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Paris Jackson

Paris Jackson, 34, opened her first business, Selfie Land Fresno, in June. Also known as a selfie museum, it gives families and content creators alike a space to take their own photos. Photo by Frank Lopez

published on August 30, 2022 - 1:57 PM
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A first-of-its-kind business for Fresno is helping to keep aspiring influencers’ selfie game strong.

Selfie Land Fresno opened in the River Park Shopping Center at the end of June on the ground floor of the parking garage. There, customers can use a variety of themed backdrops and ring lights to take studio-quality selfies.

Owner and founder Paris Jackson, 34, said that selfie studios, or selfie museums, are more common in bigger cities. She said her business is the only one in the Fresno area.

For $25 an hour, guests are provided a ring light and a Bluetooth clicker to be able to take hands-off selfies with their own smartphones, with access to 20 themed back drops. Guests can also come in with an actual camera for an additional $50 fee.

Children 12 and under with a school ID pay $15 and children 3 and under get in free with a paid adult.

Private sessions are also available for $250 an hour, and $100 an hour for every hour after.

Selfie Land Maria
Maria Dominguez, 20, is a brand ambassador at Selfie Land Fresno. A content creator and social media influencer, she has more than 65,000 subscribers on TikTok with her page, @imofficialmaria, receiving over 1.7 million likes. Photo by Frank Lopez

 

Jackson, born and raised in Fresno, graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco with a merchandising and marketing degree in 2013. She worked various jobs in retail, sales-floor design and solar in Fresno before a stint in Houston as a real estate agent.

It was in April 2021 that she went to a selfie museum in Houston and wanted to bring the concept back home.

It is also Jackson’s very first business.

“I thought ‘I could do this,’” she said.

Jackson originally had plans to open a selfie museum in Houston, but realized the market was already saturated, so she decided to bring it to Fresno.

She said that along with families in the Central Valley on the lookout for fun activities, the area is also rich with artists and creators — especially social media influencers.

In April, Jackson got the keys for the location, and the doors opened June 24.

Before deciding on River Park, she considered setting up in Downtown Fresno, but was worried about safety and lack of foot traffic. Jackson said people feel safe dropping off their children at River Park. Kids 12 and over can use her business without a parent present.

“If it was going to be anywhere in Fresno, it had to be this area,” Jackson said.

The space covers about 2,000 square-feet — a blank space when she first moved in.

She said most of her customers are hearing about Selfie Land Fresno on social media or from local news reports.

Jackson said she spent about $40,000 for renovation and décor. She didn’t take out any loans for the business, launching it with savings and credit cards. Rent is $5,100 a month.

Most of her customers are women aged 18 to 25. She said she is also the first African American woman business owner in River Park — and also the youngest.

Selfie Land Backdrops
Paris Jackson, 34, opened her first business, Selfie Land Fresno, in June. Also known as a selfie museum, it gives families and content creators alike a space to take their own photos. Photo by Frank Lopez

 

She said business has been getting busier since opening but has noticed it leveling out as more kids return to school.

Jackson is planning events with other local businesses and organizations such as neighbor Ragin’ Records for a ‘90s party and the Valley Animal Shelter for a “Pictures with Puppies” event. She wants to build relationships with schools to find those hidden talents creating on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, and provide a space for them to make content.

“As with any business, you have to market yourself. Instead of being at home with a homemade backdrop, you can come in here and shoot content for your clothing line or any type of business you’re in,” Jackson said.

Jackson partners with local influencers and content creators to be brand ambassadors for Selfie Land Fresno. They create content at the studio and help spread the word on social media.

Maria Dominguez, 20, is a brand ambassador at Selfie Land Fresno. A content creator and social media influencer, she has more than 65,000 subscribers on TikTok with her page, @imofficialmaria, receiving over 1.7 million likes.

She currently works with local automotive insurance company Primos Insurance, creating content for them, and works with brands including Wet and Wild, Urban Decay and Dossier, a perfume company.

Dominguez said that Selfie Land-Fresno provides a great opportunity for local creators to have a space to make better quality content — and to network with others.

“The more I shared my content, the more I grew, and started to branch out to different things, like beauty and fashion. I’m expanding and growing with other brands and I’m grateful,” Dominguez said.


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