Do you expect your photographer to be Smartly dressed?

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It's not something that I gave much thought too but it seems to bother my OH.

Now i just need him to actually look at the 2 photographers I like.......................

My tog wore neutral coloured linen trousers and a neutral blouse. Easy to move about it and didn't attract attention. Never thought to ask her before hand. Didn't really care as long as she didn't turn up in a wedding dress!

I have no idea what my tog or videographer wore, to me it wasn't important at all. If they wore jeans I wouldn't have cared either, I wouldn't have noticed truth be told. Weddings cause so much stress that what suppliers are wearing to me isn't worth even thinking about.

I ask what the dress code is for the guests, and dress accordingly. In that way, we always look very smart, but dont stand out. When we shot a wedding that turned into a rave in a chicken shed, the guests were wearing boots, shorts and teeshirts, so we changed in to those as the reception took off... when we shoot a high class wedding at a top notch reception where the dress-code is black tie, that's what we wear etc.

To do my job well, I need to blend in and look appropriate, I dont need to draw attention to myself by being over or under dressed. On the flipside, We owe it to the B&G to respect thier day and make an effort

yada yada

Personally, I think all suppliers, whether they they are togs, vogs or DJs, should dress smartly and appropriately for the occasion. It shows respect and professionalism. Me.... I'm only a lowly DJ but I always arrive suited and booted.

As for logoed clothing, banners, or any other kind of advertising at a wedding .... is totally wrong. I was setting my rig up one day and a tog came into the room and started scattering her business cards on the beautifully prepared tables. I was horrified. She then asked if I was going to do the same. i told her straight that I thought it was in very bad taste and I don't advertise at all.... if I do a good job everyone will remember my name (or contact the bride for my name) anyway. I often get guests asking for a card during the evening too which is good.

Every wedding i've ever been to (where we were not the photographers), the photographer has done this in some shape or form. At the last family wedding I attended the photographer actually approached guests during the reception and placed a card into each of our hands, as well as leaving a stack on the table....

Personally, I agree with Sandysounds. If anyone there thought that much of you on the day, the likely hood is that if they are close enough to the couple to be invited to the wedding, they're close enough to approach them and ask for our name at their convenience. But as I have said before, it is down to every individual to run their business as they see fit. It's not the lasting impression that I'd like to leave, but its obviously not uncommon.

I would always check what your photographer intends to wear / tell him what you expect him to wear if it really matters to you - some photographers are 'freespirits' when it comes to their dress sense and look like they have just turned up from a safari shoot with military style vests with all the pockets.

Some of the vests are very useful. I don't use one, but they do resolve one of the wedding phootgraphers big problems - what to do with all of the silly little things that you want to have to hand all the time, but dont want to leave about all over the place...

- batteries

- lenses

- memory cards

- filters

- lightmeter

- lens caps

- lens cloths

- flashgun(s)

- colour passport / grey card

You can only get so much in your pockets, and soemtimes, you dont want to be carting a bag about

Again - this is not a black and white issue. There is no need for the guests to be in contact with the dress designer, or venue dresser or DJ after the wedding, the guests however do want to know where they can see the photographs after the wedding. Whilst I don't leave cards around, sometimes, I am asked for cards by so many people... to the point where it would have been easier to leave them around. This is especially relevant if I have set up a portrait studio type thing in the evening, and we have shot lots of family / couple type photographs