Michelle Jank Spring/Summer 2005–06, Mercedes Australian Fashion Week, Sydney

Michelle was just a student at East Sydney Tech when I met her and I could see she was doing great things then. I used to go to the East Sydney Tech end-of-year fashion shows and her work really stood out. This photograph was taken from the front row, of all the models just slowly, slowly, coming on, and stepping on chairs and ladders until the final shot. I'd only ever done catwalk in London and Paris so that was very exciting seeing all the models, hairdressers, makeup, everybody in a tizz, trying to get ready on time to step out onto that catwalk. I found photographing backstage much, much more exciting than photographing the catwalk because of the atmosphere and because of the quick shots I could get of people in disarray, or, looking perfect two seconds before they're about to go on the catwalk, handing a cigarette to the security, and stepping out looking immaculate.