What to wear?

<p>Hi!,</p>

<p>I just wanted to ask you all what do you regular wear in a wedding when you go as photographer?</p>

<p>This has been asked a couple of times both from a male and a female point of view. </p>

<p>Males (myself included) - comfortable footwear, anything from casual slacks (Dockers) to a full 3 piece suit. For me it's typically black pants, dress shirt - I don't do a tie or a jacket, unless the bride / groom specify that. For outdoor weddings, I'll go with Khaki pants, and a short sleeve shirt. </p>

<p>Some will never vary - I know a few photographers that wear tuxedos no matter where or when the wedding is. </p>

<p>Bottom line - dress appropriately. Even if guests are wearing jeans - jeans are not appropriate for a wedding professional.</p>

<p>Dave</p>

 

<p>The idea is to be invisible. Black & white, usually, leaning towards the formal.</p>

<p>It may depend on the area. I recently worked a formal wedding (as a musician in this case) at the area's swankiest hotel, and noticed the photographers were wearing jeans. I thought it was tacky, but I see it all the time in my area, so I guess people don't mind. The west coast is much more casual, though. I always wear a tie--as my father used to say, a gentleman (or professional) is never overdressed. A lot of women wear flip-flops, which I think is ridiculous.</p>

<p>I will never understand this, "black is invisible" mantra when shooting a wedding. Other than the groomsman, I rarely see anyone wearing black. It's a wedding not a funeral.</p>

<p>Different strokes I guess.</p>

<p>I require that our shooters dress <em>appropriately</em>. I won't accept jeans, shorts, flip flops or tanks <em>unless</em> there is a theme to the wedding. As example, jeans might be appropriate at a Rodeo wedding. I prefer the shoulders to be covered. I require that you <em>look</em> professional. This doesn't mean a coat and tie. I have seen some pretty sloppy coats and ties over the years. I wear a black dress (casual Friday) crew neck shirt and black dockers. I believe the black is invisible derives from the fact that most of the service staff will be in black, and the reception venue is usually fairly dark, so black stand outs less than white, red, blue, (pick a color). Since I use a dual strap, even a collard shirt without a tie is a pain in the neck :))))) So, in conjunction with looking professional, I want to be comfortable. If I am not comfortable, that is going to come through in the images. If a client required a suit, I would have to consider whether or not to shoot the wedding. I know David Ziser insists that a coat and tie is the only way to go. And I suppose if I had a minimum of two assistants, I would only need to carry one camera/lens and have them carry everything else and I could/would wear a suit! As it is, I have two cameras, a ThinkTank belt with 3 lens pouches, 2 general pouches and my Quantum Turbo battery pack. If I had a tie, it would be a crinkled mess. And it I threw a jacket over all that I would look like humpty dumpty.... either of which I don't consider professional.</p>

<p>Fresh pressed jacket, shirt and tie.</p>

<p>I am a strong believer that dressing for the part is the start of being the part, doesn’t matter what you’re doing.<br />I always dress with Black dress shoes and black pants a shirt and tie and dress jacket.<br />Here is a shot of me directing the bride and groom on a wedding shoot. <br /><br />John</p>

<p>Sorry Photo didn't attach to previous post</p>

<p> </p>

<p>This time, Sorry everyone. I'm on the left.</p><div></div>

<p>I usually wear black pants, black shoes, my cream button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black vest and my swanky orange tie. The wife wears here suit with a brightly colored shirt underneath. At the reception the vest and tie come off (around the time of the groomsmen doing the same thing) and go from there. Our outfits are around $500 each as we're trying to look as fashion-forward as our couples are. i.e. We make sure we look good. :)<br>

Here's me at one of the weddings we recently shot:<br>

<img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs493.snc3/26939_969052039918_13713663_52749150_4815529_n.jpg" alt="" width="396" height="720" /></p>

<p>Also. A photographer in a tuxedo is just as rediculous as a DJ in a tux. The person looks lower class because of how they are dressed. It's like in step-brothers when they go to the interview in tuxes. </p>

<p>

<p >I live down in the Florida Keys so it get very hot in the summer and most weddings are on the beach. I tell every bride during our consultation that I dress in a short sleeve dress shirt, pants, and shoes. I always offer to wear a suit if needed but thankfully no one has ever asked me to. </p>

</p>

<p>Yah for the super-hot days I just wear the shirt part and ditch the tie and vest. :)</p>

<p>A couple of issues involving clothing choice for the wedding photographer:</p>

<ul>

<li>The B&G should be the center of attention (it is, after all, THEIR wedding) so it's not so much the photographer should be invisible as that he or she should NOT stand out. This means no tuxedo at a beach wedding just as much as no Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops in St. Patrick's cathedral.</li>

<li>If you are of the "fly on the wall" school of wedding photojournalism, you want to be "camouflaged" so your subjects don't even know you're around ("Crikey! I've been spotted!") thus exposing their natural reactions to each other rather than to the photog with the lime green leisure suit :-).</li>

<li>For photographers who need to direct their subjects (formals, poses, group shots, etc) clothing - along with attitude - works to project the authority needed to get the shot. While we are a supposedly "classless" society, Armani-clad guests are not always going to relish being bossed around by someone in Dockers and a polo shirt.</li>

<li>While the photographer's comfort is important, being professional means the client's comfort is more important. If you don't like the restriction of a suit and tie, maybe you are going for the wrong clientele. Unfortunately, there's probably more money to be made in the suit-and-tie wedding trade than in the barefoot-on-the-beach trade (at least here in the Northeast).</li>

</ul>

<p>Marc</p>

<p ><strong ><em >“</em></strong><strong ><em >A photographer in a tuxedo is just as rediculous as a DJ in a tux.”</em></strong></p>

<p > </p>

<p >Depends – there are venues with Dress Codes. Dress codes for <strong ><em >entry</em></strong> to the venue: no exceptions. These venues might be rarer, but nonetheless still exist. </p>

<p > </p>

<p >It depends on the venue and also the client’s expectations.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Similarly - at a Beach Wedding in Fiji in January "All Black - long pants and dress shirt" is silly IMO. </p>

<p > </p>

<p >To answer the OP question, usually a dress suit, (coat and neck tie): but when formal dress codes are in place - I adhere to those dress codes. </p>

<p > </p>

<p >WW</p>

<p > </p>

 

<p>I agree with William W...depends on the wedding. I have not shot many weddings yet, but have been to more than my fair share. Here's how I would dress as a guest...and although the photographer is not a guest, it does help to be invisible in the crowd during the reception.</p>

<p>Beach/casual wedding - Linen pants and shirt<br>

Casual/dress casual - Khakis and a polo<br>

Dress Casual/semi-formal - Dress pants and a long sleeved dress shirt - NO TIE ! A tie without a vest or jacket is a choking hazard<br>

Formal - Suit with jacket. No tie unless required by the venue. I have not run into needing a tie for the venue yet, but there are a few places in my area that do require them.</p>

<p>If ever I needed a tuxedo for an event, I would be sure to adjust my pricing structure to include the cost of a rental. </p>

<p>RS</p>

I would prefer a bow tie instead of (neck)tie so that darn thing would not interfere, fly around, or get dirty/wet while kneeling. Use of tie pin sans a jacket does not look good. Speaking of bow tie, I should start looking for one ...

Black trousers, black dress shirt and shoes. During one wedding I did, the video guy wore baggy jeans, a reversed baseball cap, sneakers, and a bright yellow sports jacket. The wedding theme was uber formal...

<p>When I meet with the couple beforehand, I always ask what their theme, colour scheme and/or dress code will be. If not too bright, I will often wear a formal shirt that matches one of their primary colours. It helps me blend in even better than all-black, and often people don't even realise I'm there.