Runway Tips

[digitalpixels]

I've never really done this kind of photography before, but does anyone have any tips on photographing runways of fashion shows? I'm going to be photographing one this weekend, and would appreciate any advice and tips on how to shoot it.

I haven't been told any lighting details, except its in a club, and it will be dark but the runway should be well-lighted...

[toverman]

I guess the question would be, can you use flash? Because unless the ambient lighting is powerful and even, the models will be moving and could be in shadow, then out of shadow, then in shadow, then out of shadow ...

[adirty1]

we shoot them with flash on camera normally. However, if the designer doesn't mind it we can normally place a head or two in the light rigging and trip it with a slave. we normally pick two places that we will photograph a model on the runway. usually it's when the model first comes out because the model will stop there on the way out and the way back and then of course at the end of the runway.

We did have a very interesting show once where the model really never stopped at the end and there where 3 models moving back and forth on stage and stopping in the middle of the runway. So it pays to ask the person running the show how the model is going to move.

If you are using on camera flash bounce the flash if at all possible.

If you are shooting this alone I would try and get just off center to where you can get a couple shots and at least one shot with the designers name in the background.