Color and Emotion in Photography: A Visual Language of Feeling

May 15

Photography has always been an emotional language for me—and color is one of its strongest dialects.

I don’t always plan my shots with color theory in mind, but I often realize afterward that my mood had everything to do with the hues I reached for. Over the years, I’ve come to understand how certain colors shape not just the final image, but how I feel when I make it—and how the viewer feels when they see it.

In this post, I’m sharing how I use color intuitively to express emotion, with real examples and reflections from my creative process—many of them created using Lensbaby OMNI Filters, which help me bend and paint light in ways that feel deeply personal.

Red: Energy, Passion, and Boldness

Red is the color of desire and fire. It shows up when I feel vibrant, determined, or emotionally charged. I captured this image of a seagull at the beach using a colored OMNI prism—and I love the power and energy it radiates.

Red, the color of fire, is associated with love, desire and determination. I personally love how energetic this image feels. — *Shot through a red OMNI Filter, this image feels like it’s buzzing with energy. That bold flash of color shifts the entire story.*

Pink: Joy and Lightheartedness

On the first warm spring day of the year, I headed to the beach full of joy—and the pink in this photo says it all. To me, pink is playful and light. It lifts the image and reflects the softness of the moment.

This picture was taken on one of the first warmer spring days of this year and I felt so much joy about the fact that we were able to go to the beach. I think the pink transmits that kind of happiness in the best possible way. — *There’s something about spring sunlight and pink tones that instantly makes me feel lighter. This photo is all about that soft kind of joy.*

Bold Color Compositions

When I feel energized and expressive, I gravitate toward bold, saturated colors. These are the days I reach for my OMNI wands. They allow me to add color bursts, flares, and unexpected overlays—tools that transform simple scenes into something radiant and emotionally charged.

Monochrome: Calm, Reflective, and Subdued

On quieter days, my color palette shifts too. I often find myself drawn to monochromatic tones—especially blue—which feel spacious and introspective.

This picture, with its different shades of blue, is a good example for a monochromatic image. How does it make you feel? — *The cool tones here feel peaceful to me—like breathing space. It’s quiet, but not empty.*

Golden Hour: Warmth, Optimism, and Connection

Golden hour is a favorite of mine. The warm glow of the setting sun adds a generous, hopeful layer to every frame. These golden tones never fail to bring a sense of ease and beauty into the work.

Shooting at golden hour is my favorite thing in the world. I love how everything looks golden and warm. — *Shooting at golden hour is like hugging your subject with light. I never get tired of it.*

Pastels: Softness and Tranquility

When I’m feeling calm—or when I want to bring calm into an image—I gravitate toward pastel tones. Slight overexposure helps me get that soft, dreamlike look that soothes the image and the viewer.

This series is a good example for how colors allow you to express your emotions. I was feeling calm and even a little tired when I took these pictures. Imagine the woman standing in the middle would wear a bright green jacket. The feeling of balance and tranquility would definitely be gone. — *These pastel tones reflect how calm I was feeling. A bright color would’ve shifted the energy entirely.*

Analogous Color Harmony

In this landscape, I worked with a palette of soft purples and blues, punctuated by yellow. It’s a calm image, but that small pop of yellow adds a note of warmth and quiet hope.

Compare this picture to the collection of pastel images above. How do you feel when you look at the bright colors? Even though the composition is equally balanced there is definitely more energy present in this photo. — *This composition feels balanced and meditative—but with just enough energy to pull you in.*

Final Reflection

At the end of the day, color is one of the most intuitive tools in my creative process. I don’t always know what I’m looking for when I step out with my camera—but how I feel shows up in the tones I choose. Color helps me say what I can’t always express in words.