• Creative lighting highlights the style and theme of your fashion show.fashion girls image by Gaurav Sharma from Fotolia.com
  
  Fashion show lighting accentuates clothing and models while adding a flow and rhythm to the show. Lighting, sound and staging work together to support the theme and style of any event, whether it be for the catwalk, celebrity models or an amateur showcase. From haute couture charity events to televised modeling pageants, professional lighting can strengthen the dynamics and energy of an event.
  
  

Designer Shows

• Lighting design for catwalk shows is meant to literally and figuratively shine a light on the clothing collection. Begin designer runway shows with smooth, even, white lighting. Avoid blinding any portion of the audience with glares, which are known as "hot spots". Use lighting to complement the mood of the collection. Activewear, for example, calls for daytime lighting that is bright and even, while gowns require dimmer accompaniment. Regardless of intensity, lighting should fall evenly over the modeled outfits. Professional productions that showcase designer collections have larger budgets, so lighting can be even more extravagant.
  
  

Amateur Shows

• Amateur or volunteer shows may lack budget, but they make up for it with enthusiasm. Seek a volunteer technician to operate lighting. Include lighting in the dress rehearsals so that glitches can be worked out ahead of time. As in designer shows, the emphasis should be on the clothing, models and sometimes sponsors. Never upstage the purpose of your event with a "light show."
  
  

Special Effects

• Use special effects lighting to induce a mood or add drama. Special effects lighting includes moving lights, colored lighting and strobes. Scenery changes can be accomplished through simple lighting techniques. By using colored gels over foot lightbulbs that run along the runway, the color of the ramp can be transformed. Likewise, color gels over backdrop lighting can instantly change your backdrop. Dimming lights adds drama and is a quick mood changer. Strobes coordinated with music strengthen the pulse of the show. Twinkling lights can also be used to create a starry-night effect.