Anyone at London Fashion Week this year?

[bass_junkie83]

A couple of years ago I managed to blag an invitation to a small fashion show during LFW. Had never done anything like it before but came away with some stuff I was very happy with.

Back then I was using a 5dmk1, 70-200 f4 and 430ex. This year I am armed with a 5dmk2, 70-200 f2.8 IS and a couple of years more experience and a whole load of photographer passes to various shows so hoping to get some better shots.

Last time I used the flash just for a little fill with a monopod to add some stability. This year I think I might try a rotating flash bracket similar to this which will allow me to flip between portrait and landscape quickly without having to re-angle the flash each time. What do you reckon? I did see someone do it before, looked like a good idea.

Only other thing I am not sure of is what to do with all the shots after. I am happy to do it for my own experience, and will also be giving some to a fashion blogger friend of mine who got me the passes. But it would be nice If I could find people actually willing to use (read 'pay for') them. But I guess I would be up against people who specialize in this sort of thing and are already working for the fashion magazines.

 

[iamtheoneneo]

jealous, but no. I cant even fathom how you got a pass the first time around, I thought these things had Whitehouse style clearance before giving them out!

 

[bass_junkie83]

First time round was in a designers private studio, he just set the date to coincide with LFW.

 

[meonshore]

Nice shots

Only other thing I am not sure of is what to do with all the shots after. I am happy to do it for my own experience, and will also be giving some to a fashion blogger friend of mine who got me the passes. But it would be nice If I could find people actually willing to use (read 'pay for') them. But I guess I would be up against people who specialize in this sort of thing and are already working for the fashion magazines.

I'm assuming the agreement you have with your fashion blogger friend is for non-exclusive use in return for the passes. Otherwise you won't be in a position to offer them elsewhere.

On that basis you have two choices. Try to find a potential buyer/agency in advance so you can tailor your images, and submission to them, based on their requirements. Or find an outlet afterwards. It is kind of late in the day to try to find an outlet in advance - but you never know - a fair bit of work between now and next week though.

Although I have shot at LFW a couple of times before, it was like you, a couple of years ago. I doubt much has changed in so far as they shows will be heavily covered by media working directly for the magazines, and for the major agencies. I was in an area which would have had 40-50 photographers and/or video shooting pretty much the same things.

Unless you get images out faster than they do, you are much less likely to sell any on spec after the event. Getty shot 45,000+ images at New York Fashion Week. They'll have images wired to Getty editors immediately and then selected images onto the news-feeds within minutes. Not to mention their (and others) subscription deals with the papers - PA/Reuters etc will all be there.

Personally I'd be looking to do a good job for your friend to keep them happy, build a good portfolio of work and look to maximise both of those things for the autumn shows by which time you might have been able to make some additional contacts or sales outlets. You should probably also consider seeing if you can not only get the standard types of images nailed - but find a style for you which might give you something different to offer either this time or next.