Photographers impression

[churner]

Hello everyone,
I am trying to help a friend to develope a photographers impression. I have looked at some original pictures of photographers but have not found very many pictures of them in the field. In the pictures they seem to be wearing nicer clothing than a traditional worker or a tradesmen, but I assume they must have worn "work clothes" that could be stained with silvernitrate and other collodian chemicals. Also, if the clothing would be made of more durable fabrics or everyday summertime fabrics like linen and cotton. I just want to make sure to pick garments that are correct for the occupation and socioeconomic status. Most of the events he will be doing are summer time, so I was thinking something appropriate would be a darkly colored linen paletot coat, and twill trousers.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you,
Julia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Photographers_lunch_acw.jpg

[benjclark]

Actually, there are quite a lot of photos of photographers in the field. I think your general idea of clothing is good, though. They don't seem to dress like farmers or mechanics, even the assistants. But, I can't think of any images of period photographers wearing aprons or smocks while developing. Surely there are some out there. Anyone?

[csasoldier_61]

IMHO Getting your picture taken (even for a photographer) was a big deal back then. Therefore I don't think that they would have posed for a picture in their dirty work clothes. I'm not saying that you should look like you just came out from behind the plow, but I would not go for the impression that you see in pictures because they probably would not have dressed that nice when working. I think a decent set of civilian clothes and then some that he would work in would be just fine.

My .02

[Ian McWherter]

IMHO Getting your picture taken (even for a photographer) was a big deal back then. Therefore I don't think that they would have posed for a picture in their dirty work clothes.

That's interesting, because there are scores of original images where men and women are posing in just that, their dirty work clothes. Having a photograph taken in America before and during the Civil War wasn't the big deal people make it out to be, it wasn't as commonplace as it is today, but it wasn't uncommon either. There were more Daguerreotypists in New York City alone in 1850 than there was in all of England, Americans loved photography.

[Busterbuttonboy]

Julia
Check out the collodion forum...
http://www.cwreenactors.com/collodion/

[Spongebucket]

Julia,
You are on the right track. Having worked in the collodian arts with Claude Levet, it was best to wear simple clothes. Dark cotton trousers, a shirt and a vest. We wore aprons to keep the staining down. When actually working, I never wore a coat (frock, blouse, or paletot). Too much moving and it would get in the way. Those garments were worn when walking about or in the evening after lacquering the plates and other "chores".
Think of it simply as indoor working attire. Just like many farmers, when working you wear the overalls, etc...but when doing social things (going to town, shopping, church) you wear something a bit more refined.
Just my 2 pennies.
Cheers,
Joe Blunt

[Doug Harding]

You might also try going to the In search of shadow catching social Group at http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/group.php?groupid=114.

I think that while in the field a photographer would wear sturdy working clothes. Silver nitrate will permanently stain clothing. Look at photos of Gardner and O'Sullivan. Most photographers worked in a studio and at $1.00 per image, would be able to dress better than the average working man. However, traveling throughout the country on dusty or muddy roads, working outside in the hot summer sun, one would tend to dress more comfortably. That is how I go anyway.

Doug

[SeceshCavalry]

With regards to photographers or any persons engaged in a variety of labors I research photos and look to see what men are wearing be they reporters, store clerks or what have you. I reason that gentlemen wore decent work clothes while doing photographer work and did not wear rags as would some roustabout on the docks. A set of work clothes in your wardrobe will serve you well. Wear your better attire if you have time and know your image is about to be taken. I have read that many times photographs were taken that the subjects in many cases had no idea what was being done as they were unfamiliar with the process. The candid shots can tell you more about what everyday people wore so look for those type of photographs in books and online.