Lyman alpha emitting galaxies have been detected at any redshift. However, their properties and the morphology of their Lyman alpha emission are not homogeneous. We used a sample of starburst galaxies in the local Universe, the Lyman Alpha Reference Sample (LARS), to study Lyalpha in detail and relate it to rest-frame UV and optical emission. Every galaxy in the sample that emits Ly-alpha does so by producing halos, more extended than UV continuum. The spectral energy distribution analysis demonstrates that the scattering of Lyalpha photons by neutral gas is the main driver of LARS galaxies' Lyalpha morphology. I will describe LARS physical properties and their connection with Lyalpha emission. I will then present the exercise of simulating LARS galaxies at high-z. The scope is to investigate the detectability of LARS galaxies and their Lyalpha halos in current high-z field observations.