The latest series by Julia Johnson marks a vivid departure into a world where color and character dominate the frame. Working again with model, actress, and musician Pyper America Smith, Johnson stages a fantasy of candy-colored hair, saturated backdrops, and bold fashion references. The studio transforms into what feels like a Technicolor playground: pink hair against punchy yellows, greens, and purples, retro 60s-inspired styling alongside more streetwear cues.
In this portrait series, the visual language is confident and unapologetic. The juxtaposition of pastel-pink hair with high-contrast backgrounds gives each image a kinetic energy. Johnson’s design sensibility — honed through her commercial and editorial work — shines in the way the subject is staged with precision, color balance, and playfulness. Her ability to merge high-fashion polish with bold, almost cartoon-like color schemes results in images that linger in memory long after viewing.
What stands out is not only the aesthetic, but the tone of the series itself: it’s less about minimal subtlety and more about maximal expression. Through choices in hair, makeup, background, and styling, Johnson crafts portraits that feel like bursts of joy and attitude. For creatives seeking inspiration, this work offers a reminder that daring color and strong styling can transform portraiture into an energetic statement rather than simply a record of likeness.
More info: Website, Behance, Instagram.
