You booked the session. You’ve been picturing it for months: you, your horse, golden light on the Franklin Mountains, a photo that finally shows what that animal means to you. Then you open your closet and panic.
If you’ve been asking yourself what to wear for horse photos in El Paso, you’re in good company. It’s the question I get most often, usually a month or a week before the session and usually with a little panic in it. So let’s settle it. Here’s how I help my clients choose colors that work with their horse’s coat, what to leave at home, and a shortcut that cuts out most of the guessing.
The One Rule That Matters Most
Contrast, don’t match.
Most people think they should match their horse. Their bay is brown, so they reach for a brown sweater. Then in the photo, the sweater and the horse run together, and you look like a floating head attached to a horse. That’s not to say don’t do it. (As always, rules can be broken, but these tips are general guidelines).
You want a color that sits next to your horse’s coat and makes it look better. That usually means going across the color wheel, or going deeper or lighter than the coat so there’s clear separation between you. Solid colors beat patterns almost every time. Rich, slightly muted tones beat neon every time.
Now let’s get specific.
What to Wear With a Bay Horse
Bays are the easy ones. Rich brown body, black mane, tail, and legs. They look good with almost anything, which is why they’re so easy to fall for.
Colors that work:
- Dusty blue, denim, and navy
- Cream and warm ivory
- Sage, olive green, and forest green
- Jewel tones like emerald, teal, and burgundy
- Mustard or warm gold, if you like a little warmth
Go easy on: browns and all black. Brown blends with their body and doesn’t provide enough contrast unless it is much darker or lighter than your horse. All black suffers from the same lack of contrast. Something like a black hat or jacket with a cream top would provide lovely contrast.
What to Wear With a Black Horse
A black horse soaks up light, so your job is to give the camera some separation. If you wear something dark, you both turn into one shadow with two faces.
Colors that work:
- Cream, ivory, and soft white
- Dusty blue and light denim
- Sage and soft olive
- Mustard, warm gold, and camel
- Burgundy, wine, or a deep red if you want some drama
Go easy on: black, charcoal, navy, and dark chocolate. Navy especially looks like black once you’re in the shade. This goes for smoky blacks too. Even if your horse has sun-faded to a rusty brown, treat them like a black horse and go lighter or brighter.
What to Wear With a Chestnut or Sorrel Horse
Chestnuts glow. That copper coat catches the evening light out here like nothing else, so pick colors that bring out the red instead of fighting it.
Colors that work:
- Teal and turquoise (my favorite, and a nod to the Southwest)
- Navy and denim blue
- Forest green and olive
- Cream, soft white, and soft pink
- Dusty blue or slate
Go easy on: red, orange, rust, coral, and most pinks. They either clash with the coat or blend right into it, and your chestnut ends up looking washed out and orange. Tan and camel can also disappear against a light sorrel.
What to Wear With a Palomino Horse
Palominos are pure gold, and in desert light they look like they’re lit from the inside. The trick is to frame that gold without competing with it, and to keep that flaxen mane from blending into your shirt.
Colors that work:
- Turquoise, teal, and denim blue
- Navy and deep forest green
- Burgundy, wine, and plum
- Chocolate brown for a rich, earthy look
- Black if you want a bold, classic contrast
Go easy on: yellow, gold, mustard, tan, and camel, which all blend into the coat. Cream and white can disappear into the mane and tail, and orange tends to make the gold look brassy.
What to Wear with a Gray (or White) Horse
This group covers grays from dappled steel to nearly white, plus cream-colored horses like cremellos, perlinos and smoky creams. These coats reflect a lot of light, so if you wear something pale, you’ll both blur into one bright spot in the photo.
Colors that work:
- Burgundy, wine, and plum
- Emerald and deep forest green
- Navy and sapphire
- Mustard and warm gold
- Charcoal, or black if you want a moody, dramatic look
Go easy on: white, light gray, pale pink, and pastels. With cremellos, perlinos and smoky creams, skip cream and ivory too. Their coats have a warm cream tone, and those shades will look like a slightly dirty version of your horse. Choose colors with some depth so your horse looks brighter next to you.
What About Paints, Roans and Appaloosas?
If your horse has white patches, spots or a blanket, good news: you don’t need a separate list. White patterns add a lot of visual interest, but they don’t change the colors much. Pick your outfit based on the base coat, so a bay paint uses the bay list and a black-and-white pinto uses the black list.
Two small adjustments. First, keep your outfit solid. Plaids, florals, and stripes next to a spotted coat get chaotic fast. Second, if your horse is mostly white, lean toward the gray-and-white list so you don’t blend into the big white areas.
A Few Practical Tips From the Barn
Dress for how you’ll actually move. You’ll be walking, leaning on your horse, maybe sitting in the dirt. A dress is beautiful if you can move in it and your horse is comfortable around the fabric. Jeans and a great top are always a safe choice.
Think in layers. A denim or suede jacket, a vest, or a lightweight sweater gives you two looks without a full outfit change, and desert evenings cool off fast.
Texture beats pattern. If a solid color feels boring, add texture instead: knit, linen, lace, suede, leather. It adds interest without the chaos.
Bring a backup. Horses sneeze, lick, and rub their heads on you. It’s part of the charm. Toss a second top in the truck just in case.
Don’t forget your horse’s outfit. Clean tack, a nice leather halter, and a freshly brushed coat matter as much as your outfit. If you’re using a colored saddle pad or halter, make sure it goes with what you’re wearing.
Skip the Guesswork With My Color-Matching App
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure this out alone.
Once you book, you get access to my Client Lounge, and inside it is my color-matching app. Upload a photo of your horse, and the app reads the coat and gives you a palette of colors that will look great next to them. No color wheel, no guessing, no second-guessing yourself in the dressing room.
Clients tell me this is one of their favorite parts of getting ready. You can take the palette shopping with you, text it to your family if they’re joining the session, or use it to pick from what’s already in your closet. And if you still want a second opinion, send me your options, and I’ll help you choose.
You and Your Horse, Photographed Right
What you wear matters, but it’s not the point. The point is you and the horse who has your heart, standing in good light and captured the way you feel together. The right colors just make sure nothing gets in the way.
If you’re ready to book your equine session in El Paso or anywhere in the Southwest, reach out and let’s get you on the calendar. Once you’re in, the Client Lounge and color-matching app are waiting for you.
