New York Fashion Week is one of the biggest fashion events in the world. It is held in both the spring and fall each year and features the latest in fashion by big-name designers.
For a fashion photographer, Fashion Week is like the Olympic Games. This is the time to pull out all the stops, but interestingly enough, you don’t need much equipment to take great photos at Fashion Week.
Get Close
For the best photos, being up front with the press line is ideal. But what if you’re not a member of the press? Then you should grab a great telephoto zoom, and use it to take photos that appear as if you climbed onto the runway. The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens, , is a trusted brand that works great for fashion photography.
- 15 groups / 18 elements construction
- 34 – 12 angle of view
- 2.8-32 F-stop range
- Closest focusing distance: 1.5m / 4.9ft.
- Maximum magnification: 1:7.7
- 77mm filter size
- Dimensions (length x diameter): 7.6″ x 3.3″ / 193.6 x 84.6mm
- Weight: 2.9 lbs.
Get Details
Fashion photography relies on capturing the details of a garment. A teleconverter like the Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DGX AF 2x Teleconverter for Canon EOS, , is your best bet and is much more portable compared to a telephoto lens. Place it between the camera body and lens, and the lens will enlarge the focus of your subject and enhance the details while you’re shooting. Fashions shows are also very bright and a teleconverter will lessen the intensity of the light, reducing the harshness of your photo’s lighting.
- Magnification: 2x
- Depth of field: 1/2 of prime lens
- Minimum focus distance is same as prime lens
- Construction: 7E/4G
- Fully automatic diaphragm coupling
- Digital multi coating on lens
- Exposure Magnification: approx. 4 times (equivalent to 2 diaphragm)
- Barrel length: approx. 27mm
- Weight: 6.4oz
Get Steady
You probably already know that a shaky camera equals blurry photos. During a fashion show, camera shake is almost inevitable because you will be jockeying with others for a better position to shoot. A tripod is best for reducing camera shake, but it takes up a lot of room and isn’t very portable when you’re running from one runway to another. The monopod, like the 3Pod Orbit 4-Section Aluminum Handheld Monopod, offers the perfect solution. It can be used both as a monopod and tripod, as it has three retractable locking feet, allowing you to mount it on the floor or any flat surface. It is much lighter and takes up less space than a tripod, making it perfect for on-the-go shooting. It also has a wrist strap and hand grip for added support when used handheld.
- Supports up to 18 lbs.
- Extends to 65.5in
- Folds down to 23.5in
- Made out of lightweight Aluminum
- Four leg sections
Get Height
If you are on the shorter side or if you’re just at the back of the pack of photographers, gaining height above the rest can save the day. A light stepstool that folds flat, like the E-z Foldz Plastic 9″ Step Stool for only , will be one of your cheapest and possibly the handiest items you can buy for Fashion Week.
- Holds up to 300 lbs.
- Dimensions when open: 12.1″ x 10.75″ x 9″
- Dimensions when folded: 12.1″ x 1.8″ x 12.3″
- Weighs 2.65 lbs.
Here’s a quick recap of our list of recommended gear to aid you in applying the photography tips mentioned above:
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens
- Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DGX AF 2x Teleconverter for Canon EOS
- 3Pod Orbit 4-Section Aluminum Handheld Monopod
- E-z Foldz Plastic 9″ Step Stool
As you plan your itinerary for Fashion Week, the Adorama Learning Center is a great way to develop your skills and gain ideas. To get started, here are some helpful articles for learning fashion photography:
- The Pentax Q Fashion Week Stress Test
- Fashion Photographer Laretta Houston – AdoramaTV
- Stunning Fashion Photos on a Shoestring Budget
What is your biggest fashion photography challenge?
