This photo set is a wonderful representation of the commotion backstage at a fashion show. A follower once asked me to recall what it is like backstage, so I think now that I’ve been inspired by these fabulous photos I shall.
The models enter the venue and check in with the casting director. If you thought you knew models, compared to a casting director, you know nothing. I swear this one casting director could name every single model just by hearing her voice, although he probably could do so because of the countless fittings beforehand.
Depending on the venue size, there generally isn’t much room and there are a lot of people. Everyone is backstage doing their jobs such as the: makeup artists, PR team (either in-house or an agency), press, photographers, hairstylists, models, people steaming clothing, designer of the hour, security, manicurists, assistants and people with push-pins and needles (who I assume are on the design team and are there to sew the girls into the clothing and add last minute details).
Each model is being done up by a makeup artist and hair stylist at the same time, sometimes even a manicurist is working on her too. Everything is non-stop. I saw a girl come in late and I felt bad for her. The beauty team swarmed her and three people were doing her hair, someone was painting her nails and two people were putting on her makeup. Even after the models are done getting their makeup, as they line up and get their dresses on, there is a lady running around powdering their face and adding more lipstick.
After hair and makeup, the models line up in their bathrobes or their own clothing for a run through of the runway so they all know where they are supposed to walk and turn. What happens in a three hour time period really feels like it’s being done in 30 minutes. Everything goes by so quickly. Models are either chatting up their makeup artists or are zoned out listening to music. As a photographer I try to snap candid moments and try to scope out my favorite models for some portrait shots. It’s fun to say hi or compliment the models because they are generally so nice. When I saw Daphne Groeneveld at Oscar de la Renta I told her how happy the followers of my blog and I were to see her back on the runway. She seemed genuinely grateful and posed for a long time, allowing me to take hundreds of photos for her.
Finally, the models are helped in their outfits for the show, which is called “first looks.” These are the backstage photos generally seen of models in their gowns and get-ups fooling around, having fun, and being irresistibly chic. Sometimes you get first looks and sometimes you’re out of luck because they kick you out for more space. The fitting area at some studios is so small I don’t even know how they get all the models in there!
Again, each model has about 5 people on her: adding more hairspray, strapping her feet in shoes, fluffing her dress, rubbing lotion on her legs*, and yelling at her where to stand in the line of about 25 amazon goddesses.
There is so much energy backstage and that is why it is my favorite place to be! On the runway you don’t have as much freedom for artistic photos, but backstage you can pause and take a moment out of the restlessness to snap some really awesome photos. As the models line up and are ready to be sent down the runway, the head designer checks them before they walk out for the audience to see. It truly is magic to see what happens on the other side of of the runway. It is by far my favorite thing about fashion week.
*one of the people rubbing lotion on the models’ legs actually started rubbing lotion on mine until I made an awkward “uuhmmahhrrmm” noise.
Nicolas Ghesquière and his favorite models in ”Showtime" for Elle UK February 2015 photographed by Jean-Paul Goude
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