A Photographers Dress Code
Considering all types of photography shoots with all types of different clients and settings, a photographer must always be dressed appropriately.
Think about it, you must be dressed to impress several groups of people regardless of your event: (1) The Client, (2) The Guests, (3) Any Potential Future Clients in attendance.
Dressing inappropriately for your next event will most certainly guarantee you won't be getting any future jobs from this event.
As common sense as this sounds, I cannot tell you how many events I have attended where I have been distracted by the photographer's attire.
A good photographer's attire will almost never be acknowledged, but a bad one's will always be noticed.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when planning for your next event: (1) Dress to blend in.
You are not the focus of attention, so wearing loud / colorful / busy clothes is distracting and inappropriate.
A good rule is to stick to solid colors, and if you are unsure - default to darker solids.
(2) Don't overdress.
I would argue that any event you attend men will not need a tie, unless specifically asked for.
Even if you are a photographer at a wedding, you are not expected to dress in a suit - however, you are not expected to show up in a t-shirt and jeans either.
A good option is always a dark solid sweater with a collared shirt - or a collared shirt with a sport coat.
(3) Be aware of your needs - aka, be comfy.
One reason you don't see a lot of photographers wearing a suit at weddings is we need to move; we move a lot, and need to move quick.
Make sure your pants and shoes are always comfy, but tennis shoes are frowned upon and will quickly alienate you as an amateur photographer.
(4) Always wear slacks.
Or if you prefer: never wear jeans.
Even if you are going out to shoot an informal couple's engagement or a band's promo, you still need to wear your slacks.
And never wear tennis shoes.
If you need to dress down, add a solid v-neck t-shirt with your slacks, but don't opt for jeans.
(5) Dress to make your clients feel comfy - if you are going for an informal mood and want your clients to relax, throw on a designer t-shirt with your slacks.
If you are shooting a wedding dress to make your bride comfortable with you walking around.
Last fall I was hired to photograph a Hollywood costume party and my client asked if I would dress up in costume...
my answer? No problem.
I didn't want to be the party pooper and all throughout the night my assistant and I got compliments from the guests...
they thrilled we were dressed up too.
It was a situation where if I went more conservative and didn't dress up I would have stood out, in a bad way.
Almost every time as a photographer if you are standing out, it is in a bad way.
Think about it, you must be dressed to impress several groups of people regardless of your event: (1) The Client, (2) The Guests, (3) Any Potential Future Clients in attendance.
Dressing inappropriately for your next event will most certainly guarantee you won't be getting any future jobs from this event.
As common sense as this sounds, I cannot tell you how many events I have attended where I have been distracted by the photographer's attire.
A good photographer's attire will almost never be acknowledged, but a bad one's will always be noticed.
Here are some general guidelines to follow when planning for your next event: (1) Dress to blend in.
You are not the focus of attention, so wearing loud / colorful / busy clothes is distracting and inappropriate.
A good rule is to stick to solid colors, and if you are unsure - default to darker solids.
(2) Don't overdress.
I would argue that any event you attend men will not need a tie, unless specifically asked for.
Even if you are a photographer at a wedding, you are not expected to dress in a suit - however, you are not expected to show up in a t-shirt and jeans either.
A good option is always a dark solid sweater with a collared shirt - or a collared shirt with a sport coat.
(3) Be aware of your needs - aka, be comfy.
One reason you don't see a lot of photographers wearing a suit at weddings is we need to move; we move a lot, and need to move quick.
Make sure your pants and shoes are always comfy, but tennis shoes are frowned upon and will quickly alienate you as an amateur photographer.
(4) Always wear slacks.
Or if you prefer: never wear jeans.
Even if you are going out to shoot an informal couple's engagement or a band's promo, you still need to wear your slacks.
And never wear tennis shoes.
If you need to dress down, add a solid v-neck t-shirt with your slacks, but don't opt for jeans.
(5) Dress to make your clients feel comfy - if you are going for an informal mood and want your clients to relax, throw on a designer t-shirt with your slacks.
If you are shooting a wedding dress to make your bride comfortable with you walking around.
Last fall I was hired to photograph a Hollywood costume party and my client asked if I would dress up in costume...
my answer? No problem.
I didn't want to be the party pooper and all throughout the night my assistant and I got compliments from the guests...
they thrilled we were dressed up too.
It was a situation where if I went more conservative and didn't dress up I would have stood out, in a bad way.
Almost every time as a photographer if you are standing out, it is in a bad way.
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