Color analysis quiz › Headshot colors for your season

Headshot colors for your season

A headshot is a close crop, so the color next to your face is magnified. Here are the tops and backdrops that suit each of the 12 seasons, and the colors to keep out of frame.

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Find your season from one selfie

Three rules for headshot color

Undertone: warm skin needs warm-based color, cool skin needs blue-based color. See skin tones and undertones.
Value: match the lightness of the top to your overall coloring; light seasons in mid-light tones, deep seasons in deep tones.
Chroma: clear seasons wear saturated color, soft seasons wear muted color.

Top and backdrop by season

Season	Tops	Backdrop
Light Spring	Peach #FFC8A2, Light coral #F88379, Butter yellow #FBE29A	Warm cream wall #F3E6CF
True Spring	Coral #FF6F59, Golden yellow #FFC233, Grass green #5DBB4B	Warm cream wall #F3E6CF
Bright Spring	Poppy red #F23A29, Turquoise #00B5AD, Bright violet #8A4FFF	Warm cream wall #F3E6CF
Light Summer	Powder blue #AFCBEA, Lavender #C3B5E3, Soft rose #E8A9BB	Soft blue-grey #C9D3DC
True Summer	Raspberry #C2185B, Periwinkle #7F8FD6, Blue-grey #6E85A3	Soft blue-grey #C9D3DC
Soft Summer	Dusty rose #C08A98, Sage #9CAF88, Slate blue #6B7F99	Soft blue-grey #C9D3DC
Soft Autumn	Olive #808A4E, Salmon #E38B75, Khaki #B5A67A	Warm taupe #BFA98C
True Autumn	Rust #B7472A, Mustard #D4A017, Moss #6B7F3A	Warm taupe #BFA98C
Deep Autumn	Chocolate #4B2E20, Tomato red #C1272D, Forest green #285E3B	Warm taupe #BFA98C
Deep Winter	Black #111111, Burgundy #6D0F2A, Emerald #00785A	Cool charcoal #3C4048
True Winter	True red #D0021B, Royal blue #1F3FBF, Icy pink #F4D6E4	Cool charcoal #3C4048
Bright Winter	Fuchsia #E3007D, Cobalt #0047AB, Emerald #009473	Cool charcoal #3C4048

Instagram headshot vs professional headshot

	Instagram	Professional
Top	Your most saturated season color	A season neutral or your deepest flattering color
Backdrop	Outdoor or textured, in your season's temperature	Plain, from the backdrop column above
Crop	Square, face fills 60% of frame	Head and shoulders, room above the head

Colors to keep out of frame

Light Spring: Black (#111111), Burgundy (#6D1A2B), Dusty mauve (#9C7A86), Charcoal (#3A3A3A)

True Spring: Black (#111111), Icy grey (#D6DCE4), Dusty rose (#B5838D), Blue-red (#B3001B)

Bright Spring: Dusty pastels (#C8B7B5), Muted olive (#7D7A52), Mushroom (#A39382), Heathered grey (#9A9A96)

Light Summer: Black (#111111), Orange (#F57C00), Rust (#A0451B), Mustard (#C99A0F)

True Summer: Orange (#F57C00), Camel (#C19A6B), Golden yellow (#FFC233), Black (#111111)

Soft Summer: Black (#111111), Bright orange (#FF6F00), Pure white (#FFFFFF), Neon pink (#FF2D95)

Soft Autumn: Black (#111111), Fuchsia (#E0218A), Icy blue (#CFE8F7), Pure white (#FFFFFF)

True Autumn: Icy pastels (#DCE7F5), Fuchsia (#E0218A), Cool grey (#9EA4AD), Black (#111111)

Deep Autumn: Pastels (#F4C2D7), Icy grey (#D6DCE4), Light lavender (#D6C8EE), Neon (#39FF14)

Deep Winter: Peach (#FFC8A2), Camel (#C19A6B), Dusty pastels (#C8B7B5), Orange (#F57C00)

True Winter: Orange (#F57C00), Camel (#C19A6B), Mustard (#C99A0F), Olive (#808A4E)

Bright Winter: Dusty rose (#B5838D), Khaki (#B5A67A), Mushroom (#A39382), Rust (#A0451B)

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More color guides

LinkedIn photo colors · AI headshot prompts · Skin tones and undertones · 16-season color analysis · All 12 palettes

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Questions

What is the most flattering color for a headshot?

The first color of your own season palette. It matches your undertone, value and chroma, so it lifts the face instead of competing with it.

What backdrop color is best for headshots?

One in your season's temperature and at least two shades away from your hair: warm cream, blue-grey, warm taupe or charcoal.

Should I wear white in a headshot?

Bright white suits Winters. Other seasons wear ivory, soft white or cream, which reflect light without washing out the skin.