The Studio Guide to Choosing the Best Backdrop for Your Dog’s Coat
Whether we’re shooting in the studio or capturing a portrait outdoors, the backdrop is more than just a background — it’s the frame for your dog’s personality. Choosing the right colour isn’t simply about picking a favorite shade; it’s about colour theory, lighting, and how different coat textures interact with light.
In our studio, we work with a carefully curated palette: Sky Blue, Pink, Thunder Grey, Forest Green, Apple, Yellow, and Burgundy. Below is our professional guide to choosing the best backdrop colour for your dog’s coat, so your portraits feel intentional, polished, and truly stand out.
How to Choose the Right Backdrop for Your Dog’s Coat
1. The “Universal” Tones: Luxury and Versatility
If you’re looking for a timeless, high-end look, these deeper tones are the heavy hitters. Think of them as chromatic neutrals — they add depth and richness without competing with your dog for attention.
Burgundy
This is the colour of luxury. Burgundy is a true “hero” backdrop that adds weight, warmth, and elegance to a portrait. It looks stunning against silver or grey coats (like grey French Bulldogs) and creates a rich, editorial contrast for white-coated dogs.
Forest Green
A sophisticated, earthy tone that works beautifully with warmer coats. Forest green enhances chocolate, tan, red, and auburn fur, bringing out natural warmth without overpowering the subject.
Thunder Grey
The little black dress of the studio. Thunder grey is the ultimate failsafe and works exceptionally well for tri-colour breeds (such as Australian Shepherds), as it doesn’t clash with the multiple tones already present in their coat.
2. The “Designer” Tones: Fresh and Energetic
These colours are ideal for high-energy pups and more playful, lifestyle-style portraits. They require a bit more intention to ensure your dog remains the star of the image.
Sky Blue
A classic complementary choice for dogs with orange or golden undertones. Sky blue creates a light, cheerful feel and is a go-to option for Golden Retrievers and Yellow Labs.
Apple
Fresh, vibrant, and full of life. Apple green works especially well with white or very light-coloured coats, giving portraits a crisp, “spring morning” energy.
3. The “Statement” Tones: High-Risk, High-Reward
Bold colours like saturated yellow and bright pink are striking, modern choices — but they need to be paired carefully to avoid technical issues.
Yellow
A graphic, contemporary backdrop that looks incredible against blue-grey coats, such as Blue Staffies or Greyhounds. When paired correctly, it creates a bold, magazine-worthy look.
Pink
This colour is best reserved for white or light-coloured dogs. On lighter coats, pink feels editorial, fun, and fashion-forward. On darker coats, however, it can cause unwanted colour reflection — which is why we save this one for our lighter-coloured friends.
The Science of “Colour Spill”
You might wonder why we’re more cautious with bright pink than with deeper tones like burgundy. The answer comes down to colour spill.
In a studio setting, the backdrop acts like a coloured mirror. When flash lighting hits bright paper, that colour reflects back onto your dog. On darker coats, highly saturated colours (like pink or yellow) can spill into the shadows, making the fur appear muddy or tinted rather than crisp and glossy. Handling these technical nuances is exactly Why Professional Pet Photos Are Worth It—we ensure the camera captures the true depth of the coat, not a neon reflection.
By using darker, more absorbent tones such as forest green or charcoal grey, we preserve the true texture, depth, and shine of your dog’s coat — without any unwanted neon glow.
Ready to Create Some Art?
We want to make sure your pup is always the star of the show. To make sure they are looking their absolute best before they even step onto the paper, check out our guide on How to Prepare Your Dog for a Photoshoot.
When you arrive for your session, we’ll take your dog’s coat, colouring, and personality into account to select a backdrop that suits them perfectly. Once we've captured that perfect shot, visit our Pet Portrait Wall Art Guide to see how we can turn your dog's story into a masterpiece for your home.
