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Tips For Exciting Pet Photography Session 2025
For a pet photography session, when picking out colors for your family, pet, or equine portraits, it’s important to choose shades that complement everyone’s skin tone and blend well together. The goal is to keep the focus on the people and their pets, not the clothes. By understanding how colors work together, you can avoid any distractions and create a balanced, cohesive look. If you go for rich jewel tones, soft pastels, or earthy hues, there are plenty of options to make the colors in your portraits pop without taking away from the main subjects.
From rich jewel tones to soft pastels and earthy shades, there are many ways to mix and match colors for an eye-catching result. This guide will help you explore the color wheel, pair colors effectively, and find the best shades for your photo session. The right choice of colors will bring vibrancy to the scene and give your portraits a timeless feel.
In the following tips, we’ll discuss how to use a two-color palette, choose clothing that fits well, and select colors that complement your pet’s natural coloring. We’ll also share helpful advice on accessories and makeup to ensure your portraits look polished and cohesive. Let’s get started and make your session unforgettable!
Right Colors for Your Pet Portraits
A color star is a more useful tool than a color wheel for showing which colors look good together. As a general rule, if a line connects two colors, they typically work well together.
Colors that are next to each other (like neighbors) also look good together, and drawing a line across them will show the complementary color. This works for both bright jewel tones and softer pastels, as explained below.
This method can help when picking clothes from a closet or shopping. Check where the colors fall on the wheel. Experiment with different shades to add interest and balance to the overall look. Wearing only white or black is outdated, and black can make people look like floating heads if not styled properly.
Tip: Whether it’s just one person with a pet or a whole family with a dog, start with a two-color palette. Choose colors that feel good. Yellow, for example, may be appealing but may not look good on everyone. Wearing it in portraits might make someone look back and think, “Why was yellow chosen?”
Jewel Tones for Perfect Portraits
If only one color palette could be chosen for a family, pet, or equine portrait session, jewel tones would be the best choice. These colors are rich, vibrant, and complement many skin tones, printing beautifully. Jewel tones include colors like ruby (red), sapphire (blue), garnet (burgundy), emerald (green), and even harvest gold.
Adding a pastel to a jewel tone creates a layered, appealing look in portraits. For example, a baby blue shirt under a sapphire sweater or a light pink scarf with a merlot jacket can add depth. This is a great way to introduce visual interest, especially with multiple people in the shot. Each person can have their own color while still blending well with the group.
It’s important to avoid wearing something too bright or distracting, like a yellow and blue striped shirt, which draws unwanted attention. The goal is for the clothing to be understated and harmonious, allowing the faces to be the focus of the photo, not the outfits.
- Tip: Elbow-length sleeves are very flattering. Just as you may avoid showing too much leg, it’s best to avoid sleeveless or short-sleeved tops. Your arms can draw attention away from your face. Also, thin or spaghetti straps can make arms look larger in comparison.
- Tip: When it comes to jewelry, large, statement necklaces are great because they frame your face. No matter your hair length, earrings should be small to avoid distracting from your face. It’s also a good idea to remove large watches, like Apple Watches, as the black square can look like a mini TV on your wrist. Bracelets can interrupt the line of your forearm, so it’s usually best to remove them. The forearm and wrist have a delicate, graceful look, especially when photographing hands interacting with pets, and shiny jewelry isn’t necessary in these moments.
Rust is a Great Choice Year-Round
Rust has quickly become a favorite jewel tone, especially when it’s deep and rich, like the shades in the images below. It looks fantastic in the summer, complementing the vibrant greenery, as well as in the fall and winter, blending well with the earth tones seen around Dallas.
Jeans are perfectly fine. In Texas, everyone has work jeans, play jeans, and dress jeans (if you’re unsure, go with dress jeans!). When wearing blue jeans, choose a darker wash over a lighter one (as mentioned earlier, lighter colors can be distracting). Also, avoid ripped jeans they might be in style but can draw attention away, making people wonder “What’s that on her pants?” Consider colored jeans like black, brown, or rust for a nice alternative.
Tip: Don’t forget the shoes! Closed-toe shoes usually look better on camera. If you wear sandals, make sure your toenails are freshly painted (I can’t fix that in Photoshop!). Stick to darker colors like brown or black, and boots are always a great option, whether your jeans are tucked in or worn over them. And please, say “No” to sneakers. They’re often too bright and don’t belong in most photos unless it’s specific to the subject, like a high school track athlete in uniform for senior pictures.
Pastels Add a Light Touch to Portraits
Jewel tones look great in summer and spring, but pastels can add a light, airy feel to portraits with your pet. While pastels aren’t typical for winter, they fit perfectly in warmer months, so it’s a great opportunity to use them.
Mixing pastels for a family portrait with dogs is a wonderful idea. Combinations like pink and blue, or yellow and green, complement each other (as shown on the color wheel above) and look beautiful in natural settings, especially with small children. Don’t shy away from soft, ice cream-like colors.
Avoid clothing with too many fussy details. If you find yourself saying “This tie always comes undone,” it’s probably not the best choice for your photo session. You want to focus on enjoying the moment, not constantly adjusting your waistband, buckle strap, or other annoying clothing elements.
Tip: Choose clothing that fits well. Even if it’s not your favorite piece, fit is more important. If you’re dealing with a few extra pounds and nothing fits, it’s worth buying something that does. Trust me, you don’t want to go through a session feeling uncomfortable in ill-fitting clothes. If you wear a button-down shirt that’s too tight, the buttons will pull, and you’ll regret it. Fit also means “not too big” oversized tops or baggy jeans can look sloppy in photos. Stick with clothing that is well-fitting and comfortable.
Looking Great in Outdoor Portraits
The combination of brown, blue, and green always looks great in outdoor portraits, no matter the season or whether it’s just your family, your family with dogs, or even on the ranch with horses. This is a favorite color mix that complements many skin tones.
Wear your usual amount of makeup, but if you typically wear a lot, consider scaling it back. We’ll be creating high-resolution images, which means some skin smoothing and blemish removal will be part of the retouching. If you’re worried about uneven skin, don’t try to cover it with heavy makeup let me handle it in post-processing for a more natural look. Too much makeup can be obvious in photos, so keep blush and lip color subtle and avoid overly sparkly or shiny items like glittery eyeshadow or lip gloss, as they reflect light in an unflattering way.
Tip: Stick to your usual hairstyle unless we’re going for a specific look (like a fairy princess with a dark horse!). You want to look like yourself in your photos, not someone else. In the summer, remember that curls might fall. If it’s windy, consider a braid or ponytail to avoid fighting with your hair. The goal is to keep it simple, so you can relax without worrying about makeup or stray hairs.
Outfit Ideas for the Whole Family
When it was time for our family picture a few years ago, I already knew exactly what we were going to wear. We’re a jeans family, so that was an easy choice. I picked a pretty cobalt blue sweater and paired it with a statement necklace. Statement necklaces are great for framing your face, but keep earrings small (or skip them entirely) to avoid distractions and keep the focus on your face, where we want the attention.
When I looked through my husband’s closet, the garnet sweater was the perfect match to stay within the jewel tone family while complementing each color. It blended beautifully with the old-world charm of the Canals of Las Colinas. Pastels would have seemed out of place in that setting.
Tip: Don’t forget about the pups! As much as you might love that Dallas Cowboys collar and leash, they won’t photograph well. Any writing in a picture draws our attention, which isn’t what we want for pet portraits. We want the focus to be on the faces. Choose something simple and solid for your dog. If you don’t have it, you can either buy something for the shoot or borrow my classic latigo brown leather collars and leashes, available in various sizes. That’s what my own dogs are wearing in the image below classic and cohesive.
Wrapping Up With These Pet Photography Session
Choosing the right colors for your pet, family, or horse portrait session helps keep the attention on them, not their outfits. The key is to choose complementary shades that work well with everyone’s skin tone and blend seamlessly together. No matter if you choose deep jewel tones, light pastels, or natural shades, knowing how colors work together can make your portraits look balanced and timeless. Avoiding overly bright or distracting colors will keep the focus on the people and their pets, allowing the beauty of the moment to shine.
Jewel tones, such as ruby, sapphire, and emerald, are always a fantastic choice for family or pet portraits, They match different skin tones well and look great in photos. These colors, paired with softer pastels or earthy tones, can add depth and visual interest without overwhelming the scene. Rust, a deep and rich color, works well for outdoor portraits, blending naturally with the surroundings and adding warmth to your photos. Remember to also consider the fit of your clothing, as well-fitting attire can help you feel comfortable and look your best in the images.
Finally, paying attention to small details like accessories, makeup, and pet collars can enhance the overall aesthetic of your portraits. Simple, well-coordinated accessories like a statement necklace or a leather collar for your pet can add polish without drawing attention away from the main subjects. By following these tips and selecting colors thoughtfully, your portrait session will be a memorable experience, producing beautiful images that you’ll cherish for years to come.
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