Your brand colours speak before you do. Explore how colour psychology builds trust, emotion, and authenticity in your visual identity.
When we think about branding, most people’s minds go straight to logos and fonts – but one of the most powerful and often underestimated choices you’ll make is your brand colours.
Colour is not decoration. It’s communication.
Studies show that within just 90 seconds of encountering a brand, customers have already made lasting judgments, and up to 90% of that decision is based purely on colour.
This happens because colour is processed in the emotional part of our brain – the same area responsible for instinct and intuition. We don’t have to think about it; we simply feel it. A warm tone might make us feel welcomed, while a cold, harsh colour might make us hesitate.
Every shade of every colour carries a different symbolic meaning, that’s why it’s so important to research your company colours beforehand, and ensure the right message is being conveyed. Here are a few generalised examples of colour symbolism:
- Red represents passion, excitement, and action – it’s bold and attention-grabbing, but can also feel aggressive.
- Blue conveys trust, reliability, and calm – perfect for corporate brands and wellness spaces.
- Green symbolizes growth, balance, and nature.
- Black and white often represent sophistication and simplicity.
- Pink can represent playfulness, kindness, and approachability.
When choosing your brand colour, there are two questions to ask yourself:
- What are my core qualities?
- How do I want customers to feel about my brand?
Once you’ve clearly defined your answers to those two questions, you can either work with a visual narrative specialist (like myself) to explore which colours best align with your personal brand, or take the time to research them on your own.
Why I chose dusty rose for my brand
As mentioned above, it is so important for your brand colours to reflect who you are as a person and how you want people to feel when they work with you. Upon deciding my own business colours, I asked myself the two questions above: what do I represent and how do I want people to perceive me. Upon answering both questions, I discovered that the answers to each are one in the same. Through some honest self-reflection, I realised that I see myself as friendly, professional, bubbly, and kind. And when I considered how I want my clients to feel when they work with me, those same qualities came to mind. This alignment was further confirmed when I looked back at client feedback – many have described me as friendly, professional, and kind, which reassured me that my brand is a true reflection of who I am.
With that in mind, I wanted my brand colours to communicate those exact same qualities: warmth, professionalism, kindness, and a touch of joyful energy – without feeling overly playful. That’s why dusty rose was the perfect choice for me.
Dusty rose has all the emotional warmth of traditional pink, symbolising kindness, approachability, and care – but its muted, elegant undertones add a sense of calm sophistication. It’s a colour that feels friendly yet refined – exactly how I aim to portray my business to future clients.
In colour psychology, pink tones are often linked to nurturing and connection, while the “dusty” element introduces professionalism, trust, and emotional balance. That combination makes it ideal for a business like mine.
Every time a client visits my website or interacts with my brand, that soft, dusty rose colour quietly reinforces the message I want to send: you’re in kind, caring, and creative hands. It’s not just a colour – it’s a visual expression of who I am as a person and the photographic experience that I bring to each session.
Summary
To conclude, your brand colours are so much more than just a design choice – they’re a reflection of who you are as a brand. When you choose your brand colours, think beyond trends or aesthetics. Ask yourself what emotions you want to evoke and what part of yourself you want your audience to recognise.
The most powerful brands don’t just look good – they feel authentic. And when your colours align with who you are, every post, and interaction shows your audience who you are as a brand and how you want to be seen.
If you’re looking to create your own visual identity that truly represents who you are – book your free consultation today!
Whether through personal branding photography or creative consultation, together we can craft imagery and colours that truly tell your story.
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