Best clothes for cameramen to wear while shooting?

Jon Furtado

Jon Furtado

Well-known member
While i know it depends on where and what your shooting, what does everyone on here find to be the best clothes to wear while shooting on location? Any particular styles or brands? I'm just curious what kind of clothes others feel are best to use for our field.

Any suggestions? links? thoughts?
 
Whatever is comfortable, practical, and approprate to the occasion.

Could range from combat boots and a flak jacket to a wet suit to tuxedo to second-hand t-shirt and ripped jeans.

In most instances, I like to have plenty of pockets, but not too many.
 
Too right, would play havoc with the lighting and have the mattebox working overtime. :)

My vote is for clean clothes. In every on set photo I've seen the DP has two people standing within a couple of feet of him. Unless you don't like the director and AC. Then don't wash or change for the whole shoot.
 
Thick, khaki or black cargo pants\shorts. Dark, solid-colored polyester polo shirt. Thick-soled, comfortable shoes that do not leave scuff marks.
 
Like Nothing said, anything black. Black is the color that allows you to become invisible to the camera and to others. With enough deep pockets to hold things. Comfortable shoes, as well. No flip flops or sandals. If you're on location and it's sunny, a hat.
 
Jodhpurs, riding boots and a safari jacket with a white silk scarf of course.

Frank

Edit: Don't forget to call your assistant "doll".
 
Cargo's and flip flops. Nothing like shooting crime scene B roll in back alley's of SE DC, dodging broken pipe glass and used needles. Live on the edge...
 
I once knew a Spanish commercials director who liked to work in the nude. Not sure how he'd cope in today's multi-skilling age, he'd have nowhere to keep his croc clips.

Anyway, to answer the OP, dress appropriately for your job, the environment you are working in and your client's expectation, but above all, wear comfortable shoes.
 
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For cold weather, flannel-lined Carhartt-style pants. Indestructible and warm.

And as my profile pic illustrates, blaze orange if necessary!
 
Terry_Lasater said:
This place makes tactical clothing but I think they'd be good for a lot of production activities, too.
Click to expand...

One sometimes positive/sometimes negative is that the dense material and multiple layers from all the pockets makes the shirts VERY warm... such that they can be uncomfortable at ambient temperatures above, say, 70 degrees.

Other than that, yes, good stuff. Tactical and camping outfits in general are good sources.

I have a couple of these shirts as well, they're cooler and equally pockety.

Of course if you're a bearded fellow, nothing beats the classic combo of ball cap and aloha shirt.
 
If you shoot run-and-gun, there's a compelling reason to wear the "worst-case scenario" clothing, which is indeed black. Pretty punishing in the heat though. If you can manage having a duffel or gym bag, you have more options. Comfort is number one for me, meaning breathable fabrics, comfortable shoes and a Tilly hat for the sun. A full set of blacks from head to toe as needed for eliminating reflections (for handheld/Steadicam; for conventional, usually easier to throw duv or a furny over yourself and the camera). Raingear tops and bottoms, layers for warmth and cold weather gear when appropriate. Hiking boots for rough terrain. Spare sunglasses.

The only thing I've been able to remove now that I'm not operating is the black outfit.

Some climates can change radically throughout the course of the day. Night into day, day into night can mean a significant change in temperature. One of the easiest ways to spot a newbie on set is the ones who are caught off guard by not being dressed appropriately for the shoot, standing around shivering in the night air, saying 'I didn't know we were shooting exteriors". Reading the call sheet is the best defense; if there's no call sheet, ask! But best just to bring whatever you need to be covered.
 
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