It can be difficult to know what to wear at weddings as a wedding photographer. When I’m in a shop looking for new dresses, here is what’s generally going through my brain, “Hmm… too short, too low, not dressy enough, too dressy, too tight, too long, too bright…” I am always on the hunt for the perfect dress to photograph weddings in.

My criteria – it needs to be black because I want to blend in and be unobtrusive. For the same reasons, it needs to be modest – not too low, or too short. It needs to be comfortable, but also dressy enough to wear to a wedding.

Trust me, the struggle is real.

A few years ago, I was photographing my brother in laws wedding, but I was obviously a guest too. Instead of my normal black dress I would usually wear to weddings, I thought ‘No. I’m going to get a dress that is also wedding guest worthy.’ So off I went, and ended up buying a lovely one from Country Road.

On the morning of the wedding, as I was photographing the brides preparations, the Father of the bride came up to me and said, ‘Did you know there is a hole in the back of your dress?’ Mortified, I ran to the bathroom to check out the damage… I hadn’t heard anything rip…but sadly he was right, there was a giant rip in the back of my dress! Right where you don’t ever want a rip to be.

Thankfully, my sister knew someone who lived around the corner from where the ceremony was, and we ended up running into her house to borrow a dress right before the ceremony began!

Lesson learnt.

Ironically, the dress that I LOVE to photograph in now, is also from Country Road. Although this time, it’s a little less tight around a certain area…

If you are a wedding photographer, can you relate to this struggle? Where have you found your perfect wedding photography attire? Can anyone top my embarrassing wardrobe malfunction? I would love to hear your stories! xx