Burberry SS26: A Photographer’s Experience From Outside the Tent
Read time - 4 Minutes
This is my personal experience photographing Burberry SS26 at London Fashion Week, rather than a traditional breakdown of trends and runway looks, I’m sharing what it felt like to be there, the atmosphere, the guests, and the little moments around the show.
Burberry SS26 was chaotic in the way that only feels normal in London. K-pop fans were screaming, photographers were sprinting across the park, and somehow both groups outpaced the joggers on their evening run around Kensington Park. It was a blend of excitement and anticipation that felt different from other shows that week.
The guest list matched that same energy. Uncle Ian (Wright), Auntie Bemi Orojuogun bringing her warmth, and Olivia Dean glowing as always. Seeing Nia Archives felt very London in the best way, with a calming presence, taking it all in.
Victor Kunda was exactly as you’d expect if you’ve seen him online, excitable, friendly and assured, charming people as he moved through the crowd, he’s clearly been here before.
I happened to catch the lovely Toni Blaze on her way out. We spoke briefly before I took her photo, having seen her at previous fashion weeks.
Overall, it just felt like real London people showing up to a London show.
The venue looked great this year, a bright, open tent that felt calming, especially considering the chaos outside. It almost seemed like Burberry’s literal take on blue-sky thinking.
Later at the pub, I met a videographer (Sean Riller) who had captured a stop-motion video of the tent. It made me pause and appreciate how much effort goes into creating something unique and memorable.
Inside, the cube-shaped seating and the sandy runway gave the show a subtle hint of a British summer festival. Slightly odd, but undeniably charming.
Of course the ever-present Burberry tartan was on show, trenches with sharp cuts, accessories and bags that felt intentional and caught your eye but passed by too quickly to fully take in. Street style at Burberry moves fast, almost too fast to appreciate in the moment.
Most of the photos I captured were arrivals and exits, which is normal for street style, but this time, the photos I didn’t take feel just as important as the ones I did.
For this show, I exercised a personal rule. Before taking someone’s photo, I had to speak to them first. Even if it was a quick “I love your outfit, can I take a photo please?” or a small suggestion about where to stand. It slows everything down just enough to create a bit of connection, especially at busy show.
I even took it a step further when I saw Loyle Carner.
I asked him, “Can I ask a favour? I want to take a photo of you and then one with you.”
He said yes right away and mentioned how much more comfortable it is to take photos with someone. It was a small exchange, but it stayed with me. Jordan Taylor (Photographer) offered to take those photos of us. That experience validated my rule, not practical for all of Fashion Week, but worth doing when possible.
Because of this approach, I didn’t get photos of Maya Jama or Naomi Campbell, who walked through parting the sea of fans and photographers like royalty. Though I was encouraged to by her stylist.
I also didn’t get photos of the artists Central Cee or Skepta for similar reasons. Yes, there’s a part of me that wishes I had taken the shots. They would have taken milliseconds. This isn’t about me feeling that I am better than anyone, but rather me trying to shoot with intention rather than pure reflex.
Whenever I try to describe the clothes, I end up spouting clichés or fashion jargon that doesn’t really say anything. Or I end up listing ‘five trends to follow this autumn’ the way every outlet will do, probably much better than I can. I prefer letting the photos of the guests tell that part of the story. They usually do it more clearly anyway.
What I keep thinking about isn’t any one look from the runway. It’s the atmosphere around the tent, the sense that something exciting was happening, and everyone could feel it. A very London mix of chaos, style, humour, and unpredictability.
Burberry has a way of creating that feeling every season. It’s what makes me want to come back.
Next season, hopefully, I’ll take a few more of the shots I missed. Maybe I’ll be a bit closer to the action.