The focus of a headshot should be on your expression, posture, and overall presentation. But, adding a pop of color with a vibrant background can be a fun way to create a more memorable, and engaging portrait.
1. Color as a tool for storytelling
Color is a powerful visual language and you can use it to your advantage, especially for branding sessions. Before your branding session, send me your official company colors so that we can explore complimenting or contrasting your company colors with backgrounds during your session. Let's create a cohesive look that ties back to your company’s overall aesthetic. Example (above)- The International Community School in Decatur uses this light blue background for their headshots because it is close to their logo color.
Stand out in a crowd
Traditional studio headshots often feature neutral backgrounds—white, gray, or black—because those colors non-distracting, professional and go with any wardrobe choice. However, in today's competitive landscape, clients and employers are looking for uniqueness and authenticity. A pop of color can make a portrait feel more lively, modern, and personal.
3. We can choose the right color for your wardrobe
When selecting a colorful backdrop for a headshot, it’s essential to consider what you will be wearing. Feel free to email me phone photos of your outfits before the session so we can be prepared! There are two ways we pick background colors in the studio- matching or contrasting.
a. Match wardrobe and background: Picking a matching color or very similar color is one technique we can use to create a harmonious effect in a photo with color. Analogous colors or adjacent colors on the color wheel. Example, I used two shades of pink for a fun look in the headshot above.
b. Contrast wardrobe and background: This is when we choose a background color that is on the opposite side of the color wheel, like picking an orange or yellow background when the subject is wearing blue.
4. Background swaps "in post."
We have a wide variety of backgrounds on hand in the studio, but we don't have every color. Sometimes, using Photoshop to digitally swap the background is the best solution.
For corporate headshots with a bold color background, it's important to let your team know the background color for the final images, and give them wardrobe tips so that they can be prepared on headshot day.
Colorful backgrounds can add so much personality and life to a headshot, turning a simple portrait into an engaging, vibrant image that captures attention. When you contact our studio about headshots or portraits, let us know your thoughts about incorporating some cool colors into your session!
