Using red as a background color for portraits can, if correctly applied, add vigor and strength. It needs to be used with care since it is an energetic, emotional color and can be very overpowering. Red has several emotional expressions. Its negative aspects are aggression and violence. The positive aspects of red are strength, assertiveness, activeness, and vitality.

Although red is very powerful and demands full attention, this will be offset if the portrayed person is also wearing the same color. The eyes, and brain, are looking for differences and accentuating these. Therefore, the paler facial colorings will seem stronger despite the powerful red and consequently remain the center of attraction.

A red background in a portrait can underline the powerful qualities of a person being portrayed. It conveys the impression that the person can take on responsibility and go into action when required. Vigorous red will underline the robust energy of a young person. A strong and expressive primal red accentuates physical and mental power. Red can also add a sensual accent to a portrait.

It is always good if the red in the background is repeated in something the person is wearing. This can be a tie, jewelry or spectacle frames. This will relate the strong background to the person in the photo. Another important factor, when using red as a background color for portraits, is getting the right tone to suit the person being portrayed. Red has three primal shades, these being orange red, primal red and a bluish red. In addition, there are many darker shades.

A person who has very dark hair will look good against a strong primal red or bluish red, and also against the darker shades of these hues. Black or dark brown hair also looks very intense and extremely attractive when set against red. It is always good to have the color of the background repeated in the forefront of the photo. As already mentioned, this need only be an accent.

Darker shades of red, such as wine red or mahogany, are also excellent as background colors for portraying people with darker hair. The powerful wine red harmonizes with the dark hair and creates a forceful background, less brighter than pure red, but certainly as equally as vigorous. It adds strength and a look of confidence to the person being portrayed.

Someone with ash brown or lighter ash blond hair will be enhanced if slightly softer shades of these reds are used as background colors. A soft bluish red as a background will be very supportive for the natural colorings of people belonging to this category. Often they have fair complexions. Nevertheless, if the red is not too harsh their own colorings and features will remain the focus of attention.

Redheads will look far better if an orange red, or russet,  is used as background for their portraits. This also applies to those with reddish highlights in their hair or blonds who have golden highlights and probably freckles. Naturally, it is important that the colors of their clothes also fit into the total effect. The sparkling vitality of orange red supports the lively temperament redheads and freckled blonds tend to have. Even though orange red is the most aggressive and active shade of this hue, surprisingly enough, people with very lively, warm complexions will tame it down. They become the radiant force in the photo.

It is fairly easy to determine which shade of red to apply for the portrait. If the incorrect shade of red is used for the background, and possibly also for the clothes or accessories of the person being photographed, the red will be too dominate. If the correct shade of red is being used, the person in the portrait will dominate.

If you feel you need to express power, mental or physical, and single-mindedness in a portrait, red is certainly the ideal hue to choose as the background color.