Looking the part - or not!

its very obvious the way people treat you in relation to how you are dressed, smarter means more respect, typically, but what does this have to do with photography? Today, i was mistaken as a staff photographer on a film set i stumbled onto, i never thought i looked "pro" but apperently i can pass for it.

What im asking is, what do you think makes someone look pro, how would you present your self (clothes, equipment (everything BUT camera), behaviour) to look "pro" and how would you present yourself to look UN-pro (we all know that this can be important sometimes!)

Today i was wearing some nice shorts, rugby shirt and had a grey/green army satchel with my kit in it, not what id THINK to be pro, which is why im asking your oppinions and thoughts on the matter.

Discus

On film sets...

You gotta be fat, sunburned, unshaven, have 3 lightmeters on your toolbelt and keep switching bodies in your soundblimp.

Sorry if it matches the description

Wear a Canon combat vest. That, and your gear, screams photographer. If you want to look professional, just dress smart, and act professional. Your attitude tells people what you're all about.

soo, if i get a canon jacket, stuff it with lightmeters the go sunbath....?

As long as you're fat and bald, yes. That'd do it.


Whoa...I just realized all I need is a sunburn.

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Ronald S. Jr. wrote:
As long as you're fat and bald, yes. That'd do it.


Whoa...I just realized all I need is a sunburn.

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lets start a club we can goto the tanning salon together

phylet wrote:
lets start a club we can goto the tanning salon together

ProTan photographer's spray.

Now... the one that paints you black will be most popular.

DocFrankenstein wrote:
ProTan photographer's spray.

Now... the one that paints you black will be most popular.

nice, now I dont have to get my black clothes dry cleaned anymore!

Most pros I've seen don't dress particularly well. But they all have one thing in common...an old, battered, faded, beat up Domke or Billingham bag.

If I'm shooting a wedding, I dress in slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie. My kit stays in a bag that is either with me or under the careful eye of my designated assistant (usually my wife or son). If I'm shooting an event (fairs or festivals), I dress much more casually, but I wear a photographers vest with business cards at the ready in the upper left pocket.

If I'm shooting a model in a studio or shooting environmental portraits, I once again dress in slacks and a dress shirt. When shooting a model outdoors, I dress for the expected environment.

Mark

In my experience, professional photographers are poorly dressed. Often in some sort of plaid shirt and baggy khaki pants with lots of pockets. They tend to have facial hair and lots of it. Alot of pros seem to have unruly long grey hair as well. There's often a sign of a beer gut.

Of course I'm just speaking from my own personal experience. I don't have much experience with what wedding photographers dress like. I'm sure during work hours they put on the good duds. But what do they dress like when they're shooting for their own pleasure?

Great, so that’s what the younger generation of “up and coming” photographers have to look forward to…..:P

LOL Well, I don't know about the combat vest, but I definately agree that your attitude and demeanor are what come across as "professional". Clothes to me don't matter really. BUT you have to dress for your audience. So, if you're at a wedding....baggy shorts and a ripped up T-shirt don't really scream "professional photographer" KWIM? Just dress for the occassion (whatever it might be), and act like a pro. That's really all it takes in my book.