The Photocoop
Photography Club

Join a Community That Creates, Learns, and Grows Together

The Photocoop Photography Club is for anyone who wants to stay inspired, improve their skills, and connect with other photographers.
Whether you’re a hobbyist or a working pro, this is your space to collaborate, learn, and experiment.

The 60-30-10 Rule

A Monthly Challenge
With A Reward

The 60-30-10 rule is a classic cinema and design principle used to create visually balanced and intentional compositions. It works by dividing your color palette into three parts: 60% of the frame is your dominant color, setting the overall mood; 30% is a secondary color that supports and adds depth; and 10% is an accent color used sparingly to create contrast and draw attention to key details. When applied correctly, this formula helps scenes feel cohesive, professional, and easy on the eye—guiding the viewer’s focus without overwhelming the composition.

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS MONTH!

Reward

One participant will be selected at random to receive 2 hours of studio time at The Photo Coop. The studio time must be redeemed within 30 days of selection.

Assignment Instructions
Create one photograph that clearly demonstrates the 60–30–10 rule. Your image should show thoughtful color placement and intentional composition. The dominant, secondary, and accent colors should be easy to identify when viewing the photo.

Objective
This assignment is designed to help you understand and apply the 60–30–10 rule, a principle commonly used in cinema, photography, and design to create visually balanced and professional-looking images.

Evaluation Criteria
Projects will be evaluated based on the effective use of one dominant primary color MOODY BLUE and how successfully the photographer incorporates any chosen secondary and accent colors to create a balanced, visually harmonious image using the 60–30–10 structure.

The Color For March Is
Moody Blue

  • How to participate:
    Create one photograph that clearly follows the 60–30–10 rule

  • Use Moody blue as the primary color or dominant tone Secondary and accent colors are completely up to you

  • Post your image on Instagram Follow @the_photocoop
    Tag @the_photocoop in your post

Resources: Color Selection Tools

To support your work on this assignment, you may use the following tools to explore and plan your color choices before shooting.

Pantone Color Finder
The Pantone Color Finder is a helpful starting point for identifying a primary color and exploring related shades and tones. Use this tool to research color names, values, and visual references that can help you define the dominant color (60%) of your composition.
🔗 https://www.pantone.com/color-finder

Adobe Color Wheel (Triadic Colors)
Adobe Color provides a more advanced method for selecting triadic color palettes, which are especially useful for applying the 60–30–10 rule. This tool allows you to choose a primary color and automatically generate complementary secondary and accent colors, helping you create a balanced and cohesive color scheme for your project.
https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel

What We Do

Our club meets monthly (both online and
in-person) to explore new creative challenges, share work, and build community through
hands-on experiences.

Monthly Themes & Challenges

Keep your creativity sharp with guided prompts and themed shoots:

• Light & Shadow
• Reflections
• Color of the Month
• Texture Studies

Community & Collaboration

Build connections and inspiration:

• Monthly critique nights
• Member project showcases
• Buddy system
(pair with another photographer)
• Collaborative zine or group exhibition
• Secret portrait swaps

Learning & Skill Building

Grow your technical and creative skills:

• Guest photographer talks
• Live editing nights
• Lighting & studio technique workshops
• Composition and storytelling lessons

Creative Experiments

Push your imagination:

• Lens Lab Nights
• Light painting and long exposure play
• Double exposure challenges
• “No Rules” editing contests

Photo Walks & Outings

Explore and shoot together:

• Golden Hour walks
• Night photography trips
• Urban storytelling days
• Seasonal or nature shoots

Competitions & Exhibitions

Celebrate growth and creativity:

• Monthly themed contests
• Member of the Month feature
• Annual showcase at The Photocoop
• Print swap nights

How to Join

Membership is open to photographers of all levels.
We’ll be hosting our first interest meeting soon — sign up below to get updates and the official invite.

Where We Meet

The Photocoop
Little Falls, NJ
In-person meetups at the studio &
online sessions via Discord

Join the Club