Choosing Outfit Colors for Your Equestrian Portraits

Choosing the Perfect Colors for Your Equestrian Photoshoot Outfit:

As an equine photographer, one of the most common questions I receive is, "What should I wear for my photoshoot?" While many elements contribute to a successful session, color selection is one of the most impactful—both in how it photographs and how it complements your horse, the environment, and ultimately, your home decor. To achieve a cohesive, flattering, and timeless look, I encourage clients to thoughtfully consider four key elements:

1. Personal Coloring

Understanding your own coloring is the foundation of outfit selection. Skin tone is typically categorized as cool, warm, or neutral, and the colors that complement each vary significantly.

• Cool Undertones You likely have cool undertones if you notice blue or purple veins on your wrist, tend to burn in the sun, and look best in silver jewelry. When holding a white sheet of paper to your chest, your skin may reflect pink or blue hues. Ideal colors for cool-toned individuals include:

  • Jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire, and deep purple

  • Pastel tones like lavender, ice blue, and blush pink

  • Neutrals like navy, blue-gray, and heather gray

    
    

• Warm Undertones If your veins appear greenish, you tan easily, and gold jewelry complements your skin, you likely have warm undertones. You may notice a yellow or golden hue when comparing your skin to white paper. Suitable colors include:

  • Earth tones like rust, moss, peach, coral, amber, and mustard

  • Warm reds and oranges

  • Neutrals such as cream, tan, and camel

    
    

• Universal Shades Certain colors flatter nearly everyone and photograph beautifully. These include eggplant, teal, true red, seafoam, and soft blush tones. Jewel tones, in particular, add richness and depth to portraits, regardless of your undertones.

2. Horse Coloring

The next important consideration is your horse’s coat color. Ideally, your outfit should contrast enough with your horse to create visual separation, while still harmonizing with their natural tones. Here's a breakdown by coat color:

• Red Horses (chestnut, sorrel, red roan, red dun)

  • Recommended: ivory, gold, chocolate, soft green, teal, lavender, pink

  • Avoid: red and orange tones that may clash

    
    

• Blue/Black Horses (black, gray, blue roan)

  • Recommended: vibrant hues like red, yellow, jewel tones, pastels

  • Avoid: dark tones that may blend into the horse’s coat

    
    

• Bays

  • Recommended: forest green, turquoise, deep blue, dusty pink, lavender, gold

  • Avoid: browns too close to the coat shade

    
    

• Blonde Horses (palomino, buckskin, dun, cremello)

  • Recommended: emerald, royal blue, plum, rust, pink

  • Avoid: pale yellows

    
    

• White/Gray Horses

  • Recommended: primary colors, jewel tones, soft pastels

  • Avoid: white, light gray, or any tone that causes visual wash-out

    
    

• Patterned Horses (paints, appaloosas, etc.)

  • Coordinate with the dominant color of their coat.

  • Avoid bold patterns in your clothing to prevent overwhelming the image.

    
    

• Multiple Horses Neutrals are safest here. Soft shades such as blush, peach, navy, ivory, and light blue photograph well and harmonize with a variety of coat colors.

3. Season and Location

Your environment can either support or compete with your outfit—so be mindful of color harmony with your shoot’s surroundings.

• Spring: Favor light, airy pastels to match the freshness of the season. Avoid blending into green fields with green clothing.

  
  

• Summer: Embrace bold, vibrant hues such as royal blue, coral, or teal.

  
  

• Autumn: Opt for rich, earthy tones—deep reds, navy, mustard, forest green—that pair beautifully with fall foliage.

  
  

• Winter: Cool, dramatic tones like burgundy, emerald, charcoal, and deep jewel tones add sophistication against a stark, cool background.

  
  

Wherever you're shooting—barn, beach, forest, or pasture—your outfit should contrast just enough with the surroundings to ensure visual distinction without becoming distracting.

4. Display Area

Your equestrian photoshoot is not just a memory—it’s artwork meant to be displayed. Before choosing your outfit, consider the wall where you plan to hang your portraits.

• For large-scale wall art, muted tones are often preferable to avoid overpowering the space.

  
  

• If your home has a cool-toned interior (grays, blues, whites), opt for outfits in complementary shades.

  
  

• In warm-toned spaces (creams, browns, terracottas), earthy or jewel tones may integrate more seamlessly.

Additional Professional Tips:

• Stick with solid colors or very subtle patterns—they keep the focus on you and your horse.

  
  

• Avoid neon hues; they can reflect unnaturally onto skin and fur, making color correction difficult.

  
  

• Skip logos or text on clothing, which can distract from the timeless nature of your portraits.

Final Thoughts

Color selection is more than just aesthetics—it directly affects the mood, composition, and longevity of your photos. As your equine photographer, I’m here to guide you through every step, including outfit selection. Together, we’ll ensure your wardrobe complements your horse, the setting, and your personal style—resulting in stunning, heirloom-quality imagery.

Katie Williams – K. Williams Photography – A Georgia senior, equine, livestock and pet photographer. I'm happy to serve you, transforming deeply valued parts of your life into a custom-tailored experience and lasting artwork. Explore my site or contact me to discover the best ways we can work together.