Today we’d like to introduce you to Van’Nessa Lotson.
Hi Van’Nessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I visited my first selfie museum in Atlanta, GA. I saw some friends posting pictures online and made the 4-hour drive from Savannah, GA to Atlanta GA specifically for that experience. The place I visited was not a Selfie WRLD but a “pop-up” selfie museum. I had a great time; The backgrounds were really fun and I love to get dressed up and take photos. When I returned to Savannah, I wished we had an experience like that close to Savannah. Through some research, I found out about Selfie WRLD. It stuck out to me among other selfie museums because I could tell that there was much more thought and quality in their backgrounds in contrast to the one, I visited in Atlanta. What also set Selfie WRLD apart was that they offered ring lights at each booth and a remote to take photos without having to rely on anyone else. I recalled how we had to wait or search for someone at the museum I visited in Atlanta and how much easier and fun the experience looked at Selfie WRLD. I decided to reach out to the CEO and after months of planning, I decided to open the first Selfie WRLD in Georgia and the first experience of this kind near Savannah, GA.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Ashley Wilkerson, Founder and CEO of Selfie WRLD, is a cancer survivor and a long-time professional photographer. In the middle of her cancer treatments, she went through a tough divorce. Then the pandemic hit. She asked herself what am I going to do to make a living for my 2 kids and I? All the weddings she had scheduled were canceled. She came up with what seemed to be a small business idea. So, she sold her home, put her money into her idea, and created Selfie WRLD. Selfie WRLD is a do-it-yourself photography studio where you can literally come out with over 20 unique photos on your phone in one hour! Selfie WRLD offers interactive installations designed as backdrops for photographs! This is something similar to a photography studio, but one that amateurs could use too.
From there, it has grown exponentially throughout the United States. Currently going in 20 states, with around 10 more following. It just may be the only social media brick-and-mortar franchise that started and grew during the pandemic!!
The first franchise was opened in 2020 during the pandemic. Since then, several locations have opened. There are locations in Austin TX, Boca Raton FL, Boston MA, Buffalo NY, Denver CO, Des Moines IA, Fayetteville NC, Fort Worth TX, Grand Rapids MI, Jacksonville FL, Kansas City KS, Las Vegas NV, Milwaukee WI, Myrtle Beach SC, Northern Virginia VA, Omaha NE, Orlando FL, Portland OR, Schaumburg IL, Scottdale AZ, Sioux Falls SD, St. Louis MS, Tampa Fl, & Virginia Beach VA.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Selfie WRLD Savannah?
The adventure at Selfie WRLD takes you through various looks which may include, but not limited to, a candy shop, diner, Vogue booth, ball pit pool, swings, phonebooth and so much more. Every location has unique rooms based on their location. They are also available to rent out for modeling shoots, team bonding, birthday parties, bachelorette parties, business parties and so much more!
Customers are asked to arrive 5-15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment so they can be checked in and we can assist the customer in connecting their phone to a Bluetooth remote. Customers receive one hour of studio time and can take as many photos as they like within the hour!
Pricing:
- $22.50 per person
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://selfiewrldsav.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfiewrldsav/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfiewrldsav/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@selfiewrldsav?
