As we're only a few days away from one of the biggest events on the fashion calendar, London Fashion Week, I thought I'd share some of my experiences to give you a feel as to what it's like, as a humble Guildford Photographer, to be stood at the end of the runway during London Fashion Week. It truly is the best seat in the house and an experience not to be missed.
Shooting a fashion show is both as exhilarating as it is challenging, and as rewarding as it is pressured. Fashion show photography is without a doubt one of the most technical and demanding types of shoot I do. Any fool can stand at the end of the runway and snap away. It's not difficult. To do it properly though takes a lot of preparation and hard work. There is only one chance to get it right and if you're shooting for the designer the pressure is immense. The designer needs to see *everything* front, back, sides, full length, 1/2 length, 1/4 length, detail, detail, detail.
As with all forms of fashion photography, runway is all about the dress. It has to come alive in the shot. The colours have to be right. The texture, the detail, the workmanship all have to show through.
Then there is the model. There is no direction so the timing has to be perfect to nail that killer shot. The sparkle in the eye, the swish of the skirt, that cheeky look back over the shoulder on the return. It’s all there for the taking. It’s all about the timing…
…and the breathing. In time with the model’s footsteps. Avoid the flamingo shot. Watch out for the "Herr Flick." Time it just right. Fingers a blur on the back of the camera, constantly adjusting the exposure down the length of the runway and back again, in sympathy with the changing light. You're at one with the camera and feeling the exposure all the way.
I’m in the “pit” with sometimes 50 or more photographers. We’re all competing for that killer shot. It’s hot, it’s cramped, the noise of the shutters is deafening. The camaraderie is great. Amongst the pro’s that is. They’re a good bunch. We’re all there to do a job.
Ten minutes and it's all over. Ten minutes of intense concentration, arm ache and several hundred frames to download sub-edit and send off for publication.
Do I like doing it? No, I love it. There's a buzz and an atmosphere one doesn't get on other types of shoot.
People often ask me how I deal with the pressure of shooting a wedding. "That's nothing," I always reply, "you try shooting a fashion show for a highly stressed designer. Now that's pressure."
If you'd like to see more of my catwalk work, check out this article on my main site where you'll find links to several galleries.
http://gavinthorn.com/packages/fashion-show-photography/
For technical hints and tips on how to do it, have a look at the sister article on my photography blog, here:
http://thelightmatters.com/techniques/at-the-end-of-the-runway/