Supernova Hair: A Sci-Fi Editorial in Eugene

A shoot that was all about creativity, collaboration, and great hair

This project with Supernova Hair in Eugene was all about creating editorial-level visuals for their marketing, giving them artwork to hang in the salon, and creating a fun, collaborative bonding day for the team.

Layla Dudley, the owner, is a huge sci-fi buff—especially vintage sci-fi like Star Trek (both the original and TNG), classic Ray Bradbury, and pretty much anything space-related. Her salon already carries that theme; the décor has nods throughout to the cosmos and to retro sci-fi design. It made perfect sense to lean into that for their brand identity and build a concept that reflected who they already are.

Taking it beyond cosplay

From the beginning, the goal was to elevate the concept beyond simple cosplay and bring it into an editorial beauty direction. We wanted something sleek and polished—an homage to the characters but with the hair as the star of the show.

Layla and her stylists brainstormed which sci-fi characters from different decades had unique, recognizable looks that could translate into something fresh. They landed on Trinity from The Matrix, Deanna Troi from Star Trek, and Barbarella. There was originally supposed to be a female version of Han Solo, but both the stylist and model for that look got sick right before the shoot. That gave us time to experiment more, and instead of three finished looks, we created six: each character had a “light” and “dark” version with distinct lighting setups.

The creative team

Layla and I collaborated on a mood board after our first discussion about direction and visual treatment. Once that was in place, her team took over sourcing the models, developing the hair looks, and pulling wardrobe to match.

Layla also brought in Pavy Olivarez, a heavy hitter from LA who had just taught a creative hair workshop that same weekend. He stayed to handle makeup for the shoot. Pavy’s skills and pedigree are undeniable, and having him on set ensured every detail of the hair was camera-ready.

Shooting at the salon

We went back and forth on location—studio or salon. Studio would’ve made it easy to shoot full-length on white seamless, but we would have lost the energy of the salon and the team’s presence. I really wanted to shoot at Supernova, but the idea of setting up a nine-foot roll and all the grip gear in a small space wasn’t appealing.

That’s when the Westcott X-Drop Pro background system saved the day. I’d seen it in action and knew it could make tight spaces work. It arrived just days before the shoot. I tested it in my studio, loved how it rendered on camera, and it’s been my go-to ever since -up or down in five minutes, light, portable, and perfect for headshots or portraits on location.

Because I had extra time (and lots of lights), I added a second setup right next to the main area so we could easily switch between a high-key look and a moodier, gelled background tailored to each character—green for Trinity, blue for Troi, and amber for Barbarella.

The team vibe

We had three stylists including Layla, three models (one a stylist from the salon), and Pavy on makeup. The vibe was relaxed and positive—no stress, just flow. Everyone knew their part and had the time to create.

I don’t charge by the hour, I charge by the project. That flexibility means I can say yes to the things that make a shoot smoother instead of constantly saying no to protect a clock. It was booked as a full-day project, so being ready early, efficient with setup, and open once we started resulted in good vibes all around.

Even the models who’d never been in front of a camera before gained confidence as the day went on. We captured those little nuances that take a shot from good to great. Also, Layla’s hummus was perfection—pretty sure that helped.

Lighting approach

We started on white because those images are easy to use later for design and print. The lighting emphasized shape and texture of the hair while still flattering the face and showing off Pavy’s makeup work.

For the “dark” looks, I used the pop-up reversible background with gels matched to each character. The salon’s spacey vibe deserved that extra edge. I coached each model to lean into their character, to look “through” the camera with intensity. That direction brought out the inner actress in each one.

A few challenges (and a sore back)

The only real challenge was a workstation that sat exactly where I’d normally want to stand for my preferred focal length. We solved it by clearing a shelf so I could shoot through it—lots of squats and contortions for me. I was sore the next day.

Normally I prefer primes, but this is why they’re not always practical. You can’t always stand in the perfect spot for 50 mm, but sometimes 46 mm will do the job. Modern zooms like my Canon RF 24-70 2.8 L don’t sacrifice sharpness or contrast, especially in a controlled setting.

The outcome

Supernova started rolling the images out during October for Halloween, and the response has been great. So far they’re being used on social media, with plans for in-salon displays and integration into other marketing channels later.

Why it mattered

This shoot really embodied what I love most about my work: using my experience in fashion and beauty photography to uplift other creatives like salon owners, boutiques, and independent designers. I love working with big brands, but there’s something deeply rewarding about helping smaller, emerging and local businesses bring that same level of quality and confidence to their audience - and helping their audience not just notice them, but prefer them.

One of the most refreshing parts of the day was the total absence of ego. Some of us have decades of experience; for others, it was their first shoot. My 16-year-old daughter was my assistant and videographer, and everyone treated her like a seasoned pro.

Someone has to lead a project - it can’t be a free-for-all - but leaving room for every voice really allows the whole to become greater than the sum of its parts. I think we nailed that here. It also showed what a great coach and mentor Layla is to her team.

If you’re a stylist in Eugene looking for a new salon home, and you want to grow your skills and creativity, Supernova Hair is absolutely worth checking out.

Tech notes

• Camera: Canon R5 II / R6 II

• Lens: Canon RF 24-70 2.8 L, RF 135 1.8 L, RF 100mm 2.8 l Macro

• Lighting: Godox strobes, gel kit, Westcott X-Drop Pro

• Assist/BTS: Samantha Johnson

• MUA: Pavy Olivarez

• Stylists: Layla Dudley + Team