How Top Stylists Get Featured In Magazines (It Ain't Luck, It's Strategy)

Ever dreamed of seeing your name —and your work — in a major magazine? To have editors choose your artistry, your vision, your voice — and give it a platform beyond your salon, your city, even your country?

What if your work didn’t just live in your salon… but on a global magazine?

What if editors chose your artistry — your vision, your voice — and gave it a platform far beyond your city, your country, even your imagination?

That’s exactly what happened for our students.

The Surreal Collection was chosen as Collection of the Week by HJ UK Magazine, celebrating the creative work of students from our Photoshoot Workshop. And the Retrofuturism Collection made its way to the pages of Estetica Magazine, where innovation and classic design came together.

Let’s be clear, none of this happened by chance.

I’m taking you behind the scenes of what it really takes to get noticed — and celebrated — by the industry’s top editors.

• What It Really Takes To Get Published: What happens before the photoshoot - and the kind of work that makes editors say yes. 
• The Moment Everything Changes: What it feels like to see your name and vision recognized by top industry editors. 
• The Ripple Effect: How one feature can shift your confidence, identity, and the trajectory of your creative career. 
• Your Turn:  A first look at the final edition of the Photoshoot Program - and how to make it yours.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Could that be me?” — this is your sign to lean in and find out.

1. What It Really Takes To Get Published:

When you see a finished image in a magazine, it’s easy to admire the artistry — but the real magic happens long before the camera clicks.

Both the Retrofuturism and Surreal collections were born inside the Photographic Workshop, where a group of stylists joined Joseph Cartright and me for an in-depth, hands-on experience in editorial storytelling.

Together, we explored what it really means to craft a collection — not just style hair. Each participant developed their own concept, built moodboards, selected models and wardrobe, and designed looks to communicate a clear message and emotion. Joseph and I offered guidance every step of the way, helping them bring their creative visions to life.

Creating a successful shoot involves more than creativity — it takes planning, collaboration, and vision.
Here are a few essentials behind any strong collection:

• A clear concept and creative vision
• An art director (or someone filling that role) to guide the overall direction
• A compelling moodboard to keep the team aligned
• Model and wardrobe selection that fits the narrative
• Pre-shoot technical preparation (the shoot day is not the time to practice!)
• A photographer who understands how to capture the mood, movement, and details

In Surreal, the mood was dreamlike and bold, with each look adding to a whimsical and artistic story.

For Retrofuturism, the group reimagined the future through the lens of the past — drawing inspiration from cyber aesthetics, classic silhouettes, and powerful femininity.

When the last hair was pinned, the final shot captured — what emerged wasn’t just a collection, but a reflection of each stylist’s journey.

Now, seeing those images honored in HJ UK and Estetica Magazine is more than recognition — it’s a celebration of the process, the growth, and the courage it takes to put your work out into the world.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate that…

 2. That First Feature Feeling

Check Part of the Collection here

After weeks of pre-production, moodboarding, and creative direction, the day arrived.

Inside the studio — with lights up and cameras ready — everything came together.

Each stylist walked in with a clear vision: the emotion they wanted to evoke, the story they wanted to tell, the statement they were ready to make.


Check out the feature in Estetica Magazine

Alongside renowned photographer Joseph Cartwright, they learned how to photograph their work with intention — framing the hair, capturing the essence, and honoring the artistry in every detail.

And this… is the result.

3. Why It Matters: How a Photoshoot Changes Everything

You might be wondering — what does being featured in a magazine have to do with me?

Here’s the truth: this isn’t just about the spotlight. It’s about becoming the kind of stylist whose work demands to be seen.

Editorial work pushes you to think differently — to design with intention, sharpen your technical eye, and translate abstract ideas into real results. But beyond the technique, it teaches you how to lead a creative process, collaborate across disciplines, and express your unique vision with clarity.

And that doesn’t stay in the studio. It follows you back to the salon — in the way you consult, design, and deliver an experience your clients remember.

Why it matters to your business:

• You grow your portfolio with images that speak to your skills, style, and story.
  
• You build your authority by aligning with high-level, editorial work.
  
• You attract new opportunities — clients, press, collaborations.
  
• You unlock creativity that translates into bolder, more customized looks in the salon.
  

But more than that, you reconnect with the reason you started in this craft: to create something beautiful, meaningful, and entirely your own.

4. Say Yes to Yourself — Before Anyone Else Does

Every time I watch a stylist step into this experience, I see something shift.

They walk in unsure — of their ideas, their talent, their right to be there. And they walk out with a spark. A new kind of confidence.

That’s the heart of the Photoshoot Program. And this September, I’ll be hosting it one last time.

If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the editorial side of your craft — this is a space for you.
No pressure to be perfect. Just support, guidance, and the tools to bring your creative vision to life.

If you feel the pull, click here to explore the details. Your artistry is a gift. Let’s make space for it.


Collection Credits: Photography: Joseph Cartright; Art Direction: Vivienne Mackinder; Fashion Styling: Yachi G; Makeup: David maderich; Video/Photography Assistant: Shawn Guerra; Wigs: TressAllure Wigs; Hairstylists (SEE ABOVE); Hair Assistants: Mare O’Shea and Michael Pendell.