 Barry Tissenbaum |
Shooting a fashion show I have been given the opportunity to shoot a runway fashion show, along with all the "real" (press, etc) photographers. Help. I want to take the shoot as it will be fun. All tips are greatfully received.
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Andrew Laverghetta |
I'm also interested in this and somebody else should probably reply, but since nobody has yet, I would say that you should use a longer distance lens that is rated with as large an aperture as possible. If you don't have a lens like this, try to use a higher ISO to keep pretty fast shutter speeds as the models will probably not be standing in one place for long when they turn or stand for a second or two. Also, if you can get to the place early and claim a good spot (if you can choose where to go) do that. Quickly learn if all of them take the same pattern on the runway so you won't have to guess. Hope this helps!
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Jeremy Spencer |
Bump! Anyone?
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Jeremy Spencer |
Oops, forgot to hit the notify button.
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Mark Feldstein |
Well, Barry, you sure don't give us much to work with. Generally, however, you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If you're shooting with film rather than digital, if you don't know the lighting situation, you'd probably be better off with either medium speed black and white or color negative stock that'll give you a chance to correct a bit for tungsten light or flourescents in the ceiling, if any. Lenses? This depends on where you get positioned. If you're alongside the runway shooting with 35mm, (assuming there IS a runway) you'd probably do well with either a normal or wide angle, say 35mm. If you're a few rows back, you may need a medium or short telephoto, say an 85-135mm lens. Lighting can vary at these deals depending on the type of show. It may be professionally lit quite well or they may just put up some tungsten hot lights. If it's poorly illuminated, you need to be prepared with some sort of artificial lighting like on-camera flash with some degree of horsepower to carry it say 15 to 50 feet, again depending on where you're situated. This is assuming that they let you use flash. So, it's something you should ask about ahead of time. This will also help you make the right film decisions. Having a motor drive or power winder is REAL handy ! And, make sure wherever you land, that you don't get stuck shooting into a side light. Being situated at eye level with the models, or slightly above, will produce better images, I think especially from the illumination and distortion perspectives. If they're at floor level, not on a ramp or runway, you're fortunate. Assuming you're not using an auto-focus, auto-exposure camera w/ flash, if you ask someone w/ the show beforehand (getting there plenty early is great advice), they'll tell you the pattern the models will walk. Being there at a rehearsal is even better. At some point, or more than one, the models will essentially hit a mark, stop, turn, and pause for a second or two in various directions. I suggest you find those marks (perhaps made with tape on the floor) and if you can, prefocus on them. You might also find having a monopod with you with a ball head to use for a camera support will be very helpful. Piece of cake right?
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Barry Tissenbaum |
Thanks Mark F. The show was this past week and I was excluded so no trial. Anyway, I appreciate the comments, they still help the learning experience. I did notice that all the photographers there had extremely long lenses even though they were right at the end of the runway. Interesting!
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Mark Feldstein |
Hey Barry ! Bummerewsky about your being excluded. The lenses you saw were probably 28-??? megazoom autofocus cannons (not Canon). You can get the same effect using a 35mm wide angle and having a short to medium telephoto handy. If you want to get into doing this kind of shooting, here's a couple of suggestions. One is that since local large department stores, like Macy's, Broadway, Marshall Field & Co., etc., put on fashion shows at their local mall store. The models for many of those shows are provided by local modeling schools / agencies. Finding out about when the shows are from the sales staff and contacting the store and school management, offering to trade a few prints to the models, initially, for the experience of shooting them, may get you started. Take care.
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Jeremy Spencer |
Not sure if it's of any help, but I just did my first fashion show on Saturday night. Thankfully, there were 2 other far more experienced photographers present to give me tips throughout the night. Since I'm still learning the technicalities of photography, I'll give you the two pieces of advice that stood out in my mind (this is shooting digital): Shoot in natural light. Go with the highest ISO your camera supports. (of course, having a quality flash should go unsaid) Oh yeah, one last thing. Get a camera strap; I don't know what happened to mine but it was a pain to carry around the camera and flash by hand - if there's a drink allowance, it makes it nearly impossible. :)
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