Using color in photography helps convey emotions, sets the mood, and captures the viewer’s attention. In 2025, photographers should start exploring new color palettes and combinations to make their images stand out, whether to capture and sell shots or level up their social media pages.
This article will:
- Discuss color theory in photography
- Mention the psychological impact of colors
- Suggest 10 color schemes, palettes, and combinations to consider in 2025
Understanding Color Theory in Photography
Before discussing specific color schemes, let’s remind ourselves of the fundamental design principles of color theory in photography.
Color theory involves studying how colors relate to one another and how they can be combined harmoniously or contrastingly to create visually pleasing images.
Photographers can use colors to render scroll-stopping images if they grasp color relationships.
One key aspect of color theory is the color wheel, which consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
- Primary colors are considered dominant and include red, blue, and yellow.
- Secondary colors are those created by mixing two primary colors.
- Tertiary colors are created by mixing primary and complementary colors from the batch of secondary colors. For example, red and orange are analogous colors because they have similarities.
Colors also have their temperature. Colors can be warm or cool, and they can significantly impact the mood and atmosphere of an image.
Warm tones include red, orange, and yellow, while cool colors include blue, green, and purple. Warm tones evoke feelings of energy, passion, and vibrancy, while cool tones create a sense of calmness, tranquility, and serenity.
By understanding the color wheel and strategically using warm in tandem with cooler colors, photographers can evoke special emotions and messages in their photographs.
Color theory goes a step further in photography because, in addition to considering a color’s relationship with another color, you must assess its interactions with the photograph.
Complementary colors, opposite each other on the color wheel, can create a pop of color to draw attention or create visual impact. For example, pairing blue with orange or red with green can create a visually striking composition.
On the other hand, analogous colors, which are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, create a sense of harmony and can convey a cohesive and unified look. For instance, combining shades of blue and green or yellow and orange can create a soothing and balanced image.
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In addition to understanding the basic principles of color theory, photographers should also consider the psychological associations with different colors.
The Psychological Effect of Color in Photography
Colors have a profound impact on our emotions and perceptions. Different colors evoke different feelings and associations, and as photographers, you can leverage this psychological effect in your images.
Let’s explore some commonly used colors in photography and their associated emotional effects:
- Red is known for its strong and captivating nature, often representing feelings of passion, vitality, and intensity. It can evoke feelings of love, intensity, and urgency.
- Blue is a calming and tranquil color that symbolizes serenity and stability. It’s often used to convey a sense of peace, harmony, and trust.
- Yellow is a vibrant and energetic color associated with happiness, optimism, and warmth. It can help people feel joy and enthusiasm.
- Green correlates to nature and is often associated with growth, freshness, and vitality. It communicates harmony, balance, and renewal.
- Purple is a royal and mysterious color that symbolizes luxury, creativity, and spirituality.
Ethereal Pastels
If you’re looking for a color palette with a dreamy, ethereal vibe, pastels are the way to go. Pastels are soft, muted shades that add a touch of delicacy and sophistication to your images.
Original image created by the author
Pastels are incredibly versatile and can be used across various genres of photography, including portraits, landscapes, and still life.
Popular pastel colors include blush pink, baby blue, mint green, lavender, and pale yellow. When combined, these colors create a serene, visually cohesive composition.
Vibrant and Bold
If you love color and want to make an impact with your photography, use bold, vibrant colors. These palettes feature bright colors that are intense, eye-catching, and energetic.
Vibrant color combinations can be particularly effective in street, fashion, and conceptual photography.
Any time you need to make an unmistakable statement in high-contrast, these striking colors are your friends.
Earth and Nature Tones
One of the evergreen color palettes in photography is inspired by nature itself. Earth tones offer a timeless and organic aesthetic that can bring calm and authenticity to your images. These palettes often feature warm, earthy colors such as chocolate, bronze, pine, and pumpkin.
Original image created by the author
Capture a landscape as the sun’s warm, golden hues dip below the horizon, or focus on the details of a fallen leaf against a backdrop of rich, earthy tones.
Earth and natural tones connect viewers with a more tranquil world, bringing them the peace that dwells there.
Urban Monochrome
An urban monochrome color palette might be perfect if you’re drawn to the urban landscape and enjoy adjectives like gritty and edgy.
Monochromatic colors refer to images primarily using shades of a single color or grayscale.
In an urban context, this often means using different shades of gray to depict cities’ stark beauty, like a skyline shrouded in mist, with buildings emerging from the monochromatic haze. Think of scenes from movies like Sin City, Batman: The Dark Knight, or Underworld.
Urban monochrome creates a sense of drama, simplicity, and timelessness in your images.
Vintage Nostalgia
Vintage-inspired color palettes can transport your viewers back in time and evoke a sense of nostalgia. These palettes often feature warm sepia tones, faded greens, and aged yellows that emulate the aesthetic of old film cameras. Vintage colors help a photograph feel timeless.
Original image created by the author
Combine these tones with apparel from another time and create photographs that look like they came from an earlier era. Experiment and have fun with different colors to see what you prefer.
Coastal Serenity
This is for anyone who enjoys serene seascapes and soothing coastal vibes.
Coastal serenity palettes trademark cool blues, sandy beige, and soft grays, mimicking the colors of the ocean, beach, and sky.
Original image created by the author
Envision a solitary figure strolling on an empty beach, framed by the tranquil blue of the sea stretching into the horizon. A coastal serenity palette helps people feel like they’re on a relaxing holiday, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Sunset Hues
There’s something magical about the warm, fiery colors that streak across the sky at sunset. They bring drama, warmth, and beauty to any photograph. These palettes often feature vibrant oranges, deep purples, and passionate scarlets.
Original image created by the author
Since time began, humanity has been mesmerized by the way a sunset dances on water. Photographers still wait patiently, day after day, to try their hand at capturing that perfect image.
Maybe it doesn’t exist. Or maybe there are so many “perfect” sunsets that if all the photographers in all the world spent every day trying to capture them, they’d still never capture them all.
Modern Minimalism
Modern minimalism is a testament to the power of simplicity and sophistication in photography.
This palette emphasizes a clean, uncluttered aesthetic. It combines crisp white, deep charcoal black, cool gray, muted navy, and subtle hints of metallic silver.
Original image created by the author
Perfect for architectural photography, it highlights the elegance of structural designs, showcasing the interplay between light, shadow, and form. Urban landscapes offer a contemporary edge, focusing on the stark contrasts and the beauty of simplicity.
This palette excels in creating visually striking, sleek, and timeless images, making it ideal for photographers who aim to capture the essence of modernity and minimalism in their work.
Mystical Twilight
Mystical twilight captures the enigmatic charm of the world as it transitions from day to night. Dominated by deep indigo, soft violet, muted pink, twilight blue, and a touch of silvery gray, this palette evokes the mysterious allure of dusk. It’s perfect for scenes that capture the mystical and otherworldly ambiance of the twilight hours.
Whether for urban landscapes bathed in the last light of the day or for night portraiture that plays with the subtle interplay of light and shadow, this palette creates a mood of intrigue and fantasy.
It’s ideal for photographers looking to convey a sense of wonder and magical realism in their images.
Tropical Vibrance
Tropical vibrance celebrates the lively and spirited essence of tropical destinations.
Bursting with bright turquoise, lush green, sunny yellow, coral pink, and mango orange, it encapsulates the energetic and vivid atmosphere of tropical landscapes.
This palette naturally works well for beach or island photography, summer party shoots, or lively street scenes. It infuses images with warmth, joy, and vivacity.
Wrapping up
In this article, we explored the world of color in photography and discussed the best color palettes and combinations for photography in 2025.
From understanding color theory and color psychology to exploring specific color palettes, we hope to have inspired you with valuable insights and suggestions to help you elevate your photography next year.
As a photographer, never be afraid to experiment. Before making your color choices, remember the emotions and messages you wish to convey. Each palette has its own unique charm that can breathe life into your images.
P.S. Don’t miss our other blog posts for the latest tips on photography and videography!
Author’s Bio
Catalina Grigoriev is an incurable optimist with a bubbly personality. That’s what my colleagues say. Secret mission: cat lover disguised as a dog person. Ex-law student who switched to the digital marketing lane. Currently delving into the depths of SEO and content marketing at Planable.