The Complete Chasing Stone Color Guide: Every Backdrop and When to Use It
Every Chasing Stone backdrop is named for a stone or mineral, and when I paint each one I am thinking of the surfaces those names call to mind: crumbling limestone warmed by the sun, river silt settling into dark sediment, weathered plaster softened by years of light. Because colors that look alike on a screen can behave quite differently in your own space and light, I created this Chasing Stone color guide to walk you through every colorway in our collection.
For each backdrop you will find the color, how it tends to photograph, the work it serves best, and how it compares with its nearest neighbors. For a complete overview of photography backdrops, start with our ultimate backdrop guide.
THE NEUTRALS
Neutrals are the backbone of any backdrop collection, working gracefully with nearly every skin tone and wardrobe, and a lovely place to begin.
LIMESTONE
The color: Light tan, the gentle tone of sun bleached linen or pale desert sand.
How it photographs: Bright and airy without feeling stark, its warmth keeping it from reading as clinical.
Best for: Light and airy portrait work, newborns, warm headshots, brands with clean and organic aesthetics, and photographers who shoot in bright natural light.
Choose this over BENTONITE if: You would like something lighter, as LIMESTONE is the brighter of the two.
Skip this if: You are looking for drama or strong contrast, since LIMESTONE is gentle rather than moody.
BENTONITE
The color: Mid taupe, the color of wet clay or well worn leather.
How it photographs: One of the most versatile neutrals in the collection, warm enough to flatter skin and neutral enough to recede quietly behind almost any subject.
Best for: Headshots, families, seniors and bridal work, and it is a wonderful choice if you plan to own only one backdrop.
Choose this over LIMESTONE if: You would like a little more depth and a less bright ground.
Skip this if: You specifically want a light, airy feel, as BENTONITE is a mid tone.
When you want one color for nearly every session, the mid taupe of BENTONITE is warm enough to flatter and neutral enough to recede.
SILT
The color: Dark taupe, like river sediment or storm clouds gathering over the desert.
How it photographs: Moody and dramatic while remaining a neutral, and it creates beautiful contrast with lighter subjects, its taupe warmth keeping it from feeling cold.
Best for: Editorial work, senior portraits with personality, anyone wanting a moodier neutral, and photographers who shoot with dramatic lighting.
Choose this over BENTONITE if: You want more depth and drama, as SILT is the deeper of the two.
Skip this if: You need one color for every client, since SILT carries a particular mood.
THE BROWNS
These earth tones feel warm and organic, the kind of surfaces that seem to have come from somewhere real.
SANDSTONE
The color: Light peach brown, with the warm, rosy quality of desert earth.
How it photographs: Beautifully flattering to skin, as its peachy tones add warmth without reading as orange.
Best for: Newborn, maternity and boudoir work, clients with warm skin tones, and spring and summer sessions where you want warmth without heaviness.
Choose this over LIMESTONE if: You would like more warmth and color, as SANDSTONE is the warmer and pinker of the two.
Skip this if: Your aesthetic is cool toned or you mostly photograph clients with very cool skin tones.
CLAY
The color: Faded terracotta brown, like old pottery or sun baked earth.
How it photographs: Earthy and sophisticated, more saturated than the neutrals yet softened by its faded quality.
Best for: Fall sessions, boudoir, editorial work, and earthy, organic brands, especially beside greenery.
Choose this over SANDSTONE if: You want more saturation and a terracotta feel rather than peachy warmth.
Skip this if: You need a true neutral, since CLAY reads as a color in its own right.
CLAY sits beautifully beside jewel tones and organic arrangements, as its faded terracotta brown adds warmth without competing.
UMBER
The color: Dark chestnut brown, rich and deep.
How it photographs: Dramatic and moody, creating lovely separation with lighter subjects, while its warmth keeps it from feeling harsh.
Best for: Editorial portraits, fine art work, fall sessions, dramatic headshots, and photographers who love contrast.
Choose this over BRONZITE if: You prefer a chestnut brown to a chocolate brown.
Skip this if: You shoot mostly light and airy work, as UMBER leans toward depth and mood.
MICA
The color: Pale grey brown, soft and quiet.
How it photographs: Gentle and understated, a pale ground that keeps attention on your subject.
Best for: Light, minimal portraits, product and brand photography, and photographers who want a pale neutral with a softly muted character.
Choose this over LIMESTONE if: You would like a pale neutral that leans grey brown rather than tan.
Skip this if: You want noticeable warmth, as MICA leans grey brown rather than tan.
TRAVERTINE
The color: Warm khaki brown, with the natural variation of the stone it is named for.
How it photographs: Organic and textured, offering more visual interest than a flat brown as its variation adds depth.
Best for: Photographers wanting an organic, stone like feel, and it works well for product photography and branding.
Choose this over UMBER if: You want a lighter, less dramatic brown.
BRONZITE
The color: Dark chocolate brown, deep and enveloping.
How it photographs: Sophisticated and luxurious, with a richness that feels quietly editorial.
Best for: High end editorial work, boudoir, glamour and fine art portraits.
Choose this over UMBER if: You prefer a chocolate brown to UMBER's chestnut warmth.
Skip this if: You shoot mostly light and bright work, as BRONZITE is a deep, dark brown.
THE GREENS
Greens bring organic interest without overwhelming, much like the moss and lichen that soften old stone.
CELADONITE
The color: A faint, cool green with a light tan undertone, soft and muted.
How it photographs: Calming and organic, soft enough to serve as a near neutral while holding enough green to add interest.
Best for: Spring sessions, organic brand aesthetics, and florals, for photographers adding green without going bold.
Choose this over OLIVINE if: You want something lighter and softer, as CELADONITE is the gentlest green.
Skip this if: You want impact, since CELADONITE is subtle.
CELADONITE lends itself to bridal and spring product photography, holding enough green to add organic interest while staying soft enough to feel like a neutral, so bright citrus and pink florals can shine.
OLIVINE
The color: Dusty sage green that leans cool, like sage leaves after rain.
How it photographs: Earthy and versatile, its dusty quality keeping it from feeling too bright, and it works across the seasons.
Best for: Year round portrait work and photographers who want green without committing to a single season.
Choose this over CELADONITE if: You want more green presence, as OLIVINE is the middle ground among our greens.
SERPENTINE
The color: Dark moss green with vibrant green highlights and mild black dappling, deep and dramatic.
How it photographs: Moody and botanical, with dramatic contrast and a dappled depth.
Best for: Editorial work, boudoir, dramatic portraits, fall and winter sessions, and photographers with a dark, moody aesthetic.
Choose this over OLIVINE if: You want drama and depth, as SERPENTINE is the boldest green.
Skip this if: You need versatility across many client types, since SERPENTINE carries a specific mood.
THE BLUES
Blues are classic for good reason, working with a wide range of skin tones and bringing an immediate sense of calm.
Choosing between blues becomes easier when you see them together: the light sky blue of CELESTITE, the mid denim of LAPIS and the dark marine of AZURITE each have their place in a backdrop collection.
CELESTITE
The color: Light sky blue, soft and ethereal.
How it photographs: Airy and romantic, the softest blue in the collection, with a dreamy, open quality.
Best for: Romantic portraits, maternity, newborns, light and airy aesthetics, and cool skin tones.
Choose this over LAPIS if: You want something soft and subtle.
Skip this if: You want a blue that makes a statement.
LAPIS
The color: Mid denim blue, like a favorite pair of well worn jeans.
How it photographs: Classic and versatile, with enough color to be interesting without overwhelming the frame.
Best for: Family portraits, seniors, and anyone wanting a classic blue that works across seasons and client types.
Choose this over CELESTITE if: You want more presence.
Choose this over AZURITE if: You value versatility over drama.
AZURITE
The color: Dark marine blue, deep ocean tones approaching navy.
How it photographs: Dramatic and sophisticated, moody without reading as black.
Best for: Editorial work, fine art portraits, dramatic headshots and winter sessions.
Choose this over LAPIS if: You want depth and drama.
Skip this if: You shoot mostly light and bright work.
THE GREYS
Clean, classic greys, from light to near black, for work that calls for restraint.
SLATE
The color: Light grey, clean and crisp.
How it photographs: Fresh and professional, with a clean, modern feel.
Best for: Corporate headshots, product photography, photographers wanting a light grey, and modern brand aesthetics.
Choose this over BENTONITE if: You would like a light grey rather than a warm taupe.
Skip this if: You want noticeable warmth in your ground.
GRAPHITE
The color: Mid charcoal grey, sophisticated and timeless.
How it photographs: Professional and versatile, dark enough to create contrast and light enough to reveal texture, which makes it a dependable everyday grey.
Best for: Headshots, corporate portraits, and anyone wanting a classic grey backdrop.
Choose this over CARBON if: You want visible texture and a mid tone rather than near black.
CARBON
The color: Near black, with faint charcoal highlights.
How it photographs: Bold contrast that lets subjects stand forward, creating the classic studio look of a dark background.
Best for: Dramatic portraits, low key lighting, and photographers wanting near black rather than pure black.
Skip this if: You want the backdrop texture to read clearly, as CARBON falls dark.
For drama without pure black, CARBON creates bold contrast that lets white florals glow, a lovely choice for moody editorial work. Explore our darkest backdrops at chasingstone.com/shop-all/backdrops.
THE PINKS
From soft blush to bold carnation, our pinks are romantic and surprisingly versatile.
ROSE QUARTZ
The color: Soft pastel pink, gentle blush tones.
How it photographs: Romantic and soft without feeling saccharine, and flattering to most skin tones.
Best for: Newborns, maternity, boudoir, Valentine's sessions, and brands with a soft, feminine aesthetic.
Choose this over RHODONITE if: You want something subtle and soft.
Skip this if: Pink has no place in your brand.
RHODONITE
The color: Bold carnation pink, vibrant and confident.
How it photographs: A statement color, saturated enough to create impact while remaining sophisticated.
Best for: Fashion work, editorial, bold brand aesthetics, and photographers who want pink with confidence.
Choose this over ROSE QUARTZ if: You want impact.
HEMATITE
The color: Berry toned pink, rich and romantic.
How it photographs: Romantic with depth, and more complex than a pure pink.
Best for: Editorial boudoir, sophisticated feminine portraits, and romantic fall sessions.
Choose this if: You want a pink with depth and sophistication.
THE PURPLES
Romantic, creative and editorial, our purples make a statement while still leaving room for your subject to lead.
LAVENDER QUARTZ
The color: Faded lilac that leans warm, soft and ethereal.
How it photographs: Romantic and dreamy, as its warmth keeps it from feeling cold, and it feels especially at home in bridal work.
Best for: Bridal portraits, romantic sessions, spring work and dreamy aesthetics.
Choose this over AMETRINE if: You want something soft and subtle.
LAVENDER QUARTZ, our faded lilac, brings a romantic, editorial quality to food and product photography. Explore all of our backdrops at chasingstone.com/shop-all/backdrops.
AMETRINE
The color: Warm, dusty mauve purple, rich and quietly regal.
How it photographs: Confident and sophisticated, its dusty quality keeping the color refined.
Best for: Editorial work, creative portraits, and photographers wanting a statement purple.
Choose this over LAVENDER QUARTZ if: You prefer a dusty mauve purple to a faded lilac.
PURPURITE
The color: Dark mauve with a magenta undertone, bold and dramatic.
How it photographs: Editorial and high fashion, creating a dramatic mood as the magenta undertone adds energy.
Best for: Fashion work, editorial portraits and bold creative work.
Skip this if: You need versatility, since PURPURITE carries a particular mood.
HOW TO CHOOSE
If you are still deciding, here is the gentle framework I would suggest.
Choosing your first backdrop? BENTONITE or LIMESTONE, as a warm neutral will serve you across nearly every session.
Adding to a neutral collection? Consider what you find yourself wishing you had: for more drama, SILT or UMBER, and for more color, OLIVINE or CLAY.
Building for specific work? Let your niche guide you. SANDSTONE is a lovely fit for newborn work, SLATE or GRAPHITE suit corporate headshots well, and CLAY or SERPENTINE are beautiful choices for boudoir.
Following your creative vision? Trust what moves you, because the backdrops you are drawn to are often the ones that fit your aesthetic.
If you would like help, please email us at info@chasingstone.com, and I would be glad to help you choose.
Learn more in our complete photography backdrop guide, or explore the full collection at chasingstone.com/shop-all. Which colorway feels like home for your work?
Frequently Asked Questions
How many backdrop colors does Chasing Stone offer?
We offer 24 hand painted backdrop colorways, each named for a stone or mineral and grouped in this guide as neutrals, browns, greens, blues, greys, pinks and purples. Each is painted by hand to order on premium cotton canvas, so every backdrop is unique and may vary slightly from photos.
What is the most versatile Chasing Stone backdrop color?
BENTONITE, a mid taupe, is one of the most versatile colors in the collection, warm enough to flatter skin and neutral enough to recede behind almost any subject. LIMESTONE, a light tan, is a lovely alternative if you prefer a brighter, airier ground. Both are wonderful first backdrops for portrait, bridal and headshot work.
What is the difference between Silt and Slate?
SILT is a dark taupe, a moody neutral that brings depth and drama while its taupe warmth keeps it from feeling cold. SLATE is a light grey, clean and crisp, suited to corporate headshots, product photography and modern brand work. Choose SILT for mood and contrast, and SLATE for a fresh, light, professional ground.
Which Chasing Stone backdrop is best for dramatic, moody portraits?
For moody work, consider CARBON, which is near black with faint charcoal highlights, the dark marine blue of AZURITE, the dark moss green of SERPENTINE, or deep browns like UMBER and BRONZITE. SILT offers a moodier neutral if you want drama while staying within taupe tones.
What sizes do Chasing Stone backdrops come in?
Our backdrops come in three sizes: 5'x8' for $497, 8'x10' for $797, and 8'x14' for $1,197. If you would like several colors, our Pair Any (3) bundles let you choose any three backdrops of the same size. A stand is not included, and our Floating Photography Backdrop Adapter Mount attaches a backdrop to a C-stand.
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