Tips for Using Color in Your Photography
Color is one of the most powerful tools in a photographer’s arsenal. It can evoke emotions, tell a story, and transform a simple image into a work of art. Understanding how to use color effectively can elevate your photography to new heights.
In this article, we’ll explore inspiration and tips for using color to enhance your compositions, create mood, and draw the viewer’s eye. From harnessing complementary hues to mastering subtle tones, let’s dive into the vibrant world of color in photography!
Emotion & Storytelling
It’s no secret that master cinematographers use colors to make us feel different things in movies and TV scenes— whether they use practical colors, like hues present in set and costume design, or add color in post-processing with color grading. We photographers can do the same thing in our images.
Warm colors, like red, orange, and yellow, convey energy, passion, warmth, or excitement. Warm colors can be used to drench images in drama or invite the viewer in for an intimate emotion.
Cool colors, like blue, green, and purple, evoke feelings of calm, tranquility, melancholy, or sadness. These colors are often used for scenes of serenity or introspection, or to make your viewer feel “blue” like your subject.
Neutral tones, like browns, grays, and beiges, impart more subtle, grounding feelings. Simplicity, timelessness, and elegance are associated with these muted hues.
Image by Suzanne Pijnenburg Fotografie
Edited with Quest 43 Llŷr
Tip: If the scene you photograph doesn’t have strong natural colors, you can inject more mood using color grading when editing in Lightroom.
For example, the overcast scene pictured above had mainly gray or neutral hues, but when edited with Quest 43 Llŷr and the cool-toned presets included (Arctic and Polar Twilight), the image is filled with the blues of somber reflection and melancholy.
Image by Suzanne Pijnenburg Fotografie
Edited with Chroma Presets
Image by Shannon Sewell
Edited with Chroma Presets
The images above use color from the subject’s outfits in different ways: in one, the golden yellow outfit matches the ochres and sunny hues of the environment, and in the other, the pastel pinks stand out from but do not clash with the neutral background.
Image by Bettina Vass Photography
Edited with Quest 42 Falena
You can tell a story with the colors you use in your images— the above image feels extra intimate and warm from the warm browns and earthy edit. A monochromatic color scheme (using variations of a single color) creates a cohesive, minimalist story.
You can also use color symbolism to tell a story in your images. Use culturally significant colors (like red for love) to reinforce narrative themes. In the picture below, the red dress in the reflection in the puddle jumps out at you and drives home the romantic theme of the photo.
Image by Sarah England
Edited with Chroma Presets
Composition & Contrast
Color can dramatically improve or even MAKE your photo composition! Think of color in graphic design: Designers use different color schemes with their design elements, balance the colors so they are visually appealing, and more.
Create contrast for visual impact by utilizing complementary colors— pair opposite colors on the color wheel (like red and green or blue and orange) to create striking contrast or dynamic tension. You can also use colors next to each other on the color wheel, called analogous colors, for a more harmonious and soft look.
If you don’t have access to exactly opposite colors, there is also the split complementary color scheme, which uses colors close to but not exactly the opposite. A common split complementary color scheme would be blue and yellow— seen in the below image— since blue’s opposite is orange and yellow is next to orange on the color wheel.
Color schemes on the color wheel
Image by Bjorn Snelders
Edited with Quest 43 Llŷr
Image by Yulia Lytkina
Edited with Chroma Presets
Image by Yulia Lytkina
Edited with Quest 44 Aureus
In the images above, one is another example of a split complementary color scheme with green, purple, and pink, and the other is a monochromatic color scheme highlighting the subject surrounded and framed by green leaves.
Color can also be used to balance your composition. Bold color has weight, so use the colors to your advantage to balance visual elements in your frame. A brightly colored umbrella in the negative space of image below balances the rest of the bright colors of pink and greens in the image.
You can also use color blocking: arrange colors in distinct blocks or areas for a clean and organized composition.
Image by Shannon Sewell
Edited with Chroma Presets
Color is so much more than just a visual element—it’s a storyteller, a mood-setter, and a guide for the viewer’s eye. By understanding the nuances of color theory and experimenting with tones, contrasts, and palettes, you can unlock endless creative possibilities in your photography. Whether you’re aiming for bold, dramatic visuals or soft, harmonious compositions, the way you use color can make all the difference.
So, grab your camera, embrace the spectrum, and let color be your guide to creating stunning, impactful images that truly resonate. Happy shooting!
What ways do you utilize color in your photos? Tell us in the comments!