What Should a Wedding Photographer Wear?

by Alexandra Bateman on May 28, 2020 Reader Disclosure

Looking for wedding photographer outfit ideas? As a photographer, you’re not bound to any particular attire, but you should dress like a professional. In this guide, we will share what should a wedding photographer wear.

The wedding photographer’s dress code can be formal or casual, depending on the wedding. However, you should always dress practically and professionally on your clients’ wedding day.

We’ll share some wedding photographer outfit ideas for male and female photographers in just a minute, but first let’s briefly discuss some wedding photographer dress etiquette…

How to Dress Like a Professional Photographer

Dressing like a professional photographer is important for two big reasons.

First of all, when you dress like a professional you feel like a professional, and that confidence will help to put your clients at ease throughout their wedding photography photoshoot, which will lead to a better experience.

Secondly, this (hopefully) isn’t the last wedding that you’ll be shooting. There are lots of other people looking for a wedding photographer, and they will judge you by your attire. If you are dressed like a professional, people will reach out to you with positive queries for a photo shoot.

Here are some best practices that you should be aware of when choosing what to wear to a wedding photoshoot.

1. Don’t Dress Like a Guest

Dressing as the photographer is completely different from dressing as a guest. Don’t adorn yourself with jewelry or anything that attracts attention. Instead, you should dress to blend in with the background.

Plain, dark clothing is usually a good choice. You can even wear all black! Just avoid “loud” colors and prints.

2. Wear Comfortable Shoes

Wear a pair of shoes that you can easily move around in. You never know what you’ll need to do to get the shot… You might have to step in a puddle, or climb on a ledge.

Closed-toe flats and sneakers are good choices. Avoid heels and sandals, unless you’re shooting a casual beach wedding.

3. Look Sharp

Simple, tailored clothing is a great choice because it gives off a sharp, professional vibe.

Avoid denim, shorts or anything too casual. But don’t get too dressed up either. Remember, your clothing needs to be practical so that you can easily move around. While a tuxedo may look nice, it can become restricting over the duration of the event.

4. Be Modest

This is not the place for low-cut tops, form-fitting clothing or short skirts. Again, you don’t want to attract attention to yourself, and you need to be able to move around freely.

5. Consult the Bride & Groom

When in doubt, you can always ask your client what the dress code is for their wedding.

Ask them if it’s formal, semi formal or casual. What do those terms mean to your client? Are there any colors you should avoid? For example, white symbolizes death in some cultures, and may not be a welcomed color at a wedding.

OK, now that you know some basic wedding photographer dress etiquette, let’s look at a few outfit ideas for male and female photographers.

Wedding Photographer Attire: Male Photographer

For men, we recommend a formal shirt with comfortable slacks so that you are able to sit on the floor and move all around with your photography gear.

For formal weddings, you should wear dress pants, a button-up shirt, a jacket and possibly a tie. Never wear shorts, t-shirts or baggy clothing when shooting a wedding.

Making sure your clothes are well fitting will help you to look like a professional. As mentioned earlier, darker colors are preferable.

Use these male wedding photographer outfit ideas as a starting point to create your own perfect wedding photography outfit for men.

Wedding Photographer Attire: Female Photographer

Women wedding photographers can be slightly more creative with their clothing choice. It’s OK to show your personal style, but don’t forget that you’ll need to be able to move freely throughout the shoot.

Similar to men’s attire, dark colors are best to avoid standing out too much. Remember, you don’t want to outshine the guests or take any of the focus away from the bride and groom.

If you choose to wear a skirt, make sure it’s long enough that you are free to shoot from any angle.

These female wedding photographer outfit ideas can get you started and serve as inspiration for you to create you own wedding photography outfit.

Conclusion

That’s all! We hope this guide has helped you to learn what should a wedding photographer wear. You may also want to check out these other wedding photography guides:

• 6 Essentials Every Wedding Photographer Needs in Their Camera Bag
• What Are the Best Camera Settings for Wedding Photography?
• 10 Tips on How to Take Wedding Photos for Beginners
• 5 Best Free Wedding Photography Contract Templates
• 7 Best Lightroom Presets for Weddings

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