Uniform of the Day

Most professional organisations have uniforms. They can be decorative or utilitarian - ie British guards' regiments in front of Buckingham Palace in red and in front of Kabul in khaki - and they can be complex or simple. But they all have an effect - they define the user as a professional and can be a major factor in elliciting the sort of behaviour one expects from that profession.

I was struck by this on a recent Saturday when I received a compliment from the celebrant for the shirts and ties that I and my assistant were wearing. Apparently this is not normal in the trade - wedding photographers are turning up in increasingly casual array. I wonder if this is leading to an increasingly casual attitude to the work in hand.

One would not think that this would be the case - brides are increasingly well-informed about what is possible in wedding photography and are much more demanding as to standards. The day of the two shots in front of the church and the bridal couple in a brandy glass are over, and good riddance. We can do more now and we DO do more now...but must we do it as slovens?

By all means do not outdo the stars - don't try to arrive in white tie and tails if the bridal party are going to be doing it plain. And you can't control what the guests wear - in some cases you are doing well to keep their fingers out of your camera bag while you are occupied - but you can aim to blend into the surroundings and give a pleasant tone to the proceedings.

Mind, there is a certain value in being dressed so that you are recognisably a working photographer - the guests will sometimes clear out of your path as you try to get the shots the bride pays for. Sometimes the guests will cooperate and bunch together for a group photo before the bar opens and if you give them a uniform to look at as well as a lot of shouting and popping the flash you can sometimes succeed.

I used to favour the sports coat with enough pockets to hold spare magazines or flash bulbs. Them days is gone, but I still wear a long sleeve shirt and tie and add a photo vest in black with sloped lapels. It has 8 zillion pockets and there is space for one extra lens and several extra cards and sets of batteries. You can be caught away from your bag or assistant and still do the job. The black vest looks formal and official and can disappear under the sports jacket if need be.

The hat is kind is a problem. I need one in the bright sun, and if the business it taking place outside I wear one. Never mind what it looks like, I burn to a crisp in the summer.

Final note - if you employ an assistant - clothe them the same as yourself. It is worth the expense to establish a corporate image, and the sight of a team at work ( One carries the rockets, one carries the tube...) gives the bride more confidence. And it makes the assistant act as part of a professional team - pride in appearance means pride in performance.