What Does a Wedding Photographer Wear?

A common question by new wedding photographers is what do you wear? What photographers wear can depend on their style and the types of weddings they shoot, and also time of year. For warmer months and temperatures you would wear something different to a winter wedding.

Wedding Photographer Dress Code & Attire

What to wear?

Things to consider – is it comfy, does it suit the type of wedding you are shooting and the current climate.

Top tips

Ensure you wear comfy shoes – You are moving round on your feet all day, ensure they are comfortable
Still be smart – Comfy shoes and blending in, but ensure you are still smart and professional.
Ensure its practical – Climbing up ladders for the perfect shot, or crouching down or lying on the floor, make sure your outfit is practical for this.

Depending on the season, you’ll need to adjust your attire—lighter clothing for summer and darker options for winter weddings. Ensure your outfit allows for easy movement, is practical, comfortable, and still smart.

Advice from other photographers

There is no one-size-fits-all dress code; it depends on your style and the type of wedding you are shooting. Consider the time of year, whether it’s a formal or alternative wedding, a beach event, or a cosy winter celebration. From a photographer’s perspective, whatever you wear, make sure it is comfortable and practical.

We have gathered advice from a variety of professional wedding photographers on what they wear. Everyone is different, and there is no right or wrong answer—it really depends on you, your style, and the type of weddings you shoot. The most important thing is to ensure you are comfortable.

Smart Casual. As reportage wedding photographers, we aim to look like a couple of smart guests, friends of the couple, rather than obvious wedding photographers. We want to blend into the crowd, not stand out. I tend to avoid wearing a tie nowadays, as it’s too restrictive when working hard.

I prefer to look like a smart French or Italian guest. They rarely wear ties on formal occasions; that’s a very old-fashioned English look. In my previous life, when I used to shoot fashion, I travelled around the world and stayed in countless 5-star hotels. Nobody ever expected you to wear a tie; they just expected a certain amount of style in your dress. Weddings are the same, in my opinion.

I’m a bit of a tomboy and often end up climbing on chairs or kneeling on the ground, so it’s always trousers for me. I generally wear all black, which hides a multitude of potential muck and looks generally smart. I avoid bright colours as I prefer to blend in. My current go-to is a pair of black tux-style trousers, a black top, and a cardigan if it’s cooler. I swap footwear depending on the weather: boots, FitFlop black trainers, or pumps. They have to be comfortable!

I’m often asked by my couples what I will be wearing to their wedding. The answer is simple—something smart, appropriate, and professional. I know photographers who turn up at fairly formal weddings in a T-shirt and jeans. They may be trying to look trendy and hip, but in my opinion, they are not respecting the effort many of the guests have put into looking smart. You can be casual but always smart!

My main goal at a wedding is for the guests to see me as a friend with a camera. Therefore, I dress in a style similar to that of the wedding guests. If it’s a black-tie wedding, I will dress in black tie; if it’s a relaxed garden wedding, I will dress in a much more relaxed fashion. I never want to stand out because of my dress sense.

This is one of those questions that frequently surfaces on wedding photography forums, often sparking debates among newcomers. My reply is always the same—we have to be comfortable in our clothes to work hard all day. Suits and frocks aren’t likely to be practical. I can often be found scaling garden walls or lying down in the grass—I once even rolled up my trousers and waded into a pond. If your garments prevent you from getting the shot, you’re wearing the wrong kit.

Besides, it’s not about us—it’s about the bride, groom, and their guests. What we wear shouldn’t attract attention; our attire should be utterly forgettable. So I wear a black shirt, untucked for ease of movement, dark trousers (but never jeans, of course), and super comfy black shoes (Merrell Jungle Mocs, in case you’re wondering). My comfort and flexibility are of paramount importance if the couple wants the best photos from their wedding.

As a female, I think we are luckier than male photographers as we do get a bit more choice in fashion! However, I rarely wear dresses unless it is a very hot summer’s day, as I still want the flexibility of trousers to bend and crouch without worry. Often, I find myself in a jumpsuit or cargo-style trousers with a shirt or blouse. This allows for flexibility and pockets for group shot lists and batteries. But always something stylish that will fit into a wedding scene.

When I work, I try to wear non-adherent cotton clothes, as it gets very hot in Tuscany during the summer. I prefer to wear black trousers because they allow me to move better, paired with a white shirt. The shoes need to be comfortable so I can run around and not come home with a bad back after 12 hours of work. For this reason, I use racing shoes in black and white with elegant and minimal lines.

I’m very boring; I just wear black trousers, a black jacket (not during hot weather), and a smart shirt. I never wear a tie unless the couple asks me to.

I aim for something smart but comfortable, as I need to move around freely—often climbing things or lying on the floor to get the right perspective. It’s smart and casual, but I try not to look like a wedding guest. I also avoid bright or loud colours so I blend in better and can capture those unnoticed shots.

I like to blend in with the guests and always wear smart trousers, a white shirt, and one of several different waistcoat options!

I tend to wear dark colours, and my go-to outfit is a particular Boden dress that is a good length, comfortable, and has pockets too! I have several of these in different colours, and they are perfect for both summer and winter months when paired with leggings.

Full days of shooting are long and action-packed, so funky yet manoeuvrable fatigues are essential. Comfortable footwear is also crucial. Zo wears classic Converse Hi-Tops, while Liam opts for Adidas Samba Supers. That’s our lucky combo, and we’re sticking with it.

I like to keep it simple and comfortable. I opt for a pair of smart trousers, a solid colour shirt, and, most importantly, a pair of Clarks’ most comfortable shoes. I avoid frilly bow ties and waistcoats as I prefer to blend into the crowd.

Some smart trousers and a top. I’d really like to wear pretty dresses, but they’re not practical, especially the shoes that go with them! Another key consideration is layers. Working indoors while squatting and holding heavy gear can make you hot, but you might need to go outside on a moment’s notice when it’s cold.

I try to wear what the guests wear to blend in more. Although I haven’t done a formal wedding for years, I would wear a suit for one. For a festival-style wedding, I dress more casually. I do love a paisley shirt—it’s like funky camouflage!

A suit without a tie (as it gets in the way) and a plain black shirt. This way, there’s freedom of movement while still respecting the effort and expense the wedding party and most of the guests have put in.

I was taught by another photographer back in the 1990s, who bought me my first suit when I was just 19. I was so proud to work alongside him in my Yves Saint Laurent three-piece, and we blended in nicely with the guests. To this day, I always have 2 or 3 suits ready for the wedding season, usually a smart three-piece with a pair of smart brogues.

Recently, I have been wearing a blue suit with either black or brown shoes, and I always find a tie that matches the wedding colours (which usually gets noticed). Older guests particularly appreciate that Team Evolve dresses smartly for weddings, and we have received a lot of positive feedback from venues and guests about it. I believe it’s respectful, helps us blend in, and who doesn’t like dressing up once or twice a week? No jeans for us!

Summer:

Benni: Total black, always—she has a bit of a thing for all-black outfits. So Benni’s look includes smart trousers with a black shirt, and either a light jumper or a smart jacket.
Carol: Smart trousers with a white T-shirt, and either a light jumper or a smart jacket. Sometimes she opts for a comfy dress.

Winter:

Benni: Total black—black trousers or jeans, a black shirt, and a jumper.
Carol: Black trousers or jeans, a white T-shirt, and a jumper.

We always try to find a balance between being comfortable and smart. By comfortable, I mean being as agile and quick as possible. We specialise in outdoor weddings, and being able to wear comfy clothes is essential for the situations we often work in.

It depends on the location; we mostly work in hot countries, so we need to dress smartly while avoiding overheating. Ideally, we dress in a style that allows us to blend in with the guests, enabling us to work as seamlessly as possible. — Bloomfield Photography

I like to wear white, something elegant but at the same time casual. Here in Ibiza, the mood is never too formal and that allows us to wear something pretty comfy. At the end of the day, you are working so comfort is also important for the final result of the job.

What Does a Wedding Photographer Wear?

Wedding Photographer Dress Code & Attire

What to wear?

Advice from other photographers

Further Reading

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