Color Palettes for Summer Engagement Photos
When couples ask me what they should wear for their engagement photos, they’re almost always really asking me what colors they should wear for their engagement photos. Choosing the right color palette for your summer engagement photos can make a huge difference in how your photos look! The answer will be different for every couple and location, but here are some easy and beautiful color palettes and color schemes I’ve seen work beautifully again and again for engagement sessions here in Washington State, from the Seattle waterfront to the Washington coast to the Cascade mountains.
Summer Engagement Photo Color Combos:
White and Tan
White and Tan is a classic engagement photo color combination that just never ever misses. It works in every location, from the Puget Sound to Mt. Baker to the heart of Seattle. It feels bridal. It looks like summer. It is so easy to add interest with texture: leather accents, hair ribbons, beaded shoes, lace, all of it goes well and it creates a beautiful, summery, “we’re getting married!!” look. This is definitely one of my favorite suggestions for what to wear for engagement photos in the summer.
Below is an example of taking that base palette of white and tan and customizing it to you! You can see that this is a really lovely harmonious palette for beach dune sessions on the Washington coast.
White and Light Blue
White and light blue is another great summer color combo for engagement photos. It still pulls off the bridal look and is still light and summery, but pulls in color in a very calming and harmonious way. I’m definitely of the opinion that light blue denim counts as a neutral, too! I love this look for outdoor waterfront sessions like the Seattle Waterfront Park, American Lake, and other locations near lakes, rivers, and the sound.
Also, this doesn’t have to be boring! Bring in texture and multiple shades of blue to add depth and extra interest to this classic color combination.
Shades of Blue
Okay, this one is arguably just a different version of blue and white, but it works because the blues are different shades but still cohesive and somewhat muted. This is an especially pretty outdoor engagement photo color scheme for greener areas! This palette works really well with brown leather accents. (belts, shoes, etc)
White, Tan, and Light Blue
Three colors can make a really dynamic and versatile color palette for engagement photos, even if it’s just neutrals, like these examples! Keeping the blues and browns lighter helps make this stay light and summery. I’ve included a couple photos above, because this is definitely a palette you can mix and match. If you want to wear pants instead of a dress, just add another shade of blue, tan, or cream!
Cream, Blue, and Brown
Slightly darker shades of the white/tan/light blue palette, this is a great option for a later summer outdoor engagement session.
White or Tan with a Bold Color Pop
Summer is a really great time to bring in more vibrant colors! This couple paired a neutral base of white and tan with a bold orange dress to bring in some color and interest. Yellows and oranges can work really well, or you can make an easy swap in this color scheme for another color: Ivory + Green, Cream + Purple, White + Pink are some other simple color combos using this same formula. You can also definitely add in another neutral to any of those: light blue, tan, and brown are obviously my favorites.
Black, White, and Jewel
For a more classic, dressed up look, a really simple and elegant color palette is black and white, with one jewel tone to bring in color. In this case, the couple chose to pair an emerald dress with a black suit and white shirt, but this can be easily customized just by changing the color of the dress. I recommend sticking with jewel tones when combining with dark colors (like black) to create that harmonious, lower contrast color palette that works well with the way I photograph and edit. This kind of combination works really well to create an elevated look, and can pair beautifully with grand locations (epic views, detailed architecture, etc).
More Engagement Photo Color Palettes I would love to see this summer
I’ve shared some color schemes that work every time, but the palettes on this list are definitely not the only ones that look good for engagement photos! Here are some more color combinations I would love to see this summer:
- light pink + cream + tan
- light pink + white + blue + brown
- sunset tones: pink, orange, yellow and white
- yellow + tan + white
- Cream + lavender + brown
You’ve got a color palette idea, now what?
Looking for more on how to choose outfits for your engagement photos this summer? Check out the full guide on what to wear for your engagement photos for more complete guidance.
