Clothes Show Live 2012

Posted by Paul

This year was I think my 7th or 8th year of shooting the event and is pretty much one of the highlights of my catwalk show year. This year was somewhat different from previous years as I knew a lot of the models and dancers in the sequences. This whilst giving me an extra link to the show bought along it’s own problems. Not only was I shooting for my news agency and getting overall shots that they could sell for me but I also wanted to get images that the people in the show that I knew could use for there portfolio. If you saw the show you will realise how fast paced it is and how they take care to ensure that the action encompasses all of the stage. Quite often my subjects were on different sides and also shooting with two camera’s wide and telephoto led to a number of fast camera changes and awesome panning skills. Actually that part is a lie, I shot the show over about 15 performances to make sure I covered everything my client and I required.

I also managed to sneak a few words with some of the models between shows, and it was nice to receive thanks from them that I was capturing them in a way they could use. I think this connection came out in the images, of which I can only show a few as the rest have been released to clients.

Clothes Show Live – The event

Posted by Paul

This years Clothes Show Live ran from the 3rd to the 7th December and included the Dance Show 2011. Fashion and Dance have always seemed to be common partners through the ages and this years show showed that it was still true today.
The show hosted a number of celebrities ranging from Holly Oaks to Towie (The Only Way Is Essex) and designs from most of the major high street brands. Remember this is a show for the people rather than the High Couture of say London Fashion Week. That’s not to say the quality of items was in any way less, all the big names were represented and dotted around the stalls there was some amazingly talented designers. Amongst the College and University stands there was a small offering from recent graduates, which included one that particularly caught my eye and that was gunsmoke and lavender which I can easily see becoming a brand to be reckoned with.

The mainstage show, sponsored by Suzuki, is one of the largest catwalk shows I have ever witnessed, I am reluctant to call it a show as it is really a production, with different sets, themes and dance to illustrate the clothing being presented.
Kimberley Wyatt, who most will recognise from the Pussy Cat Dolls appeared with her new band ‘Her Majesty and the Wolves’ and I have to admit put on a great show and I did like her music. She also appeared very sweet at the earlier press call.