Colour-Wise

COLOUR TEMPERATURE
The colour wheel is a great tool when you are planning the scene you want to photograph. I use it all the time to help me choose colours to create my food story.
For instance, the wheel has a cool and warm side. Where on this does your main subject sit? Is it a basket of oranges, vibrant and lively, or perhaps a leafy salad, cool and restful.
Once you have your starting point, you can begin to bring in other colours to create the mood you are looking for. 

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Here I have used warm colours to create a harmonious scene, keeping it light and bright for a summery feel. Maybe a party, or just celebrating a Friday night! Notice how the surface is in keeping with the colour scheme, and works to emphasize the sunshine by showing the light and shadow play through the glassware.

Here the cool greens and blues give a fresh feel to this healthy lunch. The surface adds a rustic feel.

ANALOGOUS COLOURS
are three colours that sit next to eachother on the colour wheel. I use this a lot as it is easy on the eye, and everything blends nicely, but still offers variation. It's a good scheme to start with.
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Colours here are red, pink and purple. See how easily they sit in eachother's company?

Here's another analogous image. Can you see the colour scheme here is green/yellow/orange? The scene is harmonious and restful. I have used a soft edit here.

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COMPLIMENTARY COLOURS
Complimentary colours are found on the opposite side of the colour wheel, like Red and Green, Yellow and Violet or Orange and Blue for instance. These can be used to great effect in food photography, creating an energetic eye-catching scene.

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See how the Complimentary colours of Red and Green really make this subject pop!

Finally, let's not forget MONOCHROMATIC colours. This is when various shades of the same colour are used. This can create a dramatic look, and is very effective. ​
Here orange is the single colour, ranging from pale almost yellow to deep spashes of red/orange.

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