How do you Dress for Wedding Shooting? at DVinfo.net

Steve Montoto · July 26th, 2005, 02:53 PM

I have done a few weddings now and always wear slacks and a jacket with tie, but its not the most comfortable outfit, especially with all the running around I do.

I was wondering what do you guys wear? Would it be wrong to wear some nice
pressed dark blue jeans with a sport jacket and tie?

Just curious on anyones thoughts.

Thanks

Devin Eskew · July 26th, 2005, 03:13 PM

I wouldn't go that route myself, however I've seen dockers and a semi-dress button up shirt. Yet I also have seen a photagrapher dressed up like he was going on safari, he was VERY out of place. I always think of it as this is not only what my client will see, but other prospective clients as well. You don't want the couple to tell everyone, man our video was great! However he wore jeans to the wedding. Word of mouth can kill!

Michael Liebergot · July 26th, 2005, 03:26 PM

I would never go that casual with jeans, unless it was that casual a wedding, like a beach style wedding.
I always wear a black suit or black sportcoat and grey slacks with either a shirt and tie or a black rayon dress tee shirt. Try to be as formal and comfortable as I can be.
The summers here in MD can get unbearibly hot, like this year is killer, so I have yet to be in a shirt and tie.
I do own a good tux and accessories, but only wear those when it's approriate, like New Years Eve, or Formal Black Tie Wedding.

BTW, I always bring 1 or 2 extra shirts to slip into if needed, as I am one to get hot easy.

Michael

K. Forman · July 26th, 2005, 03:54 PM

I wear a pair of nick black Dockers type slacks, and a dress shirt. The slacks are very roomy, and have huge pockets for batteries, lens caps, and spare DV tapes. I also have a pair of semi dress shoes I got at Sears, which are as comfy as sneakers.

Always be as professional as possible, and dress as nice as the guests.

Lorinda Norton · July 26th, 2005, 04:13 PM

A dress that blends with most any setting and comfortable 4 inch heels.

(I know you asked the guys, but I couldn't resist. Pretend I wasn't here.) ;)

Patrick King · July 26th, 2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorinda Norton

A dress that blends with most any setting and comfortable 4 inch heels. (I know you asked the guys, but I couldn't resist. Pretend I wasn't here.) ;)

Lorinda,

I'm thinking he would stand out worse than the guy in cargo shorts if he followed your advice. But then it might depend on how well that dress blends in. :{

K. Forman · July 26th, 2005, 04:26 PM

And how well he can navigate in 4" heels...

Ben Lynn · July 26th, 2005, 08:38 PM

Dress like a guest in that you need to look nice, but be comfortable enough to perform your job. I don't think that the jeans would be as comfortable as a nice pair of slacks. I know, we all have a comfy pair of jeans for around the house, but this is work and nice, pressed jeans are hot and uncomfortable. The slacks will breathe better in the heat and let you move around comfortably. And they'll look the part of the wedding videographer.

Ben Lynn

Don Bloom · July 26th, 2005, 09:28 PM

Black dress slacks always. For winter a black turtle neck either in silk or a cotton blend depending on how cold it is. For spring summer and early fall, either a black short sleeve turtle neck (golf shirts that absorb the "moisture") or black silk "T" shirt especially for outdoor ceremonies. I've never been able to work comfortably in a coat and tie. I've wore them in the past but haven't in probably 5 years. I don't miss them either.
Oh yeah and I usually skip[ the 4 inch heels and go for something a bit more comfy on the dogs. ;-)
Don

Peter Jefferson · July 26th, 2005, 09:44 PM

black cotton/microfibre pants, blue microfibre shirt (easy to clean with a damp cloth) black vest or black cashmere overcoat if its cold, and most importantly black Nike joggers... these actually are very classy looking joggers and i wwas surprised to find them... but theyre perfect..

Steve Montoto · July 27th, 2005, 02:01 PM

Thanks for all the input, I always have worn some black slacks button up , tie and jacket. By the end of the night Im dying... I think i am going to look into some of the microfibre clothes and black nike's.

Thanks again all.

Patrick King · July 27th, 2005, 02:10 PM

Was that the Nike's with the 4" heel?

Lorinda Norton · July 27th, 2005, 02:35 PM

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...edressshoe.jpg

Devin Eskew · July 27th, 2005, 02:55 PM

Well, well.....Lorinda may get us all into heels after all. Looks like I may have to shave my legs.........on second thought, mabye not. ;-)

Giroud Francois · July 27th, 2005, 05:13 PM

in fact there are 2 schools.
the first is you dress for work. you do not care what others wear, because you are here to work and you need other to see it.
you need to walk on your knees, climb anything you can think of and transport all your equipment. You do not need to take care of the other, because they know your are not a person, just a kind of journalist.

The second is to play the invisible man.
You look like anybody at the wedding (and even better), but you have to answer every two steps the question "Are you a friend from Annie or from Tom ?"
Everybody will mumble about this guy who always rush in front of the others, blocking the view (after all your are not the only invitee with a camera).
You will be able to shoot more smiling people than the guy who looks like a reporter and with the time, people will start to forget about you and even grab you by the arm saying "hey take a shot on us !"

I think if you go for the third solution (the in-between), i mean correctly dressed but not like for a wedding, and too good for a reporter, you cannot project a strong image and that is always bad for your businness.

July 26th, 2005, 02:53 PM	#1
Steve Montoto Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 302	How do you Dress for Wedding Shooting? I have done a few weddings now and always wear slacks and a jacket with tie, but its not the most comfortable outfit, especially with all the running around I do. I was wondering what do you guys wear? Would it be wrong to wear some nice pressed dark blue jeans with a sport jacket and tie? Just curious on anyones thoughts. Thanks

July 26th, 2005, 03:13 PM	#2
Devin Eskew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 115	I wouldn't go that route myself, however I've seen dockers and a semi-dress button up shirt. Yet I also have seen a photagrapher dressed up like he was going on safari, he was VERY out of place. I always think of it as this is not only what my client will see, but other prospective clients as well. You don't want the couple to tell everyone, man our video was great! However he wore jeans to the wedding. Word of mouth can kill! __________________ We learn by doing, we learn better by making mistakes!

July 26th, 2005, 03:54 PM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I wear a pair of nick black Dockers type slacks, and a dress shirt. The slacks are very roomy, and have huge pockets for batteries, lens caps, and spare DV tapes. I also have a pair of semi dress shoes I got at Sears, which are as comfy as sneakers. Always be as professional as possible, and dress as nice as the guests. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 26th, 2005, 04:13 PM	#5
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	A dress that blends with most any setting and comfortable 4 inch heels. (I know you asked the guys, but I couldn't resist. Pretend I wasn't here.) ;) __________________ Lorinda

July 26th, 2005, 04:26 PM	#7
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	And how well he can navigate in 4" heels... __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 26th, 2005, 03:26 PM	#3
Michael Liebergot Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,505	I would never go that casual with jeans, unless it was that casual a wedding, like a beach style wedding. I always wear a black suit or black sportcoat and grey slacks with either a shirt and tie or a black rayon dress tee shirt. Try to be as formal and comfortable as I can be. The summers here in MD can get unbearibly hot, like this year is killer, so I have yet to be in a shirt and tie. I do own a good tux and accessories, but only wear those when it's approriate, like New Years Eve, or Formal Black Tie Wedding. BTW, I always bring 1 or 2 extra shirts to slip into if needed, as I am one to get hot easy. Michael

July 26th, 2005, 08:38 PM	#8
Ben Lynn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 636	Dress like a guest in that you need to look nice, but be comfortable enough to perform your job. I don't think that the jeans would be as comfortable as a nice pair of slacks. I know, we all have a comfy pair of jeans for around the house, but this is work and nice, pressed jeans are hot and uncomfortable. The slacks will breathe better in the heat and let you move around comfortably. And they'll look the part of the wedding videographer. Ben Lynn

July 26th, 2005, 09:28 PM	#9
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Black dress slacks always. For winter a black turtle neck either in silk or a cotton blend depending on how cold it is. For spring summer and early fall, either a black short sleeve turtle neck (golf shirts that absorb the "moisture") or black silk "T" shirt especially for outdoor ceremonies. I've never been able to work comfortably in a coat and tie. I've wore them in the past but haven't in probably 5 years. I don't miss them either. Oh yeah and I usually skip[ the 4 inch heels and go for something a bit more comfy on the dogs. ;-) Don

July 26th, 2005, 09:44 PM	#10
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	black cotton/microfibre pants, blue microfibre shirt (easy to clean with a damp cloth) black vest or black cashmere overcoat if its cold, and most importantly black Nike joggers... these actually are very classy looking joggers and i wwas surprised to find them... but theyre perfect..

July 27th, 2005, 02:01 PM	#11
Steve Montoto Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 302	Thanks for all the input, I always have worn some black slacks button up , tie and jacket. By the end of the night Im dying... I think i am going to look into some of the microfibre clothes and black nike's. Thanks again all.

July 27th, 2005, 02:10 PM	#12
Patrick King Major Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Enterprise, AL Posts: 857	Was that the Nike's with the 4" heel? __________________ Fear No Weevil!

July 27th, 2005, 02:35 PM	#13
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...edressshoe.jpg __________________ Lorinda

July 27th, 2005, 02:55 PM	#14
Devin Eskew Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 115	Well, well.....Lorinda may get us all into heels after all. Looks like I may have to shave my legs.........on second thought, mabye not. ;-) __________________ We learn by doing, we learn better by making mistakes!

July 27th, 2005, 05:13 PM	#15
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	in fact there are 2 schools. the first is you dress for work. you do not care what others wear, because you are here to work and you need other to see it. you need to walk on your knees, climb anything you can think of and transport all your equipment. You do not need to take care of the other, because they know your are not a person, just a kind of journalist. The second is to play the invisible man. You look like anybody at the wedding (and even better), but you have to answer every two steps the question "Are you a friend from Annie or from Tom ?" Everybody will mumble about this guy who always rush in front of the others, blocking the view (after all your are not the only invitee with a camera). You will be able to shoot more smiling people than the guy who looks like a reporter and with the time, people will start to forget about you and even grab you by the arm saying "hey take a shot on us !" I think if you go for the third solution (the in-between), i mean correctly dressed but not like for a wedding, and too good for a reporter, you cannot project a strong image and that is always bad for your businness.