So we all know to look professional, fit in with the rest of the guests, etc. Aside from those occasions where you actually wear a tux or a suit to a wedding, what is your typical wedding attire? All black? Long sleeve vs short sleeve? Standard dress pants or something different? Breathable shirts or standard dress shirt? Standard dress shoes or something more comfortable?

Just curious if anyone's found some cool pants or shirts or shoes that look great but work better for photographing a wedding, allowing for flexibility and keeping you cool at the same time!

nike dri-fit uv mock t-shirt in black, with black pants when it is hot:
http://www.golflocker.com/golf-apparel/nik...oseouts-08.html

White dress shirt and tie when it is cold.

I rock a tux made by Hugo Boss with flat front pants. Usually wear those cheap white dress shirts from express (because there cheap and I toss em out) and some Adidas Porsche design kicks for comfort (except mine dont have gold there all black, couldn't find pic). Pretty much my standard.

Hi Chris,
We made a concious decision not to blend in with the guests, we want everyone there to be in no doubt that we are the official photographers and when necessary get out of our way, in a polite way of course. My assistants and I all wear comfortable black walking shoes, black smart cargo pants , mainly for the extra pockets, for the ceremony a short sleeved black shirt that has a discreet logo on the breast pocket and a black tie. For practicality we wear K gear belts and harnesses and it is often commented that we look a bit like the police. But more often that we look very smart. For the evening do we simply change our tops for black polo shirts with the same logo on the breast but a much larger version across the shoulders. We treat every outing as a marketing event and are in effect our own billboard at the reception. I have no idea how photographers who wear any sort of suit cope. for me far too restricting and hot. But each to their own
All the best
Steve

Interesting Steve, and I don't know if it's you or just the non-American photographers who do this, but you are very much about making yourselves known at a wedding, where my philosophy is definitely to blend in at a wedding. I feel as though I want my work to speak for itself, not my shirt, my voice or my logo on a big screen. If you're getting a ton of bookings and everyone's happy, that's great.

But in my personal opinion, we SHOULD blend in with the crowd. We shouldn't have our logo across our back like a professional athlete has their name. It's pretty obvious that we're the official photographers, I mean no one else there (usually) has two people moving around with professional gear and lighting. It's partly why I like to use off-camera lighting at receptions, and why I stay close to the back at the ceremony.

I want people to enjoy the wedding itself, and not pay attention to me, because I get better photos that way. During the reception, I love taking dancing shots where people don't know I'm there, because they show their true personalities more and are not as shy as they would be if they knew a big camera was in their face. I want to capture the groom whispering something sweet in the Bride's ear, not knowing that I have my lens aimed at them.

I want people to see my work after the wedding, and that's what a slideshow does a great job at, making people excited, maybe take a business card, and be on their way. I just don't feel like making a statement at someone else's wedding is what we should be doing as professionals.

I like this idea. Personally I only wear a black pair of dress pants and a black shirt. But I do like the idea of branding some clothes to act as marketing material. I agree, I don't like suits, althought I have worn them when the brides have asked.

From a woman's perspective I think guys look sharp in long sleeves with black slacks. Something about a nice button up shirt (even with the sleeves rolled) looks so much sharper than a polo. Ditto on the blending in. No matter male or female, I don't think you want to stick out, but then again, I guess it depends on your style of shooting. Photojournalistic shooters need to pull out the skillz.


Looking super sharp!

I am not sure its being non american I think its personal style, we have started especially at the reception to become almost part of the entertainment, when there is a lull and no one but the kids are on the dance floor that is when we will unannounced start the slide show, people come up to us to thank us, mother of the bride with tears etc. we work the crowd who dance right up there with them dancing with cameras making them laugh but getting great pics. like I said whatever works for you.
all the best steve

+1

Non-american here and I firmly believe in the blending in method.
I cant say I've ever even heard of a wedding photog wearing their logo on their clothing at the wedding. If I ever did that I'd feel like there was far too much attention being placed on the fact that I was a business, advertising myself all over the wedding.....taking the focus off the couple. My work is there to do to promote myself, not my clothes. I generally wear all black....black flat front dress pants usually coupled with a black button up shirt and sometimes a tie if I'm feeling it that day.
That said, all respect to those that choose to make themselves stand out. To each their own.

I'm thinking of getting some shirts embroidered with my logo, but with color-on-color thread... so black or very dark gray thread on a black shirt... So it's not obvious, but it's there and looks professional.

Dressing with class and taste is a given but I also go with identify your client and dress accordingly. Not that I am some high end photographer because I am not, but my packages are above market rate and my clients like quality and are fashion conscious.

Do guys know pleats are out of style, as are un fitted shirts sagging over you waist (I tuck in at weddings), the break (where the pants land on the shoe) is taylored tighter and the inseam also. Shoe with laces up higher covered by the pants. Brides notice this and future brides at weddings also. I am always in a black dress shirt, dress pants, designer current with what is happening. and slightly sharper than most but not enought to stand out, but it does matter to those people I want to shoot for. A nice watch is a must also, people see it all day.

I agree with blending in. I was photographing a wedding and my second shooter was in the crowd during the reception. I was upstairs getting a bird's eye view. I was dragging the shutter to pic up the ambient. The first shot I captured the flash of my second shooter. The second shot you couldn't tell where he was because he was blended into the crowd. This happens a lot when we are both concentrating during the wedding. Dressing for the occasion allows us to be in the shot but not stand out. If our back is to the camera then you can't tell us apart from a guest.

during cooller months I wear a blue button down hence the photo below with a black Kangol .. during the summer I Johnny Cash it... All black baby... short sleeve nike golf shirt... great for the sweaty days........ no tie though I move around so much that I'd choke myself if I wore one...

I have a pair of black stretch waist nice dress pants. The stretch waist is completely hidden on the inside and they do look perfect despite how lame they sound on here. =) They are incredibly thin and much more comfortable than any other pants. I wear a black long sleeve button up with small silver stripes and usually roll up my sleeves since it is hot all the time here. For sure shoes, I wear Bass slip ons that are much more comfortable than my Rockport lace ups (which I reserve for more formal weddings where I would have to have a suit. I'll look for some links later.

Vans all black sneaks!
Gap black dress slacks
CK black short sleeve button up shirt

All black like Ninja!