Mastering Your Equine Photo Shoot Wardrobe

A down-to-earth guide to choosing colors that flatter you (and your horse)

Picking outfits for your equine photo session can feel like a lot. Should you stick with something safe? Try something bold? Buy something new or use what’s already in your closet? While it’s tempting to start clicking “add to cart” on everything you see, a little strategy goes a long way.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to choose flattering colors, what works best in each season, and how to complement your horse’s coloring so you feel confident, polished, and totally in sync on session day.

Exploring the Color Palette:

Before anything else, let’s talk tones. Most colors fall into three main categories: warm, cool, or neutral. Sticking to one palette tends to look best in photos and avoids any distracting color clashes.

Warm Tones:

If you have olive-toned skin, warm hazel or brown eyes, and golden hues in your hair, warm tones will flatter you most. Think earthy, golden shades like:

• Rust
• Burnt orange
• Deep reds
• Mustard
• Turquoise

These tones add richness and warmth to your photos without overpowering your natural coloring.

Cool Tones:

Cool tones work beautifully on people with fair or cool-toned skin, darker blondes, chestnut or black hair, and blue or gray eyes. If that’s you, look for:

• Emerald green
• Navy
• Royal blue
• Lavender
• Ruby red

These jewel tones bring out the depth in your skin tone and really pop in natural light.

Neutral Tones:

Neutral tones are great if you’re not sure which direction to go. These tend to work well on those with mixed features—maybe a blend of blonde and brown hair or green eyes that shift in the light. Try:

• Soft pink
• Cream
• Taupe
• Dusty rose
• Light olive

These are understated, timeless, and easy to build on with layers or texture.

Match the Season:

Let the time of year help guide your wardrobe! Coordinating with the season’s natural colors can add a subtle layer of harmony to your images.

Dress to Complement Your Horse:

Your horse is your co-star, so let’s make sure your outfits flatter them, too. The goal isn’t to match exactly, but to create a cohesive, elevated look.

Appaloosas, Pintos, and Paints don’t fit neatly into the above categories. However, if your horse has more than 50 percent white hair, select a jewel-toned colors to contrast your horse’s coat. If your horse has less than 50 percent white hair, use your horse’s primary coat color as a guide. If you’re going to be photographed with multiple horses, blues and greens are the most versatile colors. They look great on almost any horse.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

While color is key, there are a few additional considerations for optimal photo session attire.

• Pale colors + fair skin can sometimes wash you out. Opt for deeper shades or layer with richer tones.
• Avoid patterns, logos, or extreme accessories—they pull attention away from your face and your horse.
• Sleeveless tops may bring more focus to your shoulders than your connection with your horse. Fitted tops with sleeves often frame you better.
• Bring options. A few different looks mean more variety in your gallery and flexibility if something isn’t working the way you imagined.

For more do’s and don’ts on what to wear to your session, check out my What to Wear: Equine Portrait Session blog

Easy Color Combos That Almost Always Work

If you’re not sure where to start, these combos are client favorites:

• Deep red + gray
• Navy + cream
• Olive green + denim
• Mustard yellow + brown
• Dusty rose + charcoal

They work across seasons and flatter most complexions and horse colors.

Last but Not Least: Trust Your Gut

The best outfit is the one that makes you stand taller and smile bigger. Try everything on ahead of time, move around in it, and bring what makes you feel like your best self.

Need help narrowing things down? I’m just a message away and always happy to help you feel fully prepared for your time in front of the lens.