdoors in front of a garden fence adorned with small pumpkin lights. She is sitting on a crocheted blanket featuring blue, white, and beige patterns. The name 'JANEY' is handwritten at the bottom of the photo with a heart symbol.
Restaurant guest check receipt with the date October 2025, a note addressed to Janey, poetry written on the back, and the restaurant code 66231.
A yellow receipt from lemonade studios, dated May 23, 2026, addressed to Sarah with the words 'aliens' as the address, listing a poetic description of extraterrestrial themes.
A young girl with brown hair and glasses is sitting at a table with a colorful tablecloth, holding her glasses and looking at a vintage blue typewriter surrounded by a soda can, a notebook, a camera, and some boxes.
A smiling elderly man and woman standing outdoors, hugging each other. The man has white hair and is wearing a blue button-up shirt, while the woman has white hair, sunglasses, and is wearing a white shirt. Behind them, there are yellow and white flowers and green foliage.
A handwritten poem on lined paper titled 'dec 2025 for alex,' with a Polaroid picture of a woman wearing red glasses and a red and white striped top, against a pink background with red hearts.
A woman sitting on a black chair at an outdoor patio with a brick wall behind her and a yellow canopy above. There is a round black table and other patio furniture around her.
A pink ticket with typewritten text describing a trip from Sharon, for 7:30 on June 30, 2026, involving exploration of the outdoors, ancient ruins, and travel adventure.