Dress Code (Page 2): I've only photographed a few weddings. I've never worn "good" clothes. This is due to the fact that I'll use various points of view and angles that would result in...

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've only photographed a few weddings. I've never worn "good" clothes. This is due to the fact that I'll use various points of view and angles that would result in getting my "good" clothes either dirty or damaged. I'd rather ruin an old pair of jeans or shirt than a good expensive suit. This was never an issue for either the wedding party or myself.
--Bob

stu352 wrote:

Is it just me, or is it becoming a trend? Has som... (show quote)

traderjohn Loc: New York City

rmalarz wrote:

I've only photographed a few weddings. I've never worn "good" clothes. This is due to the fact that I'll use various points of view and angles that would result in getting my "good" clothes either dirty or damaged. I'd rather ruin an old pair of jeans or shirt than a good expensive suit. This was never an issue for either the wedding party or myself.
--Bob

I think that depends on the "venue" Us city folk, for the most part have receptions at reception halls. From my daughters wedding last year and to all prior weddings, the photographers were dressed for the occasion.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

dancers wrote:

I have been to weddings where some of the guests look like they have just stopped weeding the garden.....

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

To me, the venue hasn't mattered as much as my willingness to "get dirty" doing what I needed to do. I've photographed weddings in elegant surroundings and very casual ones. I dress the same for either.
--Bob

traderjohn wrote:

I think that depends on the "venue" Us city folk, for the most part have receptions at reception halls. From my daughters wedding last year and to all prior weddings, the photographers were dressed for the occasion.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I don't think a professional anything should stand out at wedding, funeral or any special event. While it should be agreed on up front (contract) being a professional is so much more than being a good photographer. Kind of reminds me of going through a college or university, the more ragged looking a professor is the more experience they are expected to have. If a professor dressed clean shaven and neatly dressed, they would be out of character - go figure!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

When I do an event, I wear black. Black shirt, slacks and shoes. If the event calls for it a black blazer and a black tie. I do not want to "blend in." I am not in the pictures. If I blend in it makes the job more difficult. In all black, people seem to know I am there to shoot and are more cooperative. It is important to look the part.

Oh, and they are all washable.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

dsmeltz wrote:

When I do an event, I wear black. Black shirt, slacks and shoes. If the event calls for it a black blazer and a black tie. I do not want to "blend in." I am not in the pictures. If I blend in it makes the job more difficult. In all black, people seem to know I am there to shoot and are more cooperative. It is important to look the part.

Oh, and they are all washable.

I think black does in most cases is a good choice but your comment about blending in making your job more difficult is some what the basic of the post. Dress code is not to make your job easier! Remember there may be family and friends also taking photos and when they hold up their photos anyone dressed differently stands out in their photos. If it upsets a photographer to know that someone else may bring a camera you are in the wrong business. If everyone dresses to a general code, all the photos will be improved even if the official photographer has to work a little harder to get all the shots required. Again, that is why they are professionals!

jwest Loc: South Dakota

TBerwick wrote:

SharpShooter - I'm one of those "old" guys & a former wedding photographer. I equate the informal attire to a lack of respect to the job & the client. It seems that our society has "evolved" to the point that lack of respect is now the norm & I do not endorse the change as a positive.

I’m with you. 👍🏻

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

What are my thoughts? Sounds like a petty complaint to me as long as the product is high quality.

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

TBerwick wrote:

SharpShooter - I'm one of those "old" guys & a former wedding photographer. I equate the informal attire to a lack of respect to the job & the client. It seems that our society has "evolved" to the point that lack of respect is now the norm & I do not endorse the change as a positive.

/Berwick, That is affirmative. We have become a classless accepting society. I decry the use of "discriminating" as a pejorative when it really means choosing something of value instead of dross. Suitable dress ( for the photographer) is what the party attendees are wearing.

aschweik Loc: NE Ohio

My daughter's wedding was a country wedding...out in the field with a barn, etc. It was a nice, laid back wedding, most people dressed business casual. The photographers were dressed nicely....the man had black pants and white button down (he took off his jacket), the woman had on a dress. Both photographers were laying down in the grass and in the corn field taking some cool shots. Both were dressed nicely but didn't let a little dirt bother them. They dressed appropriately for a wedding and still did the job. The wedding pictures were outstanding.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Which would you rather have - a sartorially appropriate photographer who produces only an adequate wedding album, or a casually dressed shooter who produces an album worth every bit of the price paid?

The wedding photographer isn't there to look good, he or she is there to capture images of everyone else looking great.

Richard75 Loc: Aiken SC since 2016 from Washington State

TBerwick wrote:

SharpShooter - I'm one of those "old" guys & a former wedding photographer. I equate the informal attire to a lack of respect to the job & the client. It seems that our society has "evolved" to the point that lack of respect is now the norm & I do not endorse the change as a positive.

I agree with you 100%.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Shutterbug57 wrote:

At the last wedding I shot, the groom and best man... (show quote)

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

I'm another in the "old geezer" group and agree that dressing professionally is appropriate for any photographer, in any venue. I was raised to wear suit and tie to church and for special events like weddings, funerals, the theater (stage) and for office work. As a photographer myself, I prefer to present myself as a professional and someone who respects the client. There's a reason that jeans and sweatshirts are called "working clothes" and not called professional clothes. To close, several years ago I worked in a large "company" where the "boss" explained that if he interviewed two men with perfectly equal resumes and qualifications, one was dressed in a suit and tie, the other in slacks and open collared shirt, the suit would get hired every time. Clothes make the difference.