How to use colour theory in your headshots or portraits like a rockstar
Hello, beautiful!
This week I want to talk about colour theory and how thinking about it can help you prepare for your photo shoot. Regardless of whether you’re preparing for a boudoir or glamour shoot, a family or maternity portrait session, or are getting ready to get some new headshots done, understanding a little bit about colour theory can go a long way in helping to create a successful photo shoot.
The creators of the classic film, Amelie, used colour theory to create one of the most visually attractive films of all time.
Red and green never to be seen…or so they say…
But did you know that red and green are actually complimentary colours (that is, they’re complete opposites to each other on the colour wheel) and thus work very, very well together visually in the right context. Take for example this poster from the film, Amelie (where red, as worn by the title character, Amelie, represents warmth, vitality, energy, and passion, while also visually popping off of the complimentary green background).
But before we get into that, let’s talk about where all this ‘colour theory’ stuff came from anyways.
A quick history lesson…
Isaac Newton’s Colour Wheel
Colour theory is definitely one of those topics that can make your brain hurt, so I want to break this discussion down to something that’s as easy as possible to digest. In the beginning, we have Isaac Newton. As the story goes, Newton had quarantined himself in his room at Cambridge University to avoid the plague during a flareup of the disease in England, around 1665. While holed away in his room, he discovered that when he held a prism of glass in a beam of sunlight coming through a hole in his darkened surroundings that the white sunlight split into red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, and blue light (see the picture titled: Newton’s Colour Wheel) and thus the colour wheel and colour theory were born.
Over time, people realized that picking specific colours from a colour wheel can enhance the balance and impact of what is being viewed if done correctly.
Ok, so now we know where colour theory comes from. But what colours work well together?
Monochromatic colors
The above colour wheel breaks down colours that are monochromatic (i.e., that are the same hue but have different levels of saturation). If you pick a colour palette for your wardrobe that’s monochromatic, it will look very harmonious and balanced on camera, and will help the viewer to focus on your face.
A monochromatic color scheme involves using different shades of the same colour to create a unified and neatly coordinated aesthetic. It also helps to create a sense of balance visually.
A monochromatic boudoir portrait in white.
In this example, Lexi is wearing a white nightgown and the background is off-white. Together, these elements work together to produce a monochromatic colour palette that’s pleasing to the eye. Model: Lexi Hill. Hair/cruelty-free & Vegan makeup by Blended By Amber.
A monochromatic portrait in black.
Here, by matching the colour of Jade’s dress to the background behind, her face and upper body become the focus for the viewer. Model: Jade Pattenden. Hair: Yuliya Boichenko. Makeup: Edel Kirke.
Complementary colours
For a complementary colour palette, use two colours on opposite sides of the colour wheel (for example, purple and yellow, blue and orange, or red and green).
A branding headshot with complimentary colours.
Working with complimentary colours is, personally, one of my favorite go-to aesthetics. Everything just POPS when you work with complimentary colours. Here, we wanted to do something really visually arresting for Keyede that would stop viewers in their social media tracks. I personally ADORE using vibrant, complementary colours in portraits (perhaps owing to the fact that I live in Vancouver, BC where it’s either raining or cloudy for half the year). Model: Keyede Osuntukan. Hair/cruelty-free & Vegan makeup: Blended By Amber.
Black and white photos are complementary too…
And that’s why black and white portraits always look so dang good : ) Model: Tammy Pham.
Triadic colors
A triadic color scheme comprises any three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. Like complementary colors, these schemes are often vibrant and full of contrast.
Maternity portrait with triadic colours.
Although the colour tones in this portrait are more muted, the triadic colour scheme is still present. Purple, orange and green are evenly spaced around the colour wheel and shades of each colour are present in this photo (with the mossy green backdrop, the dark burnt orange/red lip, and the purple dress). Model: Stephanie Hay. Hair & Makeup: Parmida Golkar.
And a few other colour combinations if you’re feeling really adventurous… : )
Split-Complementary Colours
In this variation on a complementary colour scheme, you’ll select your first (base) color, and then instead of using the color directly opposite, you’ll use the two colors on either side of it.
Analogous colours
These are colours that sit beside each other on the colour wheel (in a similar vein as monochromatic colours, except with more variation in hue).
