October Issue 06
Editor-in-chief, creative director
Editor-in-chief, creative director
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THE PHOTOGRAPHERS<br />
Press Pit Real Estate<br />
The best seats in the house belong to the crew behind the camera—how you get there is another story<br />
The coveted Press Pit<br />
at every fashion show is<br />
the prime location for<br />
photographers and media<br />
to get the best images on<br />
the runway. Usually this<br />
is a section at the end of<br />
the runway, also known<br />
as Media Risers, that is<br />
sectioned off specifically<br />
for photographers of<br />
the media. Every<br />
official Fashion Week<br />
across the globe makes<br />
sure to accommodate<br />
an appropriate press<br />
pit. Without it, the<br />
major media outlets at<br />
every Fashion Week wouldn’t get the quality images necessary for<br />
their articles and reviews of the shows. One of the co-founders of<br />
The L.A. Fashion Magazine and the current Chief Photographer of<br />
runway, Kai He, wanted to give our reader’s some insight on what<br />
it’s like for media in the press pit and what requirements are necessary<br />
to be allowed access to such a major location in the runway room.<br />
What would you say is a requirement to have<br />
a guaranteed spot in the Press Pit?<br />
The number one factor is how well known and how well recognized<br />
your media is. The key beyond that is for your media outlet to<br />
have a good relationship with the show producers. Photographers<br />
want to shoot for a reputable media outlet and communicate that<br />
they represent that outlet and deserve a good spot in the pit.<br />
What would you say is the number one complaint<br />
photographers encounter at a fashion show?<br />
A professional runway show should have photographers that know<br />
what they are doing. Occasionally there are some photographers<br />
that will make rookie mistakes like using flash photography. Flash<br />
ruins the shot for every other photographer in the pit, so it’s definitely<br />
frowned upon. Also, space is limited in the pit, so it can get pretty<br />
cramped in there. It’s important to have good interpersonal skills so<br />
that you can be considerate to other photographers who might want<br />
your space, even though you are being paid to shoot in that location.<br />
What’s your best piece of advice for photographers who<br />
want to get into the press and media side of Fashion Week?<br />
Given the fact that the pit can only accommodate a limited number<br />
of photographers, it’s<br />
important that you align<br />
yourself with a reputable<br />
media outlet. Many<br />
photographers have a<br />
passion for shooting<br />
runway, but when it<br />
comes to shooting<br />
runway for your own<br />
personal needs, it won’t<br />
really get you anywhere.<br />
Some runway<br />
shows hire in-house<br />
photographers that have<br />
worked with designers<br />
previously. In this case,<br />
if the designer wants<br />
you in the press pit,<br />
then they can request for you to have access to a spot in the media<br />
risers. This, of course, depends on how strict the guidelines are<br />
between productions, because some shows are stricter than others.<br />
How is the proper media selected to be in the press pit?<br />
Usually, every production has a Media Manager that assures the<br />
major media outlets get the shots they need on the runway. There<br />
are instances when major media outlets can request a photographer to<br />
be moved so that the major media can take that photographer’s spot<br />
in the press pit. In the case for the L.A. Fashion Magazine, we make<br />
sure to do the proper leg work to arrive early and get our best spot in<br />
the pit just to avoid conflicts and to be fair to other photographers.<br />
What is the level of professionalism required<br />
from photographers in a press pit?<br />
It depends on experience, honestly, but for example, if you go to<br />
a professional runway show that is well lit and constructed, it’s not<br />
difficult to get quality images from the show. Now in some cases,<br />
larger productions may use theatrical sets and runways that aren’t<br />
lit as well as plain white runways. It’s during these instances where<br />
the best photographers shine and their expertise comes into play.<br />
What’s your favorite part of shooting a runway show?<br />
The glamorous and theatrical shows are what make the press pit<br />
worth it. The press pit is actually the best location to get a full<br />
view of the shows. It can be so beautiful, and I feel blessed as a<br />
photographer because I feel like I have the best seat in the house.<br />
The LA FASHION MAGAZINE<br />
121
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