This mask did muffle my voice a little bit, though not much. Some masks just don’t feel like they are offering any protection. Pros: Professional looking, easy to breathe, cool, great wire, nice elastic bands, little viewfinder fog, hardly muffles the voice, Cons: Single use, too common, color doesn’t fit my style, the amount of air makes it feel less safe than some of the other masks. I didn’t think it would be, but here we are. It was great at not muffling my voice though. That said, it was a lot more comfortable to breath in than most masks. Your beard can tuck into or hide behind those. Never spray cologne or perfume or body spray in your mask no matter how bad it smells. In an industry that relies on human contact, masks conceal expressions, muffle speech and create misunderstandings. If you’re just shooting a few weddings, then I think the superior functionality of the disposable mask trumps the superior form of this reusable mask. That’s possibly because it’s a cotton bandana that isn’t being pulled tight against your nose, cheeks, and chin by elastic ear bands. So there’s more give to the fabric. Pros: Feels incredibly safe, no ear loop discomfort, no viewfinder fog, Cons: Hot, stinky, muffled my voice, looks weird, very uncomfortable. Also, while it’s great that the mask is easily recognizable, the sterile blue doesn’t really fit my aesthetic on a wedding day. When you take it off you will have marks on your face from where it pushed into your skin. Unfortunately, that’s not a professional look in my opinion. Wearing a mask has become a symbol of staying together, of “doing something” to protect someone from getting sick with this generally mild infection. The cloth used in this mask is a synthetic blend. Some masks hold a lot of heat. I want to point out that I never had problems breathing while wearing any of these masks, but there was some discomfort and mild claustrophobia. While the neck gaiter makes you look kind of like a ninja, a bandana makes you look like a soldier in a dusty environment just trying to keep the particles and sand out of your mouth and nose. Instead they’re using portable voice amplifiers, which include a microphone and headset. I love that you can pull it down when you’re far away from people and just have it around your neck and then pull it up later to cover your mouth and nose. This mask is really just a novelty. These types of masks aren’t available on Amazon anymore, because they’re reserved for medical facilities. It doesn’t fit tight against the face unless you tie the ear loops tight, since it doesn’t have elastic. I’m ranking it … Much like a floral tie, this mask provides a nice accent of color to what you’re wearing on a wedding day. I wanted to love the bandana almost as much as I wanted to love the cooling neck gaiter. I just couldn’t though. Hushme is a personal acoustic device that will help you protect speech privacy and reduce noise pollution when speaking on the phone in open space environments. It doesn’t have a wire for the nose. More air travel means possibly more exposure for both yourself and your clients, so it’s a tradeoff. Go find a mask to wear to your next wedding or event. No matter what mask you wear, it will get uncomfortable and you will want a break. This is an incredibly cool (in the literal sense) mask. 8 tips on building rapport while wearing a mask. The bandana looks really cool, but it doesn’t look professional at all. It’s only meant to be worn once. Of the two, I would recommend the neck gaiter so you can sew a wire into the elastic band to get a good seal around your nose. Volume: Since masks muffle your voice, make sure you speak up without shouting. It fits really tight over your face, and it is uncomfortable. You will need to plug in some filters. I’ve worn this mask quite a bit and never had any trouble with irritation. These masks are lightweight, comfortable, and don’t muffle my voice. Never spray cologne or perfume or body spray in your mask no matter how bad it smells. It holds the heat of your breath like no other mask on the list (and unfortunately the stink of your breath too if you’re not fresh and clean inside your mouth). We’ve taken the time to scour online retailers and reviews in order to find the best face masks for teachers, so you don’t have to. Pros: Reusable, professional looking and good looking, easy to breath while dry, good wire, nice elastic bands for ears, little viewfinder fog, Cons: Single use, muffles the voice, harder to breath while wet. What that means is that when you’re breathing hard more of the fabric feels like it’s going up your nose or into your mouth. Masks muffle your voice, make your face hot and they can seem difficult to breathe in on occasion. It was a personal shoot, so that I could make sure to have plenty of time to switch masks out without frustrating any clients. So plan accordingly. These types of masks aren’t available on Amazon anymore, because they’re reserved for medical facilities. I wanted to love this mask so much. Cons: Incredibly hot, not professional looking, no wire for your nose, fogs the viewfinder, doesn’t feel safe, uncomfortable to wear when tied tight and easy to slip down when tied loose, harder to breath while wet. Other than the worry that it wasn’t doing a great job at keeping me from spreading germs, I was also worried about the professional aspect. A GRAS head and torso simulator was used to play white noise though the artificial mouth, and the output acoustic signal was measured by a microphone at 2 meters distance. Just make sure to find something light weight if you’re shooting outside this summer, because the added heat on your face is a lot to handle. I’m ranking it under the 3 ply disposable mask though. That is that when you breath hard, the material sucks up your nose a little bit, or if you’re a mouth breather it sucks into your mouth. I assumed since it was so lightweight and breathable that it would do well there, but it didn’t. It has a good wire on top that is long enough to allow you to form the mask to fit your nose, but not over your cheek bones. But people can read a smile through your eyes. So there’s more give to the fabric. Which might be awesome in the winter, but where I live it’s really hot outside right now. The size of the wire matters a lot in these masks because getting a good fit over your nose prevents some air from blowing upwards, which fogs up your viewfinder when shooting inside. So I wanted masks that looked good and didn’t inhibit my shooting. And they certainly don't keep you from making a good impression. A lot of my friends with beards have mentioned that they feel like masks look ridiculous on them. I know this is a bit vain, but my aesthetic is part of my brand. This mask was part of a four pack and none of the wires were centered correctly. Or a black mask because something about wearing black seems professional to me (a guy who wears a black suit to almost every wedding he shoots). Some masks feel uncomfortable. People who don’t use the viewfinder won’t struggle with this, but it’s very frustrating when you’re trying to capture things inside a church or venue with air conditioning. This mask doesn’t look great (see my picture above). By far my favorite mask. It’s hard to give instruction to your clients when they can barely hear you. That’s possibly because it’s a cotton bandana that isn’t being pulled tight against your nose, cheeks, and chin by elastic ear bands. You’ve probably seen hundreds of people wearing these while shopping. This makes the ear loops incredibly irritating and uncomfortable. It doesn’t noticeably muffle the voice though. Even if it’s just a crappy novelty mask, it’s better than nothing. I recommend bringing two of these to an event so you can swap them out if one gets wet. Pros: Reminds me of Schitt’s Creek which brings joy to my life, Cons: Basically everything else… don’t buy novelty masks for work. Out of all the reusable masks I tried, this is the most comfortable and gave me the least trouble when wet. I bought it specifically with weddings in mind. This mask really muffled my voice. The cooling neck gaiter, which also clings to your skin tightly, has a similar effect (and looks a lot more professional). No matter what mask you wear, it will get uncomfortable and you will want a break. Or a black mask because something about wearing black seems professional to me (a guy who wears a black suit to almost every wedding he shoots). It looks a lot better than people letting a mask with ear loops dangle off one ear when they’re socially distance (or even worse, pulling the mask down and under their chin so it’s still attached to their ears and it ends up looking like a weird beard). SOUTH BEND-ELKHART, Ind. It doesn’t have elastic ear loops. This mask is also one of the most common masks out there. Don’t … There’s no wire around the nose so it fogs up the viewfinder quite a bit. I think it’s because the sides of the mask don’t lay flat against the face. Custom designed for TalkTech Sylencer & Steno SR Pro masks, this form-fitting neoprene glove noticeably reduces noise and easily slips over your mask. I didn’t think it would be, but here we are. I only bought it because I love Schitt’s Creek. It does have giant rubber bands that go around the back of your head, which are uncomfortable. You can’t donate used masks, but you can wear them again and write about them. The cloth, though cool and shiny, feels thick. While I didn’t have a chance to shoot seven different weddings to test all of these masks out, I did go out on a shoot in 90 degree heat and tested them all while actually shooting. Other than the worry that it wasn’t doing a great job at keeping me from spreading germs, I was also worried about the professional aspect. While the neck gaiter makes you look kind of like a ninja, a bandana makes you look like a soldier in a dusty environment just trying to keep the particles and sand out of your mouth and nose. It also fogs the viewfinder up when shooting inside. Just take care of yourself and your clients as best you can. Even if it’s just a crappy novelty mask, it’s better than nothing. It’ll be very helpful. This mask is my favorite that I tested. Masks don't just muffle voices; they also filter out higher pitches. It’s a lot rougher. As a former lifeguard myself, I know lifeguards prefer to wear things that keep them cool, so I figured it was worth trying out. I don’t have a beard. I’m going to rank the masks in order of my favorite mask to wear while shooting to my least favorite. So, the flip side of this mask being so prevalent and easily identifiable is that I end up looking like everyone else which isn’t always something I want. Nurses, doctors, dentists, and orthodontists all come to mind when I see this mask. If you think somebody should be wearing a face mask, and they’re not, confrontation probably won’t help. This mask was part of a four pack and none of the wires were centered correctly. 99. I love it. The one I have is kind of thick so its hard to speak over the music, with the mask on, while social distancing. Required fields are marked *. It has a professional look to it, because we’re used to seeing so many professionals wear it. This is ranked lower than the floral mask because the floral mask material feels better and the floral mask has a larger wire. Find something that fits your style and keeps you as safe as possible. Now I know that not all masks are created equal. It’ll be very helpful. As such, I felt cool the whole time I was shooting. I understand it’s my favorite largely because I like the way it looks and the fact that it’s reusable. Kylo Ren Helmet Mask with Voice Changer, Latex Electronic Full Head Mask with Sound Costume Toy. Two positive things about the bandana. Now I know that not all masks are created equal. Update July 26, 2020: While we don’t recommend using a neck gaiter on its own, we have found a great use for the cooling neck gaiter. I’m ranking it … It fits really tight over your face, and it is uncomfortable. This is the first mask I bought. The fabric is light and thin. ・ When you want to say something you don't want other people to hear! This mask is made for construction workers and we originally bought it when we were sanding, painting, and staining a bunch of wood in our garage. It barely fit over my nose, and it isn’t centered. You don’t need to buy a bunch of masks to try to find the best mask to be a little safer. Go find a mask to wear to your next wedding or event. If you already have a favorite mask, then just scroll past everything else I wrote to get to the tips section. It feels cool to the touch and has a little bit of a shine to it. Masks don’t muffle teachers’ voices in one area school; their lessons are amplified. This mask is my favorite that I tested. I’m not happy the neck gaiter and the bandana ranked so low in my opinion for professional use, because they are the most appealing to me on a personal aesthetic level. If you’re a photographer who has to work or is choosing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, then you’ve probably been looking for a good mask. That made me worried that it wouldn’t do a great job at keeping me or my clients safe. It feels like it’s doing a better job of keeping you and others safe than a cooling neck gaiter (a cloth neck gaiter would have much the same effect). I don’t stay clean shaven all the time and I could see a few hairs sticking through the fabric. Maybe this fall/winter I’ll get a black cloth neck gaiter and sew a wire into the elastic band so I can mold it around my nose. So let me just tell you what you’re in for with this mask. Two positive things about the bandana. It gets worse when you sweat and the material gets wet. The neck gaiter just doesn’t look professional to me. Cons: Incredibly hot, not professional looking, no wire for your nose, fogs the viewfinder, doesn’t feel safe, uncomfortable to wear when tied tight and easy to slip down when tied loose, harder to breath while wet. It doesn’t feel breathable. A good mask, like a good tie or pocket square, can add a little pizazz to the way you look, so find something that makes you look and feel good. Find something that fits your style and keeps you as safe as possible. I want to point out that I never had problems breathing while wearing any of these masks, but there was some discomfort and mild claustrophobia. I was really hoping one of these could be my new look for weddings. Aesthetically, this mask looks like it goes with scrubs not with a suit and tie. I like the look of the neck gaiter for personal use. Probably the second most comfortable after the disposable mask. It doesn’t have elastic ear loops. We’ve taken the time to scour online retailers and reviews in order to find the best face masks for teachers, so you don’t have to. P100 filters offer better filtration, though they may be harder to breathe through. So every time you wear it you’re creating more trash. It barely fit over my nose, and it isn’t centered. I’ll be talking about how they look and feel, but feel free to look at the photos and make your own judgements about how good they look. This mask did muffle my voice a little bit, though not much. It looks more like half a balaclava, so like almost a ninja mask. After doing some Amazon searches, I thought I found one that was perfect. claustrophobic. While I never felt out of breath with this mask, it was a bit uncomfortable. The elastic of the ear bands felt great. Depending on how tight you tie the bandana, it is either uncomfortable around your face or constantly slipping off and needing to be retied. I love that you can pull it down when you’re far away from people and just have it around your neck and then pull it up later to cover your mouth and nose. I was too. If you’re a photographer who has to work or is choosing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic, then you’ve probably been looking for a good mask. I feel like a floral mask, like a floral tie, is a great accent. Other than the fabric, the place where this masks fails the most when compared to the floral mask is that the wire just isn’t long enough. Hence this being included here. That said, it was a lot more comfortable to breath in than most masks. This mask is really just a novelty. It’s not as bad as a bandana, but still not great. It’s rougher than the cotton mask. In addition, external speakers are embedded in the device that produces a variety of sounds to make sure not even a hint of your conversation goes out. I was right. But it’s not winter and that sounds way too hot right now. 'Hushme' uses active and passive noise-canceling so that people up to three feet away won't be able to decipher your voice. This is ranked lower than the floral mask because the floral mask material feels better and the floral mask has a larger wire. People who don’t use the viewfinder won’t struggle with this, but it’s very frustrating when you’re trying to capture things inside a church or venue with air conditioning. The HushMe is a Bluetooth headset designed to muffle and mask your voice while you're on the phone. This mask, and all the cloth masks to be honest, share a similar trait. After doing some Amazon searches, I thought I found one that was perfect. If you’re just shooting a few weddings, then I think the superior functionality of the disposable mask trumps the superior form of this reusable mask. The Alango Technologies team based in Israel measured voice samples in an anechoic chamber as a function of the type of mask being worn (Figure 2). The fabric feels like it’s going into your nose and mouth when you breath hard. I was too. Complicating matters even further is the CDC recommendation that people remain at … The difference between a serious statement and a joke is often the smile on our face or the tone of our voice. This mask is similar to the n95 masks doctors treating COVID-19 patients wear, but it’s not quite the same. The little bit of moisture this got from my sweat and breath made it really uncomfortable while breathing hard. I was clearly audible the whole time I was wearing the neck gaiter. About the author: Steven Van Elk is an Indianapolis-based photographer who specializes in weddings and commercial work with his wife, Jennifer. When you take it off you will have marks on your face from where it pushed into your skin. The "Scream Jar "miraculously changes even the loudest scream to a normal speaking voice, so you can shout no matter where you are. Your email address will not be published. This mask is made for construction workers and we originally bought it when we were sanding, painting, and staining a bunch of wood in our garage. ・ Sing at the top of your voice in your … Also, the wire around the nose mostly kept the viewfinder of my DSLR from fogging up while inside, but it wasn’t as good as the disposable mask. It’s kind of like wearing a tight work out shirt around your face. I’m going to rank the masks in order of my favorite mask to wear while shooting to my least favorite. So, I figured this was worth trying out. You will want to take breaks. The fabric feels like it’s going into your nose and mouth when you breath hard. Pros: Cool, breathable, cool looking, hardly muffles the voice, no ear irritation, Cons: Not professional looking, no wire for your nose, fogs the viewfinder, doesn’t feel safe. So let me just tell you what you’re in for with this mask. The elastic bands for the ear loops fit my head well and didn’t irritate my ears while wearing this mask. I wanted mask that looked professional and felt comfortable. It’s incredibly hot. I didn’t like wearing this mask very much, but it’s the mask I would want if I had to do photos on a packed dance floor or if I had to do photos in close quarters with the wedding party. I was really hoping one of these could be my new look for weddings. Masks can muffle your voice a bit, so make sure they can hear you. This mask also didn’t muffle my voice nearly as much as some of the cloth masks, which is probably due to the increased air flow and the lightweight material used to make the mask. While it is lighter than the floral mask, it also has more give to it. The fabric is light and thin. In your situation: N95 or P95 filters are good. It was a personal shoot, so that I could make sure to have plenty of time to switch masks out without frustrating any clients. The mask doesn’t have uncomfortable ear loops, if that’s a concern.