“Obviously, it is a commitment. I’ll probably be cleaning out my ears for a month!”
Those were Danielle Smith’s words after getting more than a pound of EKO glitter dumped on her head (for art’s sake, of course).
Through the month of May, artist and photographer Josh Hailey is booking glitter pour photoshoots for his Bowie series—adventure and art wrapped into one unforgettable experience.
Book: info@joshhaileystudio.com
In the first iteration (2016), Josh photographed 100+ models covered in “space dust” (aka glitter), inspired by three David Bowie songs.
“The Bowie series came out of a year of great loss… After that, I wanted to put as much color into the world as possible.”
— Josh Hailey
Known for bold color and upcycled materials, Josh creates joyful work for clients like Marriott, Hilton, and Whole Foods.
ART MADE WITH JOY, FOR ALL!
“I try to find joy in everything I do. The process of making, playing, and discovery is my favorite part. I hope everyone finds joy in the things they make,” Josh says. And glitter? “It’s magic space dust.”
Elektra Cosmetics × Josh Hailey Collaboration
Since glitter is Elektra’s specialty, owner Danielle Smith jumped at the chance to collaborate with Josh Hailey Studios.
“Our mission is to inspire community to be unapologetically creative… We decided to go all in and provide the glitter for this project.”
— Danielle Smith
Both Bowie and Josh embody Elektra’s ethos: live authentically, create boldly, and say yes to color.
“Josh is a doer—resilient, always creating, always making it happen,” Danielle says. “We love collaborating with artists across mediums—it’s all about community.”
As of May 2021, the Bowie series shoots have used Elektra EKO Glitter exclusively. Launched in 2018, the line offers 10 colors and uses polylactide (from corn) and cellulose (from trees)—plant‑based and designed to break down faster than traditional plastics.
Get the Look
Lips
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Copper Rose$15.00
Eyes
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Moss Green$15.00
An Eco‑Friendly Artistic Shoot, Made Possible with EKO Glitter
“The EKO line is perfect when you can’t consciously remove glitter and dispose of it as solid waste, or when you’re using a lot of glitter,” Danielle explains. “I would only have done this shoot with eco‑friendly glitter.”
“The EKO and biodegradable option is key to the continuation of our Bowie series… Sustainable and earth‑friendly is the only way to be!”
— Josh Hailey
The plant‑based glitter also changed the feel of the shoot thanks to its lighter texture.
“EKO glitter is lighter than traditional glitter—it really floats,” Danielle says.
“It’s even more magical than we anticipated—and the color array matches or surpasses traditional glitter. EKO is everything!” — Josh
An Outpour of Glitter and Emotions
“It’s exciting! You hold your breath but want to relax your face!” Danielle laughs.
“At the end of the day I blew my nose… and glitter came out.”
“We’ve worked with Josh before—he shoots to people’s comfort level. I highly recommend booking with him,” Danielle says.
“The first time is always the best—there’s nothing like it. You’ll see it in your photos.” — Josh
