GOG Family Session Prep Using Color Theory

Color Theory and Family Photography

Color Theory. What is it, how is it useful for your family session with me (or any other photographer), and how can I help you figure this whole thing out. That’s what I want to talk about today while bringing you this beautifully styled family session at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am new to color theory, thanks to my friend, Stormy Solis who has her own epic photography and photography education business just north of me in Denver, Colorado. I enrolled in her course two years (or more) ago but haven’t really actually taken it yet, oops. That is okay, I’m in groups with amazing people from my connection with her and the AHA community and sometimes those people mention things I hadn’t really heard of before and I get curious. Color Theory was one of those topics and here we are, hi, hello!

Color Theory is essentially a roadmap for combining, manipulating, and mixing colors. I am sure everyone who had art in elementary school has heard of the color wheel and primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. If we dig a little deeper we will discover there are also complementary colors as well as analogous colors. Looking at the color wheel and all of these combinations can help us figure out what type of look you are going for and what will work best in the environment we will be shooting. For Lisa, she wanted neutrals that would help create a cohesive style that matched well with their location, Garden of the Gods. The subtle tones and colors she picked for her family worked well because the colors are similar in temperature and create harmony when paired together with the landscape.

Now, I want to clarify, you don’t have to know Color Theory in order to get amazing color results during your session like these, that’s why I am here! Lean on me. Lean on the tools I provide for you. My online wardrobe styling service is pretty dope when it comes to helping you choose colors that are going to be amazing for you. First, you should probably figure out your location. Green and trees and grey rocks are super different than a lake with red and orange or a space that is mostly white, like our beautiful Paint Mines just 40 minutes east of Colorado Springs. Once you have that location, and what it looks like during the season you will be visiting, then you can confidently start choosing your color palette and gathering ideas for what you want to wear.

Color Theory is a new idea in my brain so, of course, you can totally look good without knowing any of this stuff. A lot of the time we can tell if something looks amazing on its own and we are good to go. Looking snazzy and pretty swell. However, it’s when we want to reach for something a little bit extra with color that we can visit the color wheel and check out what different color theories we can apply to your particular location. Sounds a little intimidating but I am here to help you every step of the way. Reach out to me, talk to me about clothing, send me photos, help me, help you, babe! Together we will make this whole family session thing something you look forward to and as easy as breathing. Promise.