Behind the scenes at London Fashion Week with Richard Quinn and instax™ cameras
Five days of catwalks, presentations and pavements packed with standout outfits. London Fashion Week SS27 ran from 17 to 21 September, and day three (19 September) brought one of the most glamorous evenings on the schedule: Richard Quinn's show.
Think big florals and even bigger gowns. This season, we partnered with Richard Quinn for his show. We brought along two cameras to match that drama: the instax WIDE Evo™ and the instax mini 41™.
Keep scrolling for the show, the fashion photographer behind the lens, shot ideas to borrow and the film we used.
The lowdown on Richard Quinn SS27
Quinn launched his label in 2016 after finishing his MA at Central Saint Martins, and he's become one of London Fashion Week's best-known names. Prints are developed at the house's London atelier.
For SS27, he took over The Lindley Hall in Westminster with The Mirrored Garden. Set among mirrors and crystal chandeliers, the collection moved from the intimacy of the dressing room to the drama of the ballroom.
The collection revisited '80s glamour. Sculpted corsetry, strong shoulders and cinched waists created an hourglass line, while bell skirts and sweeping evening shapes brought the sense of occasion. The palette ran from black and ivory into lacquer red and lipstick pink, with Quinn's signature florals and Swarovski accents throughout.
For the finale, supermodel Helena Christensen closed the show.
Behind the lens with Andrew Barber
Fashion photographer Andrew Barber was behind the lens for the evening. Andrew started out shooting street style around London, and when a magazine spotted his work, it led to his first LFW gig. From there he shot for GQ China and GQ Italy, then moved into backstage and catwalk work across Paris, Milan, New York and London.
That mix of fashion week street style and backstage work made him a natural fit for a Quinn show.
Who was there
Joining us on the night were @styledbynana, @rebeccajanehill and @heloisedarcie. Nana is a stylist turned fashion editor and broadcaster at SheerLuxe. Heloise is a London-based fashion photographer and journalist who shoots LFW on analogue film for titles including Dazed and Wonderland. Rebecca, Cosmopolitan's senior fashion editor, sat front row, headed backstage before the show and shot the best-dressed guests on the instax mini 41™.
Why the instax WIDE Evo™ and instax mini 41™ made the cut
Andrew used the instax WIDE Evo™ for full-length looks moving through the mirrored room, and the instax mini 41™ for the embellishment you only notice up close.
The instax WIDE Evo™ has our widest-angle lens to date, handy for floor-length looks against a wall of mirrors. You can fit the whole silhouette in, train included, without backing into the front row. The LCD screen shows exactly what you'll print, and because it's a hybrid, you choose which shots become prints and which stay digital. New to hybrids? Our lowdown on instax™ hybrid cameras walks you through how they work.
The instax mini 41™ suits dim corners and quick moments, when nobody has time to fiddle with settings. Automatic exposure adjusts to the room, so you can keep shooting. The selfie mirror next to the lens makes it easy to frame yourself for a quick selfie between looks. Its textured body, metallic-like finish and orange accents look right at home next to a sequinned gown.
So, which instax™ camera works best for outfit and event photos? For full-length outfits and busy event spaces, go for the instax WIDE Evo™, because the wide lens fits whole looks and groups into one frame. For details, selfies and quick candids, the instax mini 41™ is easy to carry and simple to shoot with.
Picturing that wide view at your next event? See what the instax WIDE Evo™ can do.
Shoot your own London Fashion Week moments
You don't need a runway invite to take fashion week photos worth keeping. Got a launch or a birthday dinner coming up? These shot ideas work anywhere people have dressed up.
The full-length look
For head-to-toe outfits, get the whole look in frame. Stand back far enough to fit shoes and hem, then shoot from just below eye level so the silhouette looks longer.
Mirror shots on the set
Flash bouncing off a mirror causes glare. On the instax WIDE Evo™, switch the flash off and keep bright lights out of the reflection. The instax mini 41™ fires its flash on every shot, so stand at an angle to the mirror.
The embellishment close-up
Swarovski crystals and embroidery get lost in a full-length shot. Switch the instax mini 41™ into Close-up Mode and move in to between 0.3 and 0.5 metres. Parallax correction shifts the target mark in the viewfinder, so what you frame is what ends up on your print.
Get to know the instax mini 41™ for more detail shots like this.
The final touch-up backstage
Last-minute lipstick, a stylist fixing a hem. Backstage fashion week moments happen fast, often in dim corners. Keep the instax mini 41™ handy and shoot while people are busy rather than asking them to pose.
The front-row line-up
Guests lined up along the runway, or round a dinner table, make a brilliant group shot. On the instax WIDE Evo™, twist the lens to adjust your chosen effect with the Degree Control Dial. Try the cinematic, film strip or date stamp film styles too, then turn the print crank on your favourite and the print comes out.
The film we used
We kept it classic at London Fashion Week, with white- and black-bordered instax™ WIDE film in the instax WIDE Evo™ and instax™ mini film in the instax mini 41™. There's room at the bottom of each print to jot down the date or the look.
Film comes in packs and isn't included with your camera. Browse more borders and finishes on our film page. Once your prints are ready, slide them into an album or pop your favourites in a frame.
That's a wrap on London Fashion Week
From our Copenhagen trip last year to Quinn's Mirrored Garden at London Fashion Week, fashion looks good on instant film. A huge thank you to Richard Quinn and his team for having us, and to Andrew for capturing the evening!
Catch up on last year's trip in our Copenhagen Fashion Week recap. And if you've got a big night of your own coming up, find the instax™ camera that suits your style.
FUJIFILM, instax, instax WIDE Evo and instax mini 41 are registered trademarks or trademarks of FUJIFILM Corporation.
