What to Wear for Equestrian Portraits

Choosing a Color Based on Your Horses Coat:

Palomino:

• Earth tones: Palominos have warm, golden tones that compliment earthy colors like brown, tan, and olive. These are my personal favorite for Palominos as they really let your horses beautiful coat color be the main event. 

• Bold colors: Palominos can also look great with bright and bold colors like red, royal blue, and purple. These colors create a striking contrast with the horse’s golden coat and make a bold statement. 

• Metallic colors: Palominos look stunning with metallic colors like gold, silver, and bronze. These colors complement the horse’s golden coat and create a luxurious and sophisticated look.

Dun:

• Warm colors: Dunshave a warm and earthy tone, and they look best with warm colors like brown, beige, and rust. These colors create a natural and organic look that complements the horse’s coat.

• Dark colors: Duns can also look great with dark colors like navy blue, charcoal, and forest green. These colors create a contrast with the horse’s light-colored coat which really make you pop.

• Bright colors: Duns can also look great with bright and bold colors like red, orange, and yellow. These colors create a striking contrast with the horse’s coat and make a bold statement.

Bay:

• Earth tones: Bays have warm, brown tones that compliment earthy colors like brown, tan, and olive. These colors are my personal favorite with bays as they create a natural look that lets your horses beauty shine.

• Dark Colors: Bays can also look great with dark colors like black. Black coordinates well with your horses mane and tail and creates an edgy vibe. Black is another one of my favorites for Bays.

• Jewel tones: Bay horses can also look stunning with rich and vibrant colors like emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red. These colors create a striking contrast with the horse’s coat which makes you pop. 

Black:

• Neutral colors: Black horses look beautiful with neutral colors like black, white, and gray. These colors create a subtle look that coordinates with your horse. 

• Metallic colors: Black horses can also look great with metallic colors like silver, gold, and bronze. These colors create a sophisticated look. Just imagine a silver sequence dress with your black horse! Stunning!

• Bright colors: Black horses can also look great with bright and bold colors like red, orange, and yellow. These colors create a striking contrast with the horse’s coat and make a bold statement.

Chestnut:

• Earth tones: Chestnut horses have warm, brown tones that compliment earthy colors like brown, tan, and olive. These colors create a natural look that lets your horse’s beauty shine.

• Jewel tones: Chestnut horses can also look great with rich and vibrant colors like emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red. Emerald Green is forever a favorite of mine on a Chestnut! Extremely striking and really lets you pop! 

• Dark colors: Chestnuts can look stunning with dark colors like navy blue, charcoal, and forest green. These colors create a contrast with the horse’s reddish-brown coat and create a bold, but subtle look.

• Pastel colors: Chestnut horses can also look beautiful with soft pastel colors like pink, lavender, and baby blue. These colors create a gentle contrast with the horse’s warm coat and are perfect to match spring flowers. 

• Metallic colors: Chestnuts can rock metallic colors like gold, silver, and bronze. These colors complement the horse’s warm coat and create a luxurious feeling, or you could definitely turn metal into an edgy style. 

Gray Horses:

• Neutral colors: Gray horses look best with neutral colors like black, white, and gray. These colors create a timeless look that not only coordinates with your horse, but can go anywhere in your house no matter the color of the wall!

• Bold colors: Gray horses can look stunning with bold colors like red, orange, and yellow. Red on a gray is definitely a statement and I am here for it! 

• Earthy colors: Gray horses can also look great with earthy colors like brown, tan, and olive. These colors create a natural and relaxed look. 

• Pastel colors: Grays can look stunning with soft pastel colors like lavender, pink, and baby blue. These colors will pop against the gray coat but also are perfect for spring flowers! Try coordinating with your flowers!

• Jewel tones: Gray horses can also look great with rich and vibrant colors like emerald green, sapphire blue, and ruby red. You already know my thoughts on grays and red, stunning. 

When to Wear White:

I love a white outfit at the barn, it is such a contrast to normal barn life and makes a huge statement, but knowing when to wear white to the barn is very important!

Your horse needs to be PRISTINE to wear white to the bar, any speck of dirt on your horse will be that much more noticeable if they are not clean as can be. Especially if you have a horse with any white on them, if their white is not glowing it will look yellow against your all white outfit. Also take note this affects you as well, so make sure your teeth are glistening!

Think about the photos you want and your barns set up. Your barn may be a bit muddy when we are doing portraits so white pants may not be the best option. Or maybe you want to ride through a river, white and water usually equates to see through clothes. Just keep in mind what you want out of your session and any limitations there may be for wearing white.

Always bring a tide to go pen, a horse grooming outfit (so your white outfit doesn’t get dirty) and a backup outfit in case something unexpected happens like you fall and destroy your white outfit. 

White truly is one of the most dangerous colors to wear to the barn, but the photos are pretty epic so if you want to do it I fully encourage it. Just be as prepared as possible. 

Choosing an Outfit Based on Scenery:

Barn: Casual looks or riding outfits are perfect for around your barn. You can wear jeans, dresses, riding pants etc. This is the perfect time to pull out your favorite matchy set or your favorite tee shirt and some jeans!

Arena: You can go a couple directions with the arena, you can do a street style look where you’re riding bareback and the photos display your style with your natural connection with your horse. Or you can go the riding rout and wear a favorite schooling or show look and tack your horse up to get some images that showcase your connection under saddle. 

Open Area: An open field or beach is perfect for a casual look or a flowy dress. If we have an open field at sunset I highly recommend a dress or something flowy. Flowy looks at sunset in an open space are insanely stunning! It gives the images a ton of motion and makes them feel more exciting. 

Black Background: Think a more elevated or professional look. Black Backgrounds are perfect for a formal silk dress, a business look or your show attire. Black Backgrounds are a sleek, clean and high end image and your outfit should reflect that as well. 

Client Closet

Needing a dress for your portrait session?

Check out some of these dresses in my client closet! As a Kayla Norene Photography client you have access to any of these dress on your portrait day, just let me know and I will bring it to the barn!

Size s-m

This dress includes a leg slit perfect for getting on and off your horse during a shoot!

Size xs-xl

This dress is a multi wrap so the top can be tied multiple different ways. This dress is available in blush and white.

Size xs-s

This dress is perfect for an elegant look. It does not have much flow so if you are wanting to sit on your horse in it you would have to go side saddle.

Size s

This dress offers some flow, but it still a bit limited in movement. You could sit on a horse in it, but would not be the best dress for riding.

Size s

Make all your spring time flower dreams come true with this beautiful neutral floral dress. It is very similar to the green dress above when it comes to fit for riding.