Red is the color of love and Christmas. It’s also the color of sales, because it’s great at getting your attention. Plus, we all know that red cars go faster, right?
From a photography perspective, red in photos catches the viewer’s eye.
Warm colors are more demanding than cool colors and red is the warmest color of the lot. So it’s a very demanding color and can easily create unbalance in composition. Use red carefully when combining with colors on the opposite side of the color wheel .
Or you can just go all out and make everything red. Which is my favorite way to photograph red in the studio.
But for the sake of balance, here are some ideas you can use to set up your own red dress photoshoot. And to be honest, they don’t all involve dresses, it just sounds better than “red outfit photoshoot”.
Red dress photoshoot ideas this article covers…
- All red color palette
- Red dress, dark background
- Types of photoshoots that suit red
Tips for setting up a photoshoot
Before we get into the details of how to do a red dress photoshoot, here are a few pointers for setting up a studio photoshoot.
- Create a mood board of the style of the shoot – it’s easier when you show somebody what you’re thinking
- Be clear on the type of portrait session, not just the color scheme – vintage, boudoir, Valentine etc
- Think through your posing, lighting and background choices ahead of time – they’re all part of creating a style
- Consider what accessories to add for a quick look change – e.g. hats, scarves, flowers, jackets, jewellery
This next tip isn’t about setting up a shoot, but it’s really important, because it makes a big difference to the look of a photo – solid colors are better for photoshoot outfits, especially a red dress photoshoot.
So make sure that your client, or model, brings clothing that isn’t patterned (big stripes are usually okay) and has no graphics or text.
The more organized and professional you are in your approach, the more successful your photo session will be. It’s as true for clients and it is for collaboration photoshoots.
Further reading: Photographing models (how to find and approach models for photoshoots)
All red color palette photoshoot
For this red monochrome photoshoot idea I wanted a Hollywood glam vibe, so I chose a model whose personal style is vintage. She has a very pale skin tone, black hair and looks great with red lipstick (it doesn’t suit everyone).
So she has the perfect look for the type of red dress photoshoot I had in mind.
All we needed to complete the look was:
- Accessories
- Red fill light
- Red background
Accessories for red dress photoshoot
I like to maximize variety from every photoshoot I do, so I asked the model to bring along a few accessories, especially a hat. It’s the fastest way to create different looks and add visual interest to an image.
The model brought:
- A red straw hat with black ribbon
- A white flower hairclip
I had no intention of doing full length shots, so for my needs shoes weren’t important. If you do want to shoot full length, I recommend either red shoes or black shoes for a red dress photoshoot.
Red gelled fill lighting
I used a red colored gel on my rim light to fill the shadows with red to really push the all red theme to the limit.
The key light was standard strobe lighting without color.
Red background materials for photos
Whether you’re photographing in a studio or in your home, you’ve got two very easy and cheap options for a red background and one slightly technical option.
Here are three great options:
- Red seamless paper
- Red material
- Red lighting
1. Red seamless paper background
I used a red seamless paper backdrop, the standard 107″ (2.7m) wide size photography backdrop you’ll find in most photography studios.
Paper’s great, because if you put three different colors on a wall mounted bracket system, it’s really easy to change background colors during a shoot.
Standard paper rolls work well for (small) group photoshoots as well. You can pull them down across the floor for a seamless background (hence the name). If they get messed up during the shoot, you simply cut away the damaged portion.
If you’re photographing in a small space or at home, you can also get 86″ (2.2m) and 53″ (1.35m) wide rolls. Just bear in mind that you can’t fit as many people in, and the 53″ backdrop is for a single person photoshoot.
Plus, if you have a white wall, you’ll have four background colors to use very quickly for maximum variety in a photoshoot.
2. Red material background
But who says you have to use photography specific backgrounds? Especially if you’re planning an at home photoshoot.
Curtains make great photo backdrops – hanging is what they’re designed to do!
Curtain tips:
- Get a textured material like crushed velvet or velour – the crushed texture catches the light beautifully for a bit of added interest.
- Make sure it’s the type that has holes eyes to feed a curtain rail through, which makes it really easy to hang on a backdrop stand.
Sequinned material is ideal if you want festive bokeh in the background.
3. Red gelled lighting background
Fit a red gel to a strobe or speedlight and shine it at a white or gray wall behind your model to get a red background.
Factors that affect color saturation include:
- Light distance from the wall
- Strength of the light
- Wall color – gray will be more saturated than white.
So you’ll have to experiment to find the right look.
Further reading: How to use colored lighting for portrait photography (gels)
Red dress, dark background photo session
We all know how dramatic red and black or red and dark gray is. So, here are red dress photoshoot ideas with a dark background.
This photoshoot idea is all about drama and making your subject stand out in red against a dark background.
Background color
I prefer to use a medium gray background, because it’s so easy to change how dark it is simply by changing the lighting.
- For a lighter gray background, allow light to spill onto the background.
- For a darker gray background, or even black, make sure you use grids on softboxes and/or feather the light so that it doesn’t fall on the background.
A black background can be too harsh and it’s easy to make gray into a black background with lighting.
Further reading: How to create a black background in photography with light
Dark photography backgrounds
Here are four ideas for dark photography backgrounds, including:
- 2 DIY backgrounds
- 1 cheap backdrop
- 1 not so cheap, but very durable
They are…
1. Gray painted wall
I love dark and moody so much that I painted my studio gray.
I used a medium gray color called Bottlenose Dolphin. There were similar grays, but how could I resist a color called Bottlenose Dolphin?
Make sure it’s a mat paint to avoid shiny patches from light reflections.
2. Gray doors
Before I painted my studio gray I found some old wardrobe doors and painted them gray.
The advantage of this type of photoshoot background is that it’s not permanent and can be moved around. Plus, I really like the beading and handles of old doors for a little extra bit of visual interest.
3. Gray seamless paper roll
For a dark background I prefer to use a 107″ (2.7m) wide seamless paper in smoke gray rather than black.
As I mentioned earlier, gray is also good for gelled background lighting as the red will be more saturated than on a white background.
4. Dark polyester background roll
I won’t go into huge detail on all the types of backgrounds, because we’ll be here all day, but you’d be amazed at the type of backdrops you can buy to fit on a background stand (mobile or wall mounted).
Just make sure that it’s non-reflective. The super cheap ones are generally a bad idea.
Further reading: 7 photography backdrop materials for portraits (plus pro tips)
Red dress photoshoot ideas
Now that you know how to set up a red monochrome photoshoot, or a dark and moody photoshoot, here are four great red dress photoshoot ideas:
- Fashion photoshoot
- Christmas photoshoot
- Valentine photoshoot
- Boudoir photoshoot
Just decide on the portrait style and the look you want to go for, then match your lighting, posing and styling for a cohesive set of images.
1. Fashion photoshoot
Outfit
I mentioned earlier that it doesn’t have to be a red dress. A red gown, red suit or red shorts and t-shirt are all going to work great. It’s just a matter of deciding on the look you want and going for it.
Lighting
Given that red is such a bold choice I personally like the idea of using a hard light for a fashion shoot. In which case the stark contrast with a white background would also work really well.
2. Christmas photoshoot
Christmas is the opposite of fashion. It’s soft and warm with all the feels.
Outfit
The outfit will dictate the type of shoot and you can choose anything from formal and glamorous to super casual in pyjamas.
Accessories and props
Remember to add relevant accessories to complete the look and add visual interest:
- For a glamorous look large mirrorball props add a lovely bit of Christmas bling.
- Santa hats complete a homely style photoshoot.
How about a white Christmas tree with red decorations in the background? I’d go full monochrome with a red tree and shiny red decorations.
Lighting
I feel soft lighting works well for a holiday vibe, so ideally use a large reflective umbrella with white interior and an additional layer of diffusion. Or for more directional lighting and less spill, use a large softbox.
Further reading: Photography umbrella vs softbox for portrait lighting
3. Valentine photoshoot
If we’re talking red dress photoshoot ideas, we have to talk about Valentine’s Day!
Outfit
Red gown, red dress, red suit or red lingerie – it all works for Valentine’s Day photo session.
Accessories and props
Nothing says Valentines Day photoshoot like shiny red heart shaped balloons.
You could go minimalist with just one as a prop. Or a bunch.
Or you could go full red romance and create a backdrop of red heart shaped balloons fixed to a red seamless paper background.
Lighting
For a lighthearted feeling use soft light, for edgy (and who says Valentines Day can’t be edgy) use hard light.
For drama, make sure you include shadows.
4. Red boudoir photoshoot
And of course, boudoir photography is an ideal red photo session.
Outfit
The most popular colors for boudoir photoshoots are red and black. No surprises there.
But I fully believe that boudoir is all about the feeling you create, so it doesn’t have to be just lingerie. I’ve done many boudoir photoshoots in dresses (Not me, my client. I wear jeans and a t-shirt when I shoot).
How you pose and light your subject that creates the boudoir vibe.
Accessories and props
Texture is particularly important in boudoir shoots, especially contrasting textures, which is why lace works well.
The ultimate boudoir red color palette photoshoot shoes are Louboutins. If the price tag is too steep, just look for patent leather heels with a red sole.
I have an assortment of silk materials that instantly make a scene feel more luxurious. So I’d recommend either a deep red or a charcoal gray for a red boudoir photoshoot.
Lighting
Definitely soft lighting – it’s flattering for skin. And the more skin that’s exposed the kinder you want your lighting to be. Unless you want to spend far too much time retouching your images.
My preference is a low key lighting style (flash or natural light), because shadows are sexy. But I’ve also shot many light and airy style sessions with natural light.
Leave a comment
If you have any questions about how to do a red photoshoot indoors at home or in a studio, let us know in the comments.
Also, I love good news, so if my red dress photoshoot ideas have inspired you to plan your own red photoshoot, share that too.