Scandinavian colours in photography: cool, calm, and clear

The Scandinavian photography style has become one of the most copied looks of the past decade. Cool light, muted colours, ample white space, and a calm compositional stillness. It carries something of hygge, translated into image.

Characteristics include blue undertones in shadows and midtones, muted but never fully flat contrast, and a tendency to retain lots of white in the frame. Colours are present but never loud. Texture is subtly there.

The Nordic Seasons pack is built for this type of imagery. Each season has its own colour treatment: winter white with blue undertones, an autumn palette with warm but muted tones, and two spring variants with fresh green hues.

How to apply the style yourself: start with a photo in overcast daylight or soft raking light. Lower overall saturation but raise it specifically for green and blue. Add a slight blue tint to shadows via the Color Grading tool. That gives you the foundation of the Scandinavian look.