London Fashion weekend help!

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Kelly_Mac

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Kelly
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Hi Everyone, Im new to this community so Id like to introduce myself firstly. Im Kelly currently studying photography hoping to make a career out of it someday. Currently using a Nikon D80 this week hopefully upgrading to a D700!! Lenses I own,

Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-f/5.6 VR kit lens (DX lens)
Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-f/5.6 VR zoom
NIkkor 50mm f/1.4D
Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.3-f/5.6

I have a great oppertunity at the end of Sept to shoot at London fashion weekend, I got my potographers pass and am really excited.

This style of photography is totally new to me if anyone has any tips or advice to offer id be much appreciated, eg flash? camera settings? best lens? How to handle the mosh pit?! Anything at all.

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you!

kelly xx
 
You'll find that 'Proper' catwalk-shows have more than enough light to shoot without flash, even down to about 200ISO - using the 70-300 at about 100mm from the end of the catwalk, you'll be able to frame a full-length shot in portrait mode...
If you're shooting JPEG, do a custom white-balance setting before the show - talk to the lighting gaffer and he'll usually switch them all on for the Phots to do this (ask nicely, though...lol)...If you're shooting RAW (and if not, why not?), then you don't need to worry - just leave the WB on auto.

If you can get back-stage to the prep area, get in as close as possible and use the flash off-camera with a lead if you can - it means holding the camera one-handed, but with practice it can garner you some very tasty shots...

Assuming you're a female 'Kelly' - this means you'll appear less threatening to the models getting changed...capitalise on that, don't be intimidated.
 
I photographed the previous one, there's no photographer's pit. London Fashion Week has a pit, not London Fashion Weekend. The weekend event is a lot smaller than the week before it, you will probably be the only photographer there. You can get some good shots though. Infact it's better becuase of the fact that there's no pit. You don't have to fight for a spot and can move around a bit more freely. You can also get right up close to the catwalk.

The lighting is good, you won't need flash (don't think they allow it anyway).
 
Arkady - Great advice, thank you. I always shoot in RAW took me a while to start and thought why did I wait so long! I wont be allowed back-stage unfortunately, already asked, got a big fat no lol. You sound like you have a lot of experience shooting catwalk, do you do a lot of fashion shoots?

8utters - I knew it would be different but didnt realise how much, please tell me all about your experience there and what might I expect! I have no idea what do expect and Id really like to have a wee bit of knowledge, id also love to see your shots from last year if possible?

Both posts very much appreciated, thank you! :)
 
London Fashion Weekend is basically a big tent outside the Natural History museum. There's 1 smallish catwalk and they have shows every hour or so throughout the day. You won't be batteling against any press photographers as they all go to the fashion week the week before. It's more of a 'London Fashion Week for the general public'.

The rest of the show is like a indoor market - with different stalls of fashion related stuff, and they also have designers/hairdressers and stuff giving demos of fashion stuff, hair styles etc...

I only have 1 shot that I did from it online:

 
Kelly_Mac said:
Arkady....You sound like you have a lot of experience shooting catwalk, do you do a lot of fashion shoots?
Click to expand...

TBH I've only done one - a Vivienne Westwood show when I was doing a 2-month placement with PA in London - the hardest I've ever worked...
What surprised me was having to show other Togs how to do Custom White-Balances and other tech stuff that I (and a lot of people on here) take for granted...
 
Thanks guys for all help and advice, I feel a lot more prepared now! Thank u!!
 
I've done one during fashion week, Step ladders (3 step) were essential, but if as already mentioned the weekend is quiet, you wont need them.
 
Yes thank you guys absolutely great advice. I’m in a similar situation to you Kelly 1st catwalk shoot for me and I will be at the London Fashion Weekend every day form the 24th Sept hope to see you there.
 
Natjag, thank you, I aspire to be that person opn a step ladder on day but looks like im going to be eased in gently to the whole catwalk world lol!

Cameron, yes hope to see you there, Im going on friday the 25th, travelling over for the day so im really looking forward to it. You'll have a whole days experience on me so ill expect some top tips lol.
 
Hi everyone, reading this has made me feel a little less worried so thanks! Although, I will be there 18th-22nd!

I am in a similar boat to Kelly mac and will be assisting, editing and shooting. I have an old Nikon D50 with a very similar lens kit to Kelly mac. A while a go now I worked as a photographer in a family portrait studio, but there wasn't much technical skill required and this kind of environment is very new to me! I'm hoping to invest in a Nikon D300 or D700 and flash gun but can't afford a new camera especially in time for Fashion Week. Hope I will be ok! ahh! Any more advice would be appreciated. x:eek:
 
Hi laulon,

your D50 will be fine, I nearly went a bought a D700 just for it but I cant afford it right now so im working with what ive got. You wont need a flash at all, thats one thing everyone keeps telling me.

Its a learning experience and goign in at the dep end is the best way to learn and grow so youll be fine!

Cant wait to see the end pics!
 
Cheers Kelly Mac, I guess I should be more comfortable with my camera, but i'm there with the press lot! ah! Maybe I'll need a step ladder! Bought a flash gun online today, hoping I won't need it as I don't really have time to learn how to use it now! Thinking of investing in a 35mm prime lens for backstage too, bunging it all on the old credit card! Is an awesome oportunity but very nerve racking!
 
Bear in mind that at London Fashion Week you are competing for spaces with professional press photographers (all the biggest agencies and newspapers will be there - Getty, Reuters, PA, AFP etc), they probably won't be that friendly (i'm a press photographer, I don't shoot London Fashion Week though). They will try and get your place if it's a good one, and with a D50 you are going to stick out like a sore thumb and they will walk all over you - in their eyes you arn't a professional, and arn't worth the time of day...sadly. You also get a few paps there.

I'd steer well clear of the pit. Just move around the show and try and get something interesting and different. I'd try and get some good shots of the people that actually go to London Fashion Week...probably just as interesting as the fashion itself.
 
Thanks 8utters, thats exactly what I thought and have been worried about. Hope I don't stick out too much and manage to get some ok shots from the side line.:eek:
 
Hey how did u get a response from them. I sent a message to them a while a go about that but i havn't heard anything yet.
 
just recieved my tickets for the event in the post
 
Hi Jonny, im on holiday at the min hopefully my tickets are waiting for me when im home!
 
I'm new to fashion photography as well and I'm going on the Sunday.

I stumbled across this forum, because I was searching for advice on shooting catwalks. Thanks to the many replies on this thread, I am more confident that, one, I won't be intimidated by Pro's and two, I won't need a flash.

Hopefully I will bump into a few of you other newbies on the Sunday.
 
Hey, hows has/ is everyone finding it? I was hidden away editing fri and most of sat but have started shooting now, finding it quite overwhelming. Getting quite into backstage shoots and must do some more catwalk. Any photography tips/ ideas be great!
 
HI

Can anyone who has visited the show recommend exposure/ light settings, that are applicable to this event.
Also any tips on decent positions to take shots from please.

Thanks in advance.

Derek
 
bbb, your shots are very good.
How easy did you find getting shots behind the scenes? Did you feel pressured to move on or could you just come and go as you pleased?
 
PompeyDel said:
bbb, your shots are very good.
How easy did you find getting shots behind the scenes? Did you feel pressured to move on or could you just come and go as you pleased?
Click to expand...

was you restricted where and when to go....

was it easy to more around
 
bbb your shots are so impressive, only hope mine are half as good! brilliant work! would you rcommend camera settings please?
 
So this wasn't your usual catwalk show as you can see and was held in a nightclub rather than the usual brightly lit catwalk. There was very little light in the whole venue, as soon as I walked in the door the first questions I asked were about light. I was told there would be a couple of spotlights turning up. They turned up very late, even after the dress rehersal so I only managed one lighting test before the show. As it turned out the spotlights created a dramatic vintage effect which matched the clothes and I was able to shoot without flash. I used my 24-105L as I needed the full range and F4 as I needed all the light. The models were moving quickly so I used AI Servo for focusing and 1/250th to freeze the action. All of that meant I needed to be at ISO 1600 to get the exposure. I'm pleased with the results though.

Back stage everyone was friendly enough, I could use flash and used my 50mm to narrow the DOF and get more light in. It was pretty dark backstage, I don't know how the MUAs managed.

I don't think this is your typical setup though it was a very different (in a good way!) show.

It was great to see some proper women modelling too, with curves and everything :D
 
bbb - love the drama in the photos, great work that I aspire too!

Well to all who posted and commented on this thread, thanks for all your help and great advice so much appreciated! Tomorrow is the big day, if my photos are decent enough ill put a link to them for anyone who would like to have a look.

Thanks again all,

Great community here!

Kelly :)
 
pompeydel - thank you! Had a great day as im sure you will too. There was about 10 at most photographers so loads of room to walk around. All the shows are the same which I didnt know. Turned out well though cause it kind of allows you to relax a bit and expirement more.

The first show I used my 18-55mm to get full length but after speaking to jonnyjogpants (who was so nice and photos were great) i switched up to my 70-300mm which was miles better as I got to get full length and close ups. You dont need a flash at all, iso about 200-400 and I just played around with my settings a bit, shutter anything between 1/60-1/200, f/4.5 and up worked well for me. You have time to fix in between models so dont worry if its not perfect first shot.

Look out for the model with the death stare, she scared me! and the end model with the afro stood out a mile she was great to shoot. She knew how to work the clothes, her walk gave the clothes and her hair great movement.

Sorry this turned out a bit long winded! Just going to look at my shots on the comp for the first time so ill post a link when I upload them to my flickr.

Best of luck, youll have a great day im sure of it! :thumbs:
 
Thanks for the settings advice. That was just what I was after and it will be a great help.

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself and everything went OK. Can't wait to see how your pics come out. Hopefully it will be just as good for me when I go tomorrow?

Anyone else going tomorrow?
 
No problem, one thing i forgot to say is to set your white balance.Really important!

Best of luck, looking forward to seeing your pics :)
 
Hey all, :wave:

Heres a link to some of my fave pics from the show. Wanted to show them as real as possible so all ive done is crop if needed, adjusted levels is some and taken out the bright blue TV screen behind the models head which was hard to avoid and very annoying :annoyed:

Im open to crunstructive critism only so feel free to comment and offer any tips and advice. I should also say ive never shot fashion/catwalk before, first attempt so be kind! Pure trial and error on my part! :help:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piprikia/sets/72157622341542931/

Have many other photos on my flickr too, please do have a nosey and enjoy! :popcorn:
 
HI Kelly

I think they are very good. I especially like the parrot one.
The only thing I would suggest is to correct your levels as they all seem a little dark. Although I can't comment, as I haven't seen mine yet.

Today was mostly OK, apart from some idiot who wasn't content in pushing in to any available space at the front, so he moved further in front of the area, until he was asked to move back! Spoilt it a bit.

Apart from that I think my biggest problem will be that I need a faster lens. F4 just wasn't good enough, but then that costs money I don't have!
 
Yeah I defo would need a faster lens, my 70-300 was ok just, but its all about the money!

Crap about the idiot, thats just greedy there was enough room for everyone! Was the show the same as the one I was at?

Yeah I possibly went a bit OTT in levels, I do like levels though lol, its always the first thing I go too!

Look forward to seeing your shots. Anyone else who was there feel free to post links to your images, its always great to see others take on the same situation.

Jonnyjogpants?? I wana see them!! They were so good!

:)
 
Hey, this could be a massive long shot...
But my names Danny and I attended the LDN fashion weekend on 25.09.09..
and ended up doing the walk off against another memeber of the audience, as you can imagine this was an amazing moment for me, but my friend only got one picture, I'm wondering if any of you lot got any pictures of the moment?
it'd mean a great deal, contact me on danx123x@hotmail.co.uk... I may be able to pay'
Speak soon, *crosses fingers*
x
 
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