For photographers, color is a multifaceted tool that can accomplish anything from drawing the eye to adding emotion. Pinks and purples rest on the opposite side of the color wheel from green. Because purple also sits opposite of green when correcting a photograph’s white balance, the hue also plays a significant role in color correction. At the same time, purple is thought to symbolize creativity and royalty while pink is associated with love and femininity. This week, we highlight five photographs that make exceptional use of the colors pink and purple. Find inspiration in these photographs from Daniel Nydick, Olha Melokhina, Brian Robinson, Leo Carey, Kahli April, and Felicia Schütte. 

Daniel Nydick 

Wedding photographer Daniel Nydick of Daniel Nydick Photography planned this getting ready shot around the bride’s pin-up with a goth twist style. He knew that the gelled light would color the hairspray and that holding up a copper tube to his lens would create a ring of purple light. But what he didn’t expect was for the bride’s mirror to also kick back light. He took the shot using his Canon camera, a Flashpoint flash and MagMod lighting modifiers. 

“When I meet with new couples, the thing they always mention is that they love my punchy and vibrant colors,” Nydick said. “True to life colors just make sense to me. I want my couples’ images to be hue-accurate and represented as boldly as possible. The photos of their flowers, decor, etc. deserve to perfectly bring back memories of their day 5, 10, 50 years later.  

Working with gels . . . is one of the best ways I can incorporate an extra dimension to any environment. Purple is one of my favorite colors, and in the moment, it felt like the perfect accompaniment to Amanda’s pink and magenta shoes that would be featured in her prep photos.” 

Olha Melokhina, Olha Photography 

The Pantone color of the year for 2022, Very Perry, was the inspiration for this shot by Olha Melokhina of Olha Photography. Together with her team that also included hair by Victoria Styles Beauty, makeup by Evgenia Vitcova, and her model Tatiana, the shoot was designed to celebrate the color, which included Savage #29 Orchard seamless backdrop paper and a spray-painted lily. The goal, Melokhina said, was to celebrate the beauty and versatility of color. She captured the shot with the Nikon D850, lit by two Profoto D1 lights — one a five-foot octabox and one with a 2×3 softbox. 

“I have a deep appreciation for incorporating colors into my work,” Melokhina said. “I particularly enjoy capturing a monochrome aesthetic infused with various shades. My favorite is to use vivid and contrasting colors. Colors have a profound impact on me and serve as a great source of inspiration. The essence and emotions conveyed by different hues resonate within my creations.” 

Brian Robinson, Brian Robinson Photography 

Using opposite colors like purple and green together often add pop and contrast in a photograph — like with this image taken by Brian Robinson of Brian Robinson Photography. He was inspired to take this shot by the couple, who wanted to take photos in an old quarry. This quarry is also known as Foxglove City, so Robinson knew he wanted to capture the couple among the wildflowers the location was named for. He took the shot using the Canon R6 and the RF 50mm lens. 

“Color is a huge influence and I wanted to keep the color as true as possible to the scene, especially with the contrasts of green that also surround it,” he said. “But the greens really help the pinks and purples to be subtly vibrant without them taking over.” 

Leo Carey and Kahli April, Wild Alpine Image Co. 

As wedding and elopement photographers who live in the Rockies, Leo Carey and Kahli April of Wild Alpine Image Co. are familiar with the region’s weather patterns. When the duo spotted the chinook clouds, they knew a colorful sunset was likely in store. That’s when they decided to head to this spot for a colorful sunset shot of the couple. The image was captured with the Canon R5 and a 70-200mm lens. 

“As wedding photographers, color plays a vital role in shaping the atmosphere and emotion in an image,” Leo and Kahli said. “If you are familiar with our work, it’s easy to see that we love color. It has the power to set the mood and enhance the overall visual impact of the photograph. Each color brings its own unique energy and symbolism to the table so we carefully consider the influence it has when composing and editing our images. When it comes to purple and pink, they are undoubtedly captivating colors often associated with romance, which suits them well for weddings, elopements and engagements.” 

Felicia Schütte, The Flying Dress Bonaire 

The turquoise waters and sky of the Bonaire beach contrast with the model’s pink flying dress and crown in this shot by Felicia Schütte of The Flying Dress Bonaire. The island’s untouched beauty and trade winds are often an inspiration for the photographer, who specifically chose the dress for the contrasting color. She captured the image with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and the Sigma Art 24-105mm f4 IS II lens. 

“I seem to be drawn to natural colors. However, when using strong, expressive colors, I tend to use them either purely intuitively or conceptually — then intentionally and carefully,” she said. “I feel easily overwhelmed by too many noisy different colors. For me, colors need to create some form of harmony — or deliberate disharmony. The color pink is specifically feminine and vibrant while being sweet and loving. I feel most attention is needed to balance the right pink tone with skin tones.” 

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery to: [email protected].