13 replies to this topic

[imagination is creative]

HI out there i have been shooting weddings for 12 years now and recently i met a fellow photographer on her way to a wedding and she had on a really nice peach dress. She is around 35 years old and i am 57. I wear a black top and black pants and even though they are light i just melt in these. My question is i really liked what she was wearing and it got me thinking what is the rest of us wearing when
shooting a wedding? I have seen some others that are at the Ancaster old Mill and there will be 2 or 3 of us around and they sometimes look as if they are going to clean the house baggie capris and a layered t-shirt not proffessinal looking at all. So tell me out there what do you wear.

Christine Green Capture the Moment Photography Dundas Ont

[Robert Michael]

If I wore a dress my wife would freak out. We usually wear some combination of black, grey & white. I always wear black slacks & black or (sometines) grey w/black shirt. She always wears black slacks and a nice top with black, gray, white variations.

Why pick these colors? It is an industry standard known to the average person. Why not just blend in with a nice outfit?

I think it is important to be recognized as a professional and not just some guy or girl with the camera.

I want people to feel comfortable with me as a Pro. Imagine if the cake decorater came back in to finish setting up the cake and they were wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt. What would be your first thought or first words out of your mouth (or a guests). Why is it the Doctor at the office always greets you in a tie & white jacket. How would you feel if the new doc you were seeing walked in the examining room in jeans & a sweatshirt? Even the roto-rooter guy has some sort of professional attire.

And most importantly . . . .You are still advertising yourself to potential guests and there is no better way than to have them know from the second they recognize you that YOU ARE A Professional. First impressions are the most lasting.

Bob

[Brian Rock Photography]

Suit and tie.

[Kellie Boda]

We usually sport the same. Black pants and a nice top/blouse in the white/black or gray scale. We get hot sometimes depending upon when and where the wedding is too sometimes. But just part of the job I guess. I could never wear a dress or skirt to shoot, lol. I like to get pics from ALL angles and a dress wouldn't be appropriate for some! LOL!

[scott gonzalez]

On a regular day I wear black dress pants, with a white/grey/black shirt, and a vest. I don't wear jackets or ties because I feel too constricted and might not get certain shots. On really hot days I just substitute black for grey. At the risk of sounding sexist, I think female photographers can get away with wearing different colored dresses because technically, they are still dressed for the situation. I'm just not sure how professional it is.
Invest in some high quality, light clothing. I have a few Calvin Klein light weight suits that help on those hot days.

[andy jarvie]

Be it a wedding or commercial shoot I normally do smart trousers and collared shirt and normally darker colours. I don't know about you guys but i always seem to end up lying on the ground at some point trying to get an angle for a shot so I tend to wear clothes which are smart enough but that I'm not going to worry about too much.... i.e. I never wear anything too expensive, that shows dirt too much or that doesn't clean easily.

I've never worn a dress on a shoot, but have shot dressed in my kilt (and no a kilt isn't a skirt, its very masculine!!! )a few times but always found that it was too restrictive as I was more concerned about my not compromising my modesty then taking up whatever position was necessary to get a shot.... lying on the ground or standing on a ladder in a kilt can lead to some potentially embarrassing situations

[Brian Rock Photography]

What about this? Too casual?

[andy jarvie]

Brian Rock Photography, on 20 September 2011 - 01:56 PM, said:

What about this? Too casual?

looks about right for me Brian

[Jason Talley]

I usually always wear a bright, colorful shirt. It always promotes positive energy with the clients. I usually wear a complimentary colorful tie. If at all possible, I wear colors similar to the wedding colors with permission from the couple. That way I "blend" in any guest photos. Of course, black slacks, and dress shoes. For more casual weddings I will often wear nice jeans, dress shirt, and sport coat. I say just make sure you KNOW your clients and get their permission or ask what they would like you to wear.

[Jason Talley]

Oh...and when the reception starts to "get down" i will untuck my shirt, roll up my sleeves, unbutton my top button, and loosen my tie as to be able to "get down" myself. Makes it much easier to get down on the ground for interesting shots and dance with the clients/guests.

[RENEE DEMBINSKI]

I did a wedding on August 20th, and I wore a black donna karan dress and prada sport shoes - dressy but very comfortable to shoot.

[Marissa Yi]

A dress is never appropriate to wear to a photo shoot or wedding that you will be photographing. I always wear black pants and a dark dress top for weddings. For portrait sessions, I wear jeans that I don't mind getting dirty or messed up or peed on (by newborns!) and a business casual-looking Dry-Fit top. NEVER do I wear a dress, skirt, spaghetti straps, or anything that could bare cleavage.

You should expect to be on the ground or scaling something at least once to get a shot.

[Robert Michael]

Marissa Yi, on 25 September 2011 - 02:26 PM, said:

A dress is never appropriate to wear to a photo shoot or wedding that you will be photographing. I always wear black pants

My wife would KILL me if I wore a dress

[JennKelleyPhotography]

I have found the industry standard, as in here, to be dress black slacks and a black or dark grey dress shirt of some kind. I alsways wear black dress slacks and flat black dress shoes (comfy ones ofcourse) but I stray from the pack when it comes to my shirt. I have a closet full of dress shirts, button up and blouses that are perfect with black slacks. They are all appropriate, and sometimes I throw on a black sweater. But I have to say, I have had more positive comments from clients on not wearing the "Typical all black photographer" outfit than I ever thought possible. Its all about being appropriate and what you're comfortable in.