Photographer Gareth Cattermole lifts lid on UK’s London Fashion Week

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Gareth Cattermole, 34, has worked on LFW for 15 years
His favourite celebrity spot at fashion week was Pamela Anderson
He struggles with iPhone generation and says smartphones get in the way

By Caroline Garnar For Mailonline

Published: 06:08 EST, 20 September 2015 | Updated: 06:45 EST, 20 September 2015

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London Fashion Week 2015 opened its doors this morning with the first models hitting the catwalk.

From the outside, the event looks impossibly glamorous, but what really goes on behind the scenes?

FEMAIL has the inside scoop from LFW photographer Gareth Cattermole, 34, from London, on the celebrity spot he'll never forget and why he's frustrated with the 'iPhone generation'.

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Model Cara Delevingne poses backstage before the H&M Fall/Winter 2013 Ready-to-Wear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 27, 2013 in Paris, France, taken by Gareth Cattermole

Gareth captures Victoria's Secret model Stella Maxwell down the runway during the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Earl's Court exhibition centre in 2014

Lifting the lid on life behind the scenes: Gareth Cattermole has been shooting at LFW since he was 19

Cattermole has worked on LFW for 15 years, shooting runway from when he was just 19 years old.

He's shot everyone from Cara Delevingne to Victoria's Secret model Stella Maxwell.

He told Mail Online: 'I had no idea what to expect and knew nobody at all, but I was positioned at the very back on a huge stepladder I had managed to borrow off someone.

'The other photographers flooded in through the door minutes before the show started, each had their designated spot and I remember feeling so out of place but I also knew undoubtedly that I wanted to be a part of this scene.'

The newcomer wasn't made to feel particularly welcome and first.

'All I had was a 500mm lens,' said Cattermole. 'The photographer next to me obviously didn’t know me, but I always remember him saying, very snobbishly: “We photographers don’t use 500mm lenses to shoot fashion.” I responded simply with – “Well that’s great - you won’t get what I get then!”

It seems Cattermole knew how to do things his own way from the start, and had found where he was meant to be.

'It was like a switch was flicked inside me. I just loved the whole experience,' he said.

'I totally fell in love with shooting runway and fashion weeks from that day on.

'I don’t know how many seasons and shows I have covered in my 15 years, but it was the thing I used to look forward to shooting the most every time it came around.'

Put the phone down! The photographer says Fashion Week fans on their phones (Eliza Doolittle, second from left, pictured using her mobile in 2014) can sometimes get in the way of a decent shot

Models rehearse before the Ashish show as part of London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14

A model walks the runway during the Frank Sorbier show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute-Couture Fall/Winter 2013-2014 at Hotel De Bezenval in Paris, France in 2013 taken by Gareth

The Getty photographer has now moved away from purely doing runway shots, with his work taking a more creative form.

'I document the whole of Fashion Week in black and white - from what happens on the street, backstage, to interesting catwalk angles - creating a body of work which becomes a feature at the end of it,' he said.

One of the things everyone undoubtedly looks out for in LFW is who's on the front row - is there an equivalent of the FROW for snappers?

It's all about the FROW...but how do the photographers ensure they get a prime spot? There's a strict hierarchy, reveals Cattermole, with the 'house' snapper getting the centre position

He said: 'Like in any work place there is a hierarchy and it’s pretty strict. Each photographer has a specific designated position to shoot from.

'Whoever is shooting ‘house’ for the designer goes in the best spot - usually middle dead centre or wherever the designer or photographer feel they will get the best shots.

Then it filters down so basically each photographer will have a spot they shoot from marked up on the floor with tape.

'I had always favoured a position at the front of the riser sitting on the floor or on a box - this did take me a few years to acquire, but this then became the Getty Images spot, which our guys now shoot from.'

A model rehearses on the catwalk before the Zuhair Murad show as part of Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2014-2015 at Palais Des Beaux Arts in July 2014

He added: 'It’s a difficult thing for newer photographers to understand but they soon learn if they are in a spot they shouldn’t be.

You also get plenty of what are called "chancers" trying their luck to nick a spot, but they’re soon turfed out and are unlikely to make the same mistake twice.

'It can be an extremely intimidating environment but once you learn how it works it’s actually a very fun environment.'

A soft spot for Pamela: Cattermole describes the day he met Pamela, a one-time crush of his, as 'special'

And the most memorable celebrity he's snapped at Fashion Week is somewhat surprising.

He said: 'There used to be some really big names at LFW, but it has lessened somewhat.

'I’ve shot countless celebrities and famous personalities at Fashion Week and beyond, but to be honest, the person I remember the most was Pamela Anderson.

'I had somewhat of a crush on her in my younger years so that was a very special day.'

A model walks down the catwalk during the Weardowney Fashion show at The Royal Horticultral Halls SW1 as part of London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2007 in 2006 in London

Although it's glamorous for the guests with plenty of canapes and cocktails flowing, being on the job it's a different story.

Gareth said: 'As a photographer you will find yourself crammed into the smallest of spaces, spending a great deal of time on the floor, waiting around for ages, being shouted at by security - you are pretty much at the bottom of the rung.

'The backstage environment is the most challenging to work in which is frustrating, but it’s just something you get used to over the years.'

Normally, he'll start early and have planned out the day the night before.

Nothing like a dame: Cattermole says Vivienne Westwood, pictured with granddaughter Cora Corre last year at her Red Label show at LFW, is easily his favourite designer

He said: 'I don’t tend to spend too much time shooting the runway these days as I find backstage and outside the shows on the street much better for pictures.'

But he goes for around four shows a day, grabbing food whenever and wherever he can.

He said: 'I am very lucky - my wife always looks after me so she makes sure there is some food ready for when I get back and I will edit into the night usually finishing up around 2am.

'Then I pack for the morning, go straight to sleep and then head back into town for around 8am ready to start another day.'

His favourite designer is easy to pick with Vivienne Westwood taking the honour during LFW.

Designer Rami Al Ali before his presentation as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2015 in Paris, France

He said: 'I love Vivienne Westwood - especially shooting backstage - she always has very visually stimulating designs and concepts for her shows.'

The photographer admits a love of fashion helps in his job and he finds it interesting to see how 'daring' people are, with street style opening up a whole new world.

He said: 'I find that more and more people are moving to the street to cover fashion events.

'Bloggers and photographers find the street a much more interesting place than the static shows and obviously they are accessible to anyone, so this is also a big draw.

'It’s getting harder to work on the streets with the amount of people shooting, but then for me I am looking for certain shots so that actually adds to my set because it makes for interesting images.'

But Gareth bemoans the younger generation for sticking their phones into his shots.

He said: 'Over the years, respect for photographers has dwindled and that’s upsetting as we are a vital and important part of the industry.

I also struggle with the iPhone generation - especially backstage who just stick phones up when you are trying to shoot. That is very frustrating.'