My First Fashion Show: What It Really Takes to Get Behind the Scenes

People often imagine that getting into Fashion Week is about who you know, the size of your Instagram following, or having the perfect portfolio.. The truth is far less glamorous.

My first fashion show came from sending a lot of emails, hearing nothing back, and finally getting a single reply from one brand willing to take a chance on me. That brand was AADNEVIK. At the time, my portfolio was not a fashion portfolio. I had strong photography, but very little that proved I could shoot backstage, runway or designers under pressure. I was honest about that. I didn’t pretend I was something I wasn’t. I just made it clear I would work hard and deliver.

That one yes changed everything.

How I got my first Fashion Week opportunity

I approached Fashion Week the same way I approach photography - with persistence and respect. I sent thoughtful outreach to a lot of designers and PR teams. Most never replied. Some said no. AADNEVIK were the only ones who said yes. They didn’t say yes because I had a perfect fashion portfolio. They said yes because I offered something useful.

I told them:

• I would deliver images within 24 hours

• They would be free to use them for press, social and promotion

• There would be no licensing complications

• No drama, no chasing, no hidden conditions

For a designer in the middle of Fashion Week, that is valuable. They need images quickly. They need to share them. They need to look good.I made it easy for them to say yes.

What my first show was really like

Backstage at your first fashion show is overwhelming..There are racks of clothes everywhere. Models being dressed at speed. Hair and makeup teams working under pressure. PRs trying to keep everything on schedule. Designers juggling nerves and last-minute changes. No one has time to explain what is happening. Your job as a photographer is to blend in, stay out of the way, and be ready when something meaningful happens. I learned very quickly that this is not about directing people. It is about observing, anticipating and respecting the space.

Why delivering fast mattered

The reason AADNEVIK trusted me again after that first show was not just the images.It was the speed. They had professional, usable images the next day. That meant they could post, pitch to press and show the collection while it was still relevant. Fashion moves fast. If you cannot keep up, you become a liability, no matter how good your photos are.

What I learned from that first yes

That first AADNEVIK show taught me something I still use today.

Access is not earned through ego.
It is earned through usefulness.

Designers and PRs are not looking for artists. They are looking for people who make their lives easier during the most stressful week of their year. Once you understand that, everything changes.

If you are trying to get your first show

If your portfolio feels weak, that is normal. Everyone starts there.

What matters is:

• You reach out professionally

• You are honest

• You offer something of real value

• You deliver what you promise

One yes is all you need.

Mine came from AADNEVIK. Yours will come from somewhere else. But it will come.