Having undergone surgeries for carpal tunnel issues, Lauren Glass found it difficult to return to being a hairstylist at Vivo Beauty Bar in Cuyahoga Falls. She decided instead to revisit her high school hobbies, including photography.
First, she created the Instagram account @fruityfilmskent, capturing photos of queer individuals in downtown Kent and at drag shows at Zephyr Pub with her digital camera.
“Every queer person is so different in their own way and so unique,” she said.
When she saw that Sun in Leo, a circular marketplace in Kent’s Acorn Alley with upcycled and responsibly sourced goods, was looking for a photography intern, she decided to apply and got the job.
Seeing Sun in Leo owner Justine Gallo operate her own small business provided Glass with the resources and encouragement to pursue creating her photography studio and selfie museum. She called it Fruity Films — a call back to the Instagram account that reignited her interest in photography.
“Supporting small businesses, I feel like it inspired me to start my own, because I’m like, ‘Well, if they can do it, then I can do it,’” she said. “So hopefully with that, I can also inspire other people to be like, ‘Oh, well she can do it, then I can do it.’”
After the space above Buffalo Wild Wings in Acorn Alley became available, Glass mentioned to Gallo that she wanted to open her own business, too. She thought that would come to fruition in the future, but Gallo offered to help her connect with Acorn Alley’s leasing office right away.
“She’s so passionate and already hardworking on her own that she’s ran a business, she’s managed stuff, she’s already an entrepreneur, so why not just do it?” Gallo said. “It’s the same vibe with what I’m doing here: It’s just nice to know that I’m in control and can take care of business and when things go wrong, it’s on me, but at least I can count on myself — and I feel like she’s the same type of energy.”
Glass previously owned a resin art business in 2019, creating ashtrays with dehydrated flowers, so she understands the challenges that artists and small-business owners face as well as the tight budget aspiring student artists live on.
This motivated her to create Fruity Films, with the mission of making things affordable and showcasing local art.
As Glass eyes an early June opening for the studio, she looks to establish a studio focused on sustainability, helping local artists and allowing people to document life in Kent.
“For every month, I want to take pictures and do a random creative shot, but thrift everything for it to show that you can keep photography sustainable, keep it pretty much free,” she said. “You don’t need a big fancy studio.”
While the studio is in its early stages, Glass’ goal is to create a different theme for the selfie museum on a quarterly system, and to then sell the items from the previous set to continue to fund the museum.
Because Glass is accustomed to sourcing photoshoot props and clothing sustainably, it was a natural fit to bring this practice into her business.
The studio’s downtown location will also make it feasible for students to walk there for photoshoots or from the fraternity and sorority houses before going out.
“They can take pictures in their outfits before they get all sweaty from dancing and running around, all bar-hopping and everything,” she said. “It’s easy. … They can walk here, get pictures right before they go out and it’s right here in downtown by the bars, so after they’re done, they can head out.”
When it’s operating, the studio and museum will be available for people to rent. Glass said that 30 to 35 people will be able to rent the museum per hour.
To provide students with opportunities to have later photoshoots, Glass is thinking about having the studio open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Although she didn’t attend Kent State herself, she had friends who attended the university and knows the difficulties of renting a photography studio through the university. With this in mind, she intends to offer student discounts.
“I know sometimes it’s hard to get into those because so many students and people are using it that this is a nice alternative that’s still close to campus,” she said.
For the future, Glass wants to invite art students or local artists to paint murals and build their own sets in the studio, not only to decorate the business, but also to create a background or backdrop that people can use for their photos.
“I want to try and have the whole entire place, when you walk in, there’s just photo ops everywhere,” she said.