Dressing for a photo-shoot can feel like a big decision: you want to look your best, feel confident, and ensure the images truly capture you. One often-overlooked trick (that can make a real difference!) is to dress in colours that reflect your colour season. You know how some colours seem to really suit someone, and other colours make them look washed out? That’s all to do with colour seasons. I only learnt about them recently, from personal stylist Louise Weiz, and I’ve found it a game changer.
Here’s an overview of what I’ve learnt — including how to identify your colour season, and some free or low-cost apps to help.
What is a “Colour Season”?
In essence: your skin tone, hair colour and eye colour combine to create a natural palette of colours that enhance your look. The “season” refers to a category of colouring (think: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) plus often sub-categories (Light Spring, Soft Autumn, Bright Winter etc). The basic idea is: wear colours that echo your natural colouring and you’ll look fresher, more radiant, more “you”.
Choosing clothes to match your colour season
Colours that match your season will flatter your skin and eyes, meaning you’ll look just that bit more radiant in photos.
This works for real life too 🙂 Even when you’re not being photographed, choosing flattering colours can boost how you feel.
Building your wardrobe around your season means less wasted shopping, more effortless coordination between items, and more confidence in your look.
Choosing clothes for a photo shoot that reflect your colour season doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By understanding your undertone, contrast level and the general character of your palette, you can make confident choices. And with the help of a few apps or quizzes, you can get a solid starting point.
Ultimately: aim to feel great in what you’re wearing — when you feel good, you’ll look good.
Step 1: Identify Your Colour Season
A. Check your undertone
Do you look better in silver jewellery or gold jewellery? If silver = likely cool undertone; gold = likely warm.
Do your veins look more blue/purple (cool) or greenish (warm)?
When you wear pure white vs off-white, does your skin glow (one of them) or look tired (the other)? This gives a clue.
B. Check your contrast level
If you have very dark hair and pale skin, you probably have high contrast (which might point to a “Winter” type in 4-season).
If you have hair and skin that are quite similar in tone (e.g., medium brown hair + medium skin) you might have lower contrast.
Eye colour contrast also counts: bright clear eyes vs muted softer eyes.
C. Consider the character of your colouring:
Are your colours bright/clear, or more soft/muted?
Are they warm/golden, or cool/bluish?
Are they deep/dark, or light/soft?
With those questions you can place yourself roughly into a season. For example:
Warm + high contrast + bright → maybe Bright Spring or Bright Winter (warm leaning).
Cool + soft tones + light contrast → maybe Soft Summer.
Warm + deeper + rich tones → Deep Autumn.
D. Use a tool/app to help
If this sounds intense, there are lots of free or low-cost apps and quizzes that can do the hard work for you!
Here are some examples:
Dressika – Free option (iOS) with AI colour analysis via selfie, identifies 12-season types like Light Summer, Bright Spring etc.
Chroma – App where you upload a photo and it suggests your season and palette. (Note: some features may need payment).
ToneMatch – Web-based tool, upload a selfie and get your undertone and seasonal palette suggestions.
tonematch.pro
Free quizzes / online tools too, like Kettlewell Colours’ free “Find My Colours” quiz.
Pro tip
Treat the result as guidance, not gospel. Some people fall between seasons or find multiple palettes suit them.
As one Redditor put it: “I’ve done a deep dive … I can’t make one season work more than 50% of the time.”
The goal is to use the palette to choose colours that make you feel great, not to feel stuck.
Step 2: Choose Clothes For Your Photo Shoot According To Your Season
Once you’ve got a sense of your season (or a couple of likely ones), use these guidelines to select your outfit for the photo-shoot:
1. Pick your key colours
Look at the palette your season suggests. For example:
If you’re a Cool Winter, your key colours might include crisp black, bright white, icy pinks, clear blues.
If you’re a Warm Autumn, your palette might include rich golden browns, olive green, warm terracotta, deep teal.
Choose one dominant colour from your palette for your main garment (dress, blazer, top) and potentially a secondary colour or neutral that complements it.
2. Use neutrals that flatter you
Every palette has neutrals (e.g., navy, charcoal, cream, rich chocolate) that harmonise with your colouring. For a shoot:
Pick a neutral layer (such as a jacket or a blouse) from your season’s palette (rather than pure black or stark white if those aren’t in your palette). I don’t recommend wearing pure black or white anyway for your photos – they don’t flatter many people in photos, so this is just more reason not to!
3. Choose an outfit that fits your contrast level
If you have strong natural contrast (dark hair, bright eyes, fair skin), then a high-contrast outfit (e.g., dark blazer + crisp white shirt) might suit you. If you have lower contrast, a softer tonal outfit (e.g., mid-tone top + slightly lighter layer) might look better.
4. Keep accessories, jewellery and makeup in sync
Pick jewellery that suits your undertone: gold for warm, silver for cool (unless your palette suggests “mixed metals”).
For makeup, use shades that harmonise with your palette. For example, a Warm Spring might go for coral/peach blush and gold jewellery; a Cool Winter might prefer berry blush and silver metal.
Colour Season Outfit Ideas For Your Headshots
Spring (Warm, Clear, Light)
Springs have a golden, fresh and lively look — warm undertones, lighter or medium hair (strawberry blonde, golden brown), and clear, bright eyes (turquoise, light green, warm blue).
Your best colours: warm and bright (peach, coral, golden yellow, aqua, turquoise, warm pinks, clear greens, and ivory instead of stark white).
Avoid: harsh black, cool greys, or deep jewel tones — they’ll overpower your warmth.
Summer (Cool, Soft, Light)
Summers are cool, calm, and delicate — think soft, rosy undertones, ashy or cool-toned hair, and gentle eyes (grey-blue, soft green, muted hazel).
Your best colours: cool and muted (dusty rose, lavender, powder blue, periwinkle, cool aqua, sage green, soft navy, and light grey).
Accessories: silver jewellery, soft pink lipstick, cool-toned blush.
Avoid: orange, rust, or golden yellows — they’ll clash with your cool tones.
Autumn (Warm, Deep, Muted)
Autumns are rich, earthy and warm — golden undertones, medium to deep hair (red, auburn, chestnut, golden brown), and warm eyes (amber, olive, deep green).
Your best colours: earthy and rich (olive, mustard, rust, terracotta, teal, deep moss, warm beige, chocolate, and cream).
Accessories: bronze or gold jewellery, warm nude or brick lipstick, earthy makeup tones.
Avoid: cool pinks, icy blues or true black — they drain warmth from your face.
Winter (Cool, Deep, Bright)
Winters are crisp, dramatic, and high-contrast — cool undertones, very dark or very light hair, and bright, striking eyes (icy blue, emerald, cool brown).
Your best colours: cool, clear, and bold (true black and white, cobalt blue, emerald, fuchsia, icy pink, royal purple, and crimson).
Accessories: silver or white gold jewellery, berry lipstick, cool blush tones.
Avoid: warm oranges, browns or beiges — they’ll muddy your natural clarity.
I hope that helps!
I’d love to know if this helps you with choosing outfits for your photo shoot! Do let me know.
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