Katie Collins 06/03/2020 Katie Collins 06/03/2020

Street Fashion - London Fashion Week AW2020

Hands down one of the highlights of photographing London Fashion Week for me is meeting and taking pictures of those who have dressed up for the occasion.

Always happy to have their picture taken, I find it fascinating hearing more about people’s stories and what fashion means to them.

London Fashion Week always reminds me to be braver and have more fun with fashion, just like those in the images below.

All pictures ©Katie Collins/PA Images

Katie Collins 06/03/2020 Katie Collins 06/03/2020

London Fashion Week AW2020

The fashion world once again gathered in London for the twice annual fashion week, this time showcasing the Autumn/Winter 2020 collections for buyers, journalists and fashion enthusiasts.

On assignment for PA Media I covered the weekend shows which included Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and RIXO.

From backstage to runway, I always find London Fashion Week a fascinating spectacle. Here’s a few pictures from the latest event -

Katie Collins 20/09/2019 Katie Collins 20/09/2019

London Fashion Week - Spring/Summer 2020

Ami and Aya at the Ports 1961 catwalk show

This September must be about my 10th time covering London Fashion Week.

It’s a pretty marmite job for photographers. There’s no doubt it’s hectic with timings and jostling for prime position but it’s always been a twice yearly highlight for me.

The catwalk shows are one of the main features - the anticipation of what colours and styles will grace the runway accompanied by a booming soundtrack to match.

Stripes and Zebra print at the Ports 1961 catwalk show

Pixie Geldof at the Ports 1961 catwalk show

Without question street fashion has become a much bigger part of fashion week. Fashion students, designers, models can be found perusing the main venue, always happy to have a chat and their photo taken. I got chatting to Christelle McCracken (below) after my last show of the day. I asked what brought her to fashion week, is she an influencer, designer, student? ‘ I’m actually a criminal barrister’ she told me.

There’s another side of fashion week I love to capture - backstage. It’s definitely not as accessible as it used to be but I was lucky enough to watch the make up and hairstylists in action at the Preen by Thornton Bregazzi show as they prepared the models for their first looks and the catwalk show. Backstage photography is for me about capturing those small moments, expressions and watching out for pockets of interesting light.

As with the previous seasons, London Fashion Week did not disappoint. I can’t wait to be there for the next season.

A model on the catwalk at the Natasha Zinko X DUO catwalk show

All images shot on assignment for PA Images No reproduction or usage without prior permission

All images captured using either a Canon 5d Mark III or a Fuji X-E2 camera

Katie Collins 01/03/2019 Katie Collins 01/03/2019

London Fashion Week - February 2019

I get pretty excited when London Fashion Week rolls around every February & September as major brands and up and coming designers show either Autumn/Winter or Spring/Summer collections.

Whether it’s shooting the catwalk shows or feeling the adrenalin backstage, the weird and wonderful world of fashion is fascinating to me.

So this February I had the chance to shoot two days for The Press Association and it did not disappoint. I witnessed first hand the enchanting, fairytale designs of Molly Goddard perfectly presented in the courtyard of The Foreign & Commonwealth Office. I soaked up the colour and buzz of backstage at the University of Westminster show - a university I myself attended to study Photojournalism.

The world’s oldest Dutch reformed church in Liverpool Street played host to the Ryan LO show - the outfits complemented by hats by Stephen Jones Millinery. Tokyo twins Ami & Aya were one of my street fashion highlights - immaculately presented in emerald green suits with slick neon pink hair.

Fashion Week is guaranteed to be long days going from show to show and editing in between but that’s all part and parcel of covering the event. I take my hat off to the photographers who go straight from New York to London to Milan and Paris. One front row photographer was telling me how much he missed his young daughter as we waited for a catwalk show to start.

Straight after my few days working for PA, we were packing for a family mini-break to Bath. Just as we were heading out the door I spotted one of my pictures from the Molly Goddard show had been published in The Sunday Times. I’d also had a picture published in The Daily Telegraph on the Saturday which I found out about a few days later.

All in all it was a brilliant few days and I can’t wait to do it all again.

All images Katie Collins/Press Association

Katie Collins 20/09/2018 Katie Collins 20/09/2018

London Fashion Week SS19

Last Saturday I found myself back at London Fashion Fashion Week. It was always one of my favourite jobs of the year when I was staff at The Press Association. When I was asked to cover a shift, I jumped at the chance to be there shooting again.

To some photographers, London Fashion Week is hell. It’s extremely hectic, lots of jostling for positions and dashing across London from show to show. I however have always loved it - the bright lights, loud music, intricate or occasionally plain crazy designs - I just love it!

There’s no doubt London Fashion Week has changed a lot. It’s no longer at Somerset House which is a real shame, there is no longer sponsorship by Canon (and the chance to get your cameras cleaned) and there are no longer free bottles of Peroni in the fridge in the editing room (yes, this used to be the case!)

When not shooting the catwalk shows that day, I was mingling and photographing some of unusual and bizarre outfits on display outside the venue. I met some lovely people who simply enjoy dressing up and expressing themselves through fashion.

All in all it was a brilliant day.

Alan Carr, Julien Macdonald and Kelly Hoppen