What To Wear?
This is one of the most common questions I am asked in the lead up to the day of a shoot, so I thought it was time to write some suggestions! I'm by no means a fashion expert but I love casual outfits that will still look great in years to come.
Tweed Jackets - look particularly great with a pair of long brown boots against a bay horse!
Jackets can also be taken on and off throughout the shoot.
Scarves - can easily be swapped and changed throughout the shoot. A great accessory to ensure you don't look the same in each image!
Soft light colours work well with light coloured horses, and more earthy colours really suit bay and rich coat colours.
Bold colours compliment a black horse well!
Headbands and scarves are great and practical, especially during the colder months. Pair them up with some matching mittens too!
Colourful shirts are a must, especially during spring and summer!
Jeans and jackets always look great together, accompanied by long or short boots!
Something timeless and classic, but also meaningful! This lovely lady wore the same boots on her first shoot with a previous horse, so she wanted to wear them again for her next shoot!
Casual dresses look so pretty. Longer dresses and evening gowns are more suited to well turned out yards and may not look so fitting in other locations such as the woods or the fields.
Planning on some group or family shots? Try and think of a running trend throughout your outfits - be it all wearing white shirts or all wearing blue jeans.
Smart jods and a top - fit in with the equestrian surroundings. You can always change in to jeans or something else later on during your shoot!
Things To Consider:
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What's the weather up to? It's not going to be much fun if you arrive in a polo shirt on the coldest day of the year! A smart jacket accompanied by a scarf or even a knitted headband looks great too!
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Too much to choose from? Don't forget you can change your outfit 3 times during a 2 hour shoot!
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Short dresses - don't wear anything too short as this may limit the poses we can try!
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Wear something you'll still appreciate in years to come. A shoot is an investment that will bring you joy for years to come - think about what you're wearing. Something timeless such as jeans and a lovely top will still look great in the future - perhaps avoiding that loud shirt if you're not sure you'll still like it would be a good idea!
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Neutral colours and minmal patterns - try not to distract from the horse too much. Patterns and wacky colours don't always look that well against the horses coat. Instead, find a colour that will compliment your horses colouring.
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Safety - shoes! Open toed shoes are not great around horses, reduce the stress on the day worrying about your little toes being crushed and wear something sturdy and practical. Boots are often a popular choice or even pumps.
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Accesories - bracelets, earrings, scarves, belts, hair clips and
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Scarves and jackets - can easily be put on, altered, used a props or taken off, helping to add some variety to the images.
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White - whilst I can remove stains (as inevitable when being around horses, mud and grass!) from clothing - white tops may not necessarily be a wise choice.
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Find something that compliments your skin tone - if you're of a paler complection, it may be best to avoid colours that will wash you out such as pastel colours.
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Consider your surroundings - make sure you don't blend in!
Wear something you're comfortable in! I want to make sure you feel GREAT when you see your images.
If you're thinking of sitting on your horse, make sure your outfit allows for that! And think about safety, especially when it comes to your footwear!
Wearing something you're comfortable in is key! Something casual that you feel at home in!
And if your personality and style is a bit more adventurous - embrace it!
Simple is sometimes best - jeans are so versatile, style them how you wish!
They are pretty practical too!
Sometimes people book a shoot to coincide with their favourite season. These ladies booked a shoot (In Germany!) to embrace the purple flowering heather.
And these two wanted a shoot in the bluebells.
Their outfits were lovely pastel colours to really compliment the natural surroundings!
Embrace the seasons! There's ALWAYS a perfect time of year for a photoshoot - winter lends itself for so many reasons, no more so than for cosy knits and matching accessories!