On-brand colour
imagery guide
A practical reference for sourcing photography from Marlborough's curated Unsplash collections — covering both primary and secondary colour palettes, with real examples from the library.
Colour in context
Selecting imagery that echoes our primary colour palette is one of the most powerful ways to create visual coherence across our brand. When photography naturally reflects the deep navy blues, fresh emerald greens and soft whites that form the foundation of the Marlborough identity, it reinforces the brand at a glance — even before any text or logo is present. On LinkedIn and in presentations, where imagery often carries more immediate impact than copy, a well-chosen photo that mirrors our primary palette strengthens recognition and professionalism without any additional effort. Conversely, imagery dominated by colours that sit outside this range can subtly undermine brand consistency, even when the subject matter is otherwise appropriate. Treating colour as a selection criterion — not just composition or subject — is a simple discipline that pays dividends across every channel.
↗ Textures collection · Difference Made collection
Primary search terms
- abstract teal green minimal texture
- dark navy ocean aerial
- emerald green forest fog
- deep blue water abstract
- misty mountain coast green
- ice water monochrome texture
Visual qualities to look for
- Deep teal or navy as dominant tone
- Fresh green with strong contrast
- Soft white or cream negative space
- Minimal composition, high production quality
- Nature, water, aerial or abstract subjects
Expanding the range
Our secondary palette extends this thinking further, introducing warmth and variety while remaining firmly within the Marlborough visual world. The oranges, pinks, peaches and golds of the secondary range open up a broader set of imagery possibilities — particularly for social media, where variety and energy are important — without sacrificing brand coherence. When sourcing stock imagery, looking for photographs whose dominant tones echo either palette — primary or secondary — ensures that every visual choice actively reinforces the brand rather than simply sitting alongside it.
↗ Difference Made collection
Secondary search terms
- warm sunset mountain silhouette
- golden hour landscape minimal
- abstract orange blue light streaks
- warm amber nature bokeh
- sage green muted earthy texture
- sunset spectrum warm sky
Visual qualities to look for
- Warm orange, amber or gold as lead tone
- Soft sage or warm teal as supporting colour
- Sunset, dusk or golden hour light quality
- Abstract or landscape — not corporate
- High contrast, emotional, aspirational feel
Your Unsplash collections
All imagery is pre-curated by the Marlborough marketing team. Start here before searching Unsplash directly.
↗ View all 23 collections on UnsplashUniversal qualifiers
Append any of these to sharpen results toward on-brand, high-quality imagery when searching Unsplash directly.
Add to any search
Score an image before you save it
Tick each criterion that applies. A score of 80+ means the image is ready to use.
What to avoid
Imagery dominated by cool grey, deep purple, harsh red or heavily stylised filters. Busy or cluttered compositions that lose impact at small sizes. Overly literal subject matter — our photography communicates feeling, not product. Images that could belong to any financial services brand.
Upload an image for brand analysis
Upload any image and Claude will compare it directly against the 16 approved reference photos in the palette galleries above, alongside the written brand criteria, then return a score with specific feedback.