Alaska is a land of extremes: unbelievable beauty coupled with unbelievably freezing temperatures, the kindest locals in the harshest terrain. For our photoshoot team, the Alaskan backdrop was worth the risk.

Laura, Creative Director, and Meredith, Art Director, chose their specific Alaskan destination after a search for epic scenery, snow, and geographic diversity. According to Mere, “Altar'd State is most authentically shown when photographed outdoors in a setting that inspires our guests as well as those of us behind the camera.”

When preparing to make the journey north, the team quickly learned that even their best-laid plans needed a backup. A beautiful snowy backdrop was a non-negotiable for Laura’s vision. When the snow wasn’t easy to find, the team had to travel up. They helicoptered in groups of 5 to the top of a glacier, waiting for the clearest day to do so. The models were tenacious – shooting dresses in Alaska’s climate is chilly, to say the least. Although the team did their best to huddle around with blankets and heaters between shots, the women kept such a positive attitude throughout it all. 

Contrasting against the modern heat and other conveniences, Mere couldn’t help but think of the persevering Alaskans that came before. “​A few of the locations were old mining towns settled at varying times throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries,” She told us, “To see the simplicity of the structures against such breathtaking views while knowing the brutal conditions these former inhabitants prospered through was really inspiring. Some of the buildings left behind were one-room log cabins without glass panes on the windows or thresholds around doorways.”