Deserted: Metallic Alien Editorial Photo Shoot – Colorpop 2023

If you haven’t heard of our portfolio-building event COLORPOP for photographers – you’re missing out!!! I’m so excited to start blogging each of the 10 photo shoots we organized for our event as a way to share a little bit more of the planning and behind the scenes process. Plus, these shoots were so cool that they deserve to live somewhere other than Instagram.

Colorpop Portfolio Weekend 2023 took place April 28-30 and May 5-7; over these two weekends, 40 photographers of all skill levels and backgrounds traveled from around the world to Utah. This year, our event was more like a retreat – we all stayed together in a big house, ate together, had educational activities in the evenings, and made lifetime friends and connections. Honestly, it felt like summer camp for photographers – and as a retired camp counselor, it was totally my jam. 😉

For more information on our events, CLICK HERE. We’d love to have you attend one in the future! Now let’s get into this concept.

PHOTOGRAPHY & Creative direction @marinawphoto

Art direction & styling @artdeptcreative

Production @alicebestie

Assistant @sunnyjeephoto

Makeup @amyjomua @sandracfernandez

Hair @byabimarie_ @bbrbeautybyreese @hairbyrebeccam

Models @timothy_young_ @bellacarosello @cee_po @salma.alshuqairat @elsajanehurst @lucifee.exe

Wardrobe @harmonia_ny

Event @shotatcolorpop

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO!

A lot of the landscapes here in Utah kind of feel like you’re on another planet, especially any location with red rock. So for this photo shoot, we decided to do a fashion editorial-inspired concept with four models, styling them in out-of-this-world wardrobe, hair, and makeup.

Our goal for the shoot was for it to feel like these metallic aliens were stranded on an unfamiliar planet, but with a little bit of a 60s sci-fi influence on the styling.

We leaned into the silver-on-silver for wardrobe and makeup, and had our hairstylists try some retro looks for some of the girls.

All of these reflective, metallic pieces are from Harmonia NY, and we added a few other statement accessories like futuristic looking sunglasses, a chain dress, and a jacket with huge voluminous sleeves.

We asked the models to play the character of a stranded alien and had them do a lot of stiff poses as a group, staggered in different formations among the rocks.

As our shoot went on, we split them up to shoot solo and brought in other elements like blob-shaped mirrors to play with reflections, some silver fabric, and even some colored lights once it got dark out.

Of our 10 photo shoots this weekend, many of the photographers that attended said this concept was their absolute favorite.

Here are my shots from both weekends of our event!