How to choose what colors to wear for your photo shoot

Every month I will be talking about little things that can make a big difference during a photoshoot. This month we are talking about color choices.

Over the years I have shared some information here and there and I will now try to have them here so you can refer back when your session is coming up. Lately I’ve been very fond of pastel colors. Beach, nature, parks… I think it adds a certain romance to the photos, specially in the Spring and Summer. Always keep in mind that it is better to use complementary colors and not matchy matchy colors and/or outfits. Black is usually not too recommended because it can be very dull. I would add it in small doses.

Choosing Colors by Location

Beach Sessions: Pastel colors, whites, navy… always with a pop of color. I would avoid neon colors or bright red in any situation because it creates a strong color cast and it draws all the attention to it. I would not recommend the once popular jeans + white t-shirt. If you want to go along that line I would recommend white and navy with a touch of color in accessories, like a jacket or a big necklace. And mix and match the order: some bottoms in blue, some in white, the same for top. Some can even be in all white, like a white dress. As I mentioned before, no shoes are necessary at the beach, so you can cross that off your list. But if possible… pastel color look dreamy at the beach. Long flowy dresses for moms even better. For man, I love shorts with a casual button up shirt.

Trail Sessions: I didn’t use to be a fan of earthy tones in trails and now I just love them! Browns, mute green, ivory, mustard. Keep these colors in mind when booking a trail session. Boots or booties are great for shoes.

Balboa Park/other similar Parks: We are pretty flexible here… I do think bold colors work well in these type of locations. The building are so big and overpowering it is good to actually make a big statement with your color choice.

Little Italy, Downtown or other urban locations: I would recommend casual, modern outfits. The colors might not be so important here, but with me they are always welcome. Headshots: I understand many of us need to wear more conservative colors for professional head shots, like white, navy or black. But that doesn’t mean you can add some pop of color in your accessories. Or even wearing a more creative/edgy cut to make it look out of the box. If you are an artist, bring in the color!

Within the color scheme you choose for your family photos, be playful with the patterns: mix and match between solids, small florals, wide stripes… Over all, some good combos in my opinion are:
Navy, tan, cream
Crimson, tan, denim
Red, grey, black
Navy and fuchsia
Pastel pink and teal
Pastel pink and white
Light blue, tan, white
Navy, grey, white
Tan and white
Light blue, tan, white

Choosing colors by seasons

If you want to be more specific, here is a good direction for colors by season:
Spring Portrait Colors: Pale pink, Mint green, Baby blue, Cream, Light gray, Lavender
Summer Portrait Colors: White, Yellow, Crimson, Fuchsia, Bright orange, Bold pink, Turquoise, Light blue
Fall Portrait Colors: Browns, Mustard yellow, Burnt orange, Dark shades of green, Neutrals
Winter Portrait Colors: White, Cream, Black, Medium to dark gray, Ruby red, Emerald green

If you are looking for places to shop that offer good choices and great colors for outfits, I’d suggest with Zara and H&M for the boys, Target and Old Navy also do a good job. I love Joyfolie and Zara for little girls. For women there are tons of amazing places, but Free People and Jen’s Pirate Booty are some of my favorite ones. They all tend to have a very basic color scheme collection and you won’t go wrong with them. You can also find some outfit inspiration on my Amazon Outfit ideas list.

The truth is we all have our favorite colors, so use them! There is no need to try a color that you don’t like or never tried. Stick to the color that puts a smile on your face, that is present in your favorite photos and memories. But if you are open to chance, start trying different colors and see how you like them on phone photos. And remember that I am always available to answer any questions and help narrow down your options.

If you want to plan your family session, please visit my San Diego Family Photoshoot Page for all the details.