Darren Brade wrote:
London Fashion Week starts in the next few days (Friday 13th!). I'm hoping to cover a few shows over the weekend, is anyone else going?

The forecourt at Somerset House does not have any catwalk shows open to the public but it is free and has easy access to the public and it is a great place to meet and hang out and take pictures of the Fashionistas that congregate there.

Last Feb (A/W 2013 Collections) I did a few catwalks at Freemason's Hall and put together this showreel, so for those interested, enjoy.

Darren x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYDrkJ2i … 9rVjB8k-wQ

Loved the video... It was nice and the ending with the model was FUNNY!

You know I've lived in Toronto, Paris and London and I've NEVER been to fashion week. Shocking I know

Erlinda wrote:

Loved the video... It was nice and the ending with the model was FUNNY!

You know I've lived in Toronto, Paris and London and I've NEVER been to fashion week. Shocking I know

Thanks. Yes, my favorite part. It was the end of a very long day and this was the prep for the last show, there were about 30 of us already in The Pit so they were a little boisterous, she gave as good as she got.

You should contact some of the designers directly and ask for a pass to their show.

Merry wrote:
Love the video - super weird, I'm actually in it haha!
Edit: And oh my god how irritating was that man at Ziad, who wouldn't move away from the middle-doors and was getting in everyone's shot?!

Thanks. Where abouts? During Ziad's show?

Those gates in general where a nightmare, people kept leaning on them and causing them to close. I think during one show they closed and they were opened again just in time for the model step through them (must have been a shocker for her to walk down the catwalk and the gates close in front of her).

It's bad when the photographers have to yell at someone (that man at Ziad's) in the middle of a fashion show ("nah, forget about the film crew and 80 photographers behind me, I'm going to step in front of them cos my ipad doesn't have zoom").

In the video, I contacted the designers for a show pass, this week I have a photographers pass.

London Fog wrote:
Yes, I will be there next week!

Say "Hi" if you see me, not met many local photographers from MM.

Darren Brade wrote:
Thanks. Where abouts? During Ziad's show?

Those gates in general where a nightmare, people kept leaning on them and causing them to close. I think during one show they closed and they were opened again just in time for the model step through them (must have been a shocker for her to walk down the catwalk and the gates close in front of her).

It's bad when the photographers have to yell at someone (that man at Ziad's) in the middle of a fashion show ("nah, forget about the film crew and 80 photographers behind me, I'm going to step in front of them cos my ipad doesn't have zoom").

In the video, I contacted the designers for a show pass, this week I have a photographers pass.

You get glimpses of me and my editor on the frow in Pam Hogg, Ashley Isham and Ziad.

Those gates are always a nightmare, I prefer the show space downstairs, but that one dude was particularly annoying I remember!
It's always bad hearing abuse from the pit at shows (sometimes I seriously pity the models), but hearing the heckling that guy got was just so satisfying!

That's awesome, I attend on a press pass but let me know your show schedule when it's confirmed and we'll have to see if we have any in common! Are you shooting for anyone in particular, or just generally?

Darren Brade wrote:
Yeah he was. I hope he got good pics because his head got in front of everybody else's.

I've not heard any heckling yet, but there have been a couple of fights between photographers minutes before a show starts.

Pam's was a tough one, end of the day, show an hour and a half late, most the photographers get there an hour before show start so many had been there 2.5 hours in cramped conditions. At least you get a seat!

I'll add you to Twitter and FB and keep in touch.

Yeah - Pam ALWAYS starts late. But it's always so full and busy that you have to get there on time. Although, I want to make it very clear, it's definitely not Portia's fault! That woman is a saint and her fashion week is pure insanity!

Merry wrote:

Yeah - Pam ALWAYS starts late. But it's always so full and busy that you have to get there on time. Although, I want to make it very clear, it's definitely not Portia's fault! That woman is a saint and her fashion week is pure insanity!

These things happen, LFW isn't glamorous for those that work it because so there's so much happening. Hard work, but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Yes, met Portia very briefly, she was amazing and really helpful! The show was worth the wait.

Darren Brade wrote:
London Fashion Week starts in the next few days (Friday 13th!). I'm hoping to cover a few shows over the weekend, is anyone else going?

The forecourt at Somerset House does not have any catwalk shows open to the public but it is free and has easy access to the public and it is a great place to meet and hang out and take pictures of the Fashionistas that congregate there.

Last Feb (A/W 2013 Collections) I did a few catwalks at Freemason's Hall and put together this showreel, so for those interested, enjoy.

Darren x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYDrkJ2i … 9rVjB8k-wQ

Nice job, I used to take a letter of accreditation and photograph every single show, it was a good way to meet people, get backstage and also be invited to the banquet at the end of fashion week, I met more people than I could list.

In the days of film cameras, I did one year without a motorwind and ended up in hospital having my thumb put in a brace, was the most intense 3 days shooting ever.

I stopped photographing and only use tickets now, which has cut down the number of shows to 1 or 0 these days. It is informative to be able to see all the shows and I recommend going as press, being far better than invite.

Anna Adrielle wrote:
omg TOM FORD WAS EPIC!!

Gutted I couldn't get to that one!

Darren Brade wrote:

Gutted I couldn't get to that one!

It was incredible, so so good. Venue (Drury Club) was pretty cool too, 'though the rain that evening was terrible!

A quick note on the press pass vs invites - even if you're there with a press pass, you still need invitations to actually go to the shows.

Darren Brade wrote:
Really? I know the photographer pass only covers somerset house, any off-site shows you also need an invite.

I guess having a Press pass at least gets you on their radar, invites alone are like gold dust.

Press pass gets you into the lounge and exhibition.

You cannot go to any shows without an invitation, which aren't actually that hard to get if you're there for a good reason and actually there to work (not a nobody blogger, but with a recognised publication). Obviously if you have good relationships with PRs then you'll do better, and the more seasons you do the more you'll be known.
Although that's all moot if you don't provide quality coverage.