Today’s Post by Joe Farace
A few years ago, National Geographic ran a story comparing the real life of their staff photographers to the glamorized version featured in the film of “The Bridges of Madison County.” When the question of what they wore on the job arose, none of the shooters admitted to wearing a photo vest like the one Clint Eastwood wore in the movie. “I want to blend in” was a comment often heard in response. That’s why I was amused to see that in one of the images that appeared in that very same story—a couple sharing a tete a tete in a Paris bistro— the photographer, clearly wearing a photo vest, is reflected in the window.
VEST CHECKLIST
Whether some photographers want to admit it or not, a photo vest can be a useful, even indispensable photographic accessory. I have been using vests for almost forty years and over time I have watched them evolve from a convenient way of having a few extra pockets to wearable camera bags, with many variations in between.
To some shooters, a photo vest is a camera bag replacement, plain and simple. That’s why many, but not all, camera bag manufacturers also make photo vests. In speaking with one manufacturer’s CEO who doesn’t make vests he told me “camera bags and cases are luggage; vests are fashion.” Style is just one of the many different factors in choosing what kind of vest is right for you.
To help you make a fashionable choice of your next vest, here’s a checklist to help you when shopping:
- Functionality: What kind of photography do you do? How much gear do you carry? Answers to these questions will help decide if you even need a photo vest Some seem designed for film photographers but what about digital photographers? They need space for lenses, memory cards as well as batteries—lots of batteries.
- Fit: How well does the vest fit? Is it tailored to size or are there adjustments belts or tabs on the side? Some vests are a one-size-fits-all adjustable while others use the small, medium, large sizes aimed at men’s clothing sizes. Female photographer might want to actually try a vest on to determine the size that fits them.
- Construction: Is it well made? Look at the quality of the fasteners used as well as the types used. Are there buttons, zippers, Velcro? Which are the easiest for you to use in a given photographic situation. Look at the key elements such as the strength and durability of the zippers and pulls, and examine construction details such as stitching. One of the biggest changes in vest design over the years is the increased use of mesh to make let you keep your cool when photographing. Vests, such as the Ex Officio have large expanse of mesh, while others are almost complete made of mesh material.
- Style: You don’t have to be Ralph Lauren to know that a wedding photographer will needs a vest that looks different from one a nature photographer might use. The groundhogs and elk don’t care how stylish he or she may be, but the mother of the bride who is picking up the tab does. Maybe what you need something that blends in at either photography situation, which is why vests are available in many different colors. You may decide that you need more that one for each photographic situation.
- Price: This last factor should matter the least in the decision process, since a well-made vest will last you a long time, and the price will be quickly amortized over the number of assignments you shoot during that time. The Banana Republic vest my wife purchased for me more than thirty years ago is still serviceable, and I still wear from time to time because it’s not bulky and fits under a shell parka.
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