Behind the Lens with Fashion Photographer Larry Busacca of Getty Images
Who doesn’t wanna know how to look thin for the camera, right? (um, we do!) We recently had a chance to catch up with leading entertainment photographer Larry Busacca of Getty Images to find out what it’s really like behind the lens. He’s been shooting the celebrity scene for more than 20 years, and even shadowed Anna Wintour at last year’s Fashion’s Night Out event. Here’s what he had to tell us!
I Heart Heels: What’s it really like “in the pit?” I have to know! Have you ever suffered an injury?
Larry Busacca: Luckily no, but someone in the audience [of a rock concert I attended] threw an M-80 (very large firecracker) at the stage and it went off as it flew through the pit and hit my friend. We were both ok, just a little hearing impaired for a few days.
IHH: Do you get to pick your spot, and is it proper to move others out of the way?
LB: Usually I’m roaming on the red carpets and not in a fixed spot, but when I do have to be in one spot, that spot is almost always saved in advance by the public relations firm. About moving other people, if your spot is marked by the publicists in advance and you arrive to find someone in your spot, then sure, you move the other person.
If someone has moved into a spot that has been established as yours and you’ve worked out that you will be back (if you had to leave for a minute), then moving them is absolutely ok. There are exceptions , but generally the photographers in the VIP spots that are saved are pros and know how to behave. When someone gets out of line or is disrespectful to other photographers or the celebrities, that’s when you see fireworks on the line.
IHH: Is it really better for shots for the front row to uncross their legs?
LB: Not necessarily. It depends on the angle of the camera, the length of the skirt, how fabulous or not your legs are looking at the moment. Even if you think you’re in good shape, try this exercise. Sit in a few different style chairs in a short skirt or pair of shorts and have a friend snap some shots of you. Look at the bottom of your thighs where they meet the chair. Anything looking like cellulite? You’d be surprised how many famous legs have what what appears to be cellulite in that area when they’re just sitting the wrong way.
IHH: What kind of camera do you use, and what’s one tip us everyday SLR users should know about taking a runway shot?
LB: Nikon D3S. For runway, shoot with as fast an ISO (film speed) that will still give you acceptable quality and keep your shutter speed as fast as possible so you don’t get blur. Usually at least 250th of a second or faster. Often in smaller shows this is just not possible because the lighting is too dim. Usually you are not supposed to shoot flash so I’m not considering that as an option. Besides, flash usually ruins the “look” of the show that the designer and event producer have created.
IHH: Please tell me what it was like shadowing Anna Wintour at last year’s Fashion’s Night Out! Does Anna like her photo taken?
LB: It’s like shooting any other Icon. Awesome. There’s so much going on that all you can do is stay focused (no pun intended) and get your shot without EVER getting in the way. She’s a pro. She knows when she needs to stop and smile.
IHH: Any tips on posing to look thinner?
LB: Usually, turning an angle to the lens will work, but it totally depends on the outfit you are in, how it falls on you and what it accents on you. Again, do some test snaps with a friend before you go out.
IHH: What about to make your shoes stand out?
LB: Usually great shoes stand out on their own. So keep it simple, and just let them be seen.
[Photo Credit: Larry Busacca; Getty Images]
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