Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

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Accredited Photographers at F1 Motor Racing circuits were provided with a High Vis' jacket along with a Press/Circuit/Pit Pass. Which allowed us unhindered access through further security checks. Still kept the 'British Grand Prix' vest. (Wonder what it would fetch on Ebay)?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Now, there you are, you see ... if you can be so clearly marked at auto races ... why not everywhere else, Pablo?

Ever been to Goodwood?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Who would decide, and who would enforce the "law"?

Attire would depend on the event, and that's a matter of taste. A slob would not fit in at a fancy wedding reception.

rowdut

You should blend in with the event. Tacky- tails. Introduce yourself to those who should know. Set spatial parameters (where you can or can't be) Plan a path to navigate and prepare. Be nice

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

As someone who shoots a lot of sports and many political events, I also dress in subdued colors. I want to blend into the background and not be noticed. In the type of setting Richard shows, I'd also wear black. If I'm shooting a sporting event, jeans and a comfortable shirt. You want to be a chameleon and not be noticed, for the most part.

steve03 Loc: long Lsland

I always wore suit shirt and tie. Today I see Photographers wearing sport shirts or golf shirts at weddings. Near me there is a sight that has a waterfalls that attracts wedding parties for their photos. I saw one set that the photographers were wearing walmart type vest with the name of the photographers and their phone Numbers on the back.For the Bride and groom this is one of the biggest day of their life, a little respect should be shown to your customers.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

It depends on what your assignment is.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

All the others would immediately copy the attire. In my world we have to be accredited and wear our accreditation at all times on the job. That is more than enough.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

No. They would just dress like the reporters. Are you suggesting something like the on-field football sports photographers do. They wear vests that say NFL or ESPN. We already have a problem with people printing fake press credentials.

However, we have a First Amendment. If you want to go to events and take pictures and put it on your website or blog, you can do that.

JaiGieEse Loc: Foxworth, MS

Well, lessee ....

In an earlier life, I became a television journalist - reporter and anchor - after several years of being a radio journalist. My employers always insisted that I wear a nice suit and tie, or at least a nice sport coat, slacks and tie. They opined that on-air folk needed to dress their best, because, in effect, we were going into the homes of our viewers.

At first, that made sense to me. Then one day, I abruptly had me an epiphany. I tried to recall the last time I'd worn a suit and tie or a sport coat and tie to anyone's home. Only times I could think of were those few instances in which I'd gone to a home for a reception after a wedding or a funeral.

I NEVER dress formally when visiting friends and/or family. I dress nicely, true enough, jeans or slacks or, in hot weather, even shorts and Hawaiian shirts (my favorite attire) but not formal dress.

I thought of those moments in my broadcast career when I found myself looking very spiffy indeed in a three-piece black pin-stripe suit complete with spit-shined, gleaming shoes, as I thrashed through weeds, briars and mud trying to get to the site of a disaster of some sort, or trying to look as though my suit and tie were perfectly normal with a flaming home behind me, while spray from the fire trucks drifted across me. More than once, I drew one of those "What are you, stupid?" looks from responders or bystanders.

Watch today's broadcast crews. You'll notice that their attire varies to suit the occasion. You'll see suits and ties in a court situation and rain gear worn while covering a hurricane. Then notice the swarm of photographers milling about a news figure much like ants around a piece of fresh piece of bubble gum tossed into an ant bed. You won't see many suits and ties there. You'll see folks pushing and shoving like crazy to get others the hell out of the way, so they can capture "THE shot."

There's no such thing as a "pro photographer outfit." And keep in mind that there are those times when the LAST thing you want is to stand out as a professional photographer.

Dress to suit the occasion. Or to the client's spec. You don't wear the same stuff that you'd wear to a pro-formal cathedral wedding as you would at a wedding on a Caribbean beach, y'know?

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Well said and practical.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

never going to happen. dress according to the environment.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Dress for the occasion.

bwa

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

If one had to establish a rule of thumb as to professional manner of dress the key words would be common sense, appropriateness, practicality and respectfulness. If you are a press/news photographer or a photojournalist, you are representing the news organization you are working for or if you are an independent freelancer, you are representing yourself. The question shroud be, how do you want to be perceived by the folks you encounter in a wide variety of situations.

In a typical day you may be seeking cooperation and access from police or security officials. You will meet press secretaries and agents, elected politicians, business leaders, government personnel and anybody and everybody you can imagine. You will be working in houses of worship, embassies of foreign countries, the court house, entertainment venues, shopping malls, and anywhere and everywhere. There are folks out there there who's main job it is to either keep you out or let you in!

For 3 years, before I decided to go into my own business, I worked for a big city daily newspaper. I remember one morning covering a military funeral- the editors wanted a shot of the casket being carried from the church with the honor guard standing at at attention- a somber event for sure. Four hours later I was shooting the Shriner's Circus Parade with clowns and elephants marching down the street. Many of the assignment were routine- easy- sports and entertainment events- kinda fun. Some were not- fires, horrible accidents, riots, racial unrest, protests, picket-line violence, crime scenes., folks being hauled off to jail.

We did have a dress code for the routine and peaceful assignments- a business suit or a blazer and slacks- shirt and necktie. The idea was that our bosses- the publisher and editors found that when reporters and photographers were inappropriately or too casually dressed, the would experience more difficulties with officials, would oftentimes not gain good access or not selected for press pools where a limited number of journalists were admitted to important events where VIPs or heads of state were present. When there was “rough stuff” to be shot, we were not expected to dress in business attire. Unfortunate events , riots and potentially violent occurrences, would bring on what we used to call the “kill the messenger syndrome” - it is disconcerting, to say the least, to be in the middle of some nasty business and suddenly realize that YOU are the messenger! You want to get in- get your shots and get the hell out of there. Genes, sweatshirts, leather jackets, combat or survival gear- whatever and running shoes were perfectly OK.

The business of being stealth with black clothing, black cameras and black everything- never thought of it- perhaps it's a myth or affectation or something. When you are running around with two or three camera around you neck and those big white lenses- you're gonna get noticed- you can only blend in so much. Street photography? Well- if you get into someone's face with a camera and he or she don't want you there, you may get a bad expression or a punch in the nose regardless of the color color of your attire.

As far as commercial and wedding photograph are concerned- yo need to dress appropriately for the occasion. Unless it a very informal barbecue kinda reception, I usually opt for a dark conservative business suit or a tux- depending on the level of formality. I do quite a bit of executive and corporate portraiture on location and my rule for myself and my crew is conservative business attire- 3-piece suit or whatever is in fashion. I have found that with some of theses CEOs. I have found that if the photographer walks in looking like he or she was just “shot out of a gun”, oftentimes theses folks won't take direction, give you enough time and be reluctant to pay a decent fee! Sounds “old fashioned” or snobbish? Nah! The “starving artist” look does not work for me. Successful folks want to deal with other successful folks so we “dress for success”. I am not talking about dressing flamboyantly or making a fashion statement. First impressions count! The expression and vibes you get from you portrait subjects will be a reflection of how they perceive you!

Oh- a tip! If you are making portraits of young kids in your studio, never wear a white shirt or jacket- the kids will think you are the doctor. So...one day I was getting ready to photograph a kid and I got into my kid-photographer's uniform- messy genes and my “Cookie Monster T-Shirt. The kid came in, took one look at me and totally freaked out- screaming at the top of his lungs! The mom then told me that her pediatrician dresses like that- every time she brought the kid in for his shots! You never know!

Walt R Loc: eastern tn

As one who shoots pro sports you are issued vests so that you stand out for out security to see you , different colors for different areas of access . Weddings a lot more
formal attire is required . Common sense is required .

Walt