Find an Area Where the Colors are Part of the Same Family

Sometimes on location, you simply cannot avoid a wide variety of colors in your background. But instead of blaming the location for its lack of color simplicity, keep looking until you find a place that has different colors that are all part of the same color family. Using color families keeps your eye from wandering and keeps the focus on your subjects.

Image 5.2 is a good example of looking for the same color palette in a difficult situation. The photo was taken at a resort in Tucson, AZ. Although the hotel is beautiful, it was hard to find a spot where I could photograph the bride and groom with a simple background. Everywhere I looked I saw colorful decor or small artwork on the walls. The paintings were too small to use as backdrops, and due to their strong colors, they were quite distracting.