Mood boards for photographers, how important are they?
What is a mood board?
If you don't know what a mood board is, they're essentially a a collection of photos, quotes, colors, and more that signify a mood or an emotion that are used as references before, or during a photo shoot (or any kind of creative project). If you've ever used Pinterest, you're basically making a mood board!
Why are they so important for fashion photographers?
I used to think it was ok to go and do a shoot with nothing but a vague idea of what I wanted to achieve. I thought that over-planning took the spontaneity away, and made me less “creative in the moment.” I was so wrong. Moodboards allow you to envision what the shoot will look like in advance. In turn, this can also help you plan for organizing any gear, props, wardrobe, or scenery that you may include.
The more I planned, the better the results were. These days, whenever I plan a shoot, I put together a detailed document showcasing my idea. They're quite literally PDFs that run through my idea from start to finish.
How do I make a Mood board?
My mood-boarding usually starts on Pinterest but sometimes it starts on my desktop if I come across something online that inspires me and I save it. Sometimes it even starts with magazine tears!
I like to use Pinterest the most because I can add as many images to an idea board as I like, and then cull any that no longer feel relevant later.
These sections are often:
general mood-board
lighting
hair and makeup
styling
location
props
anything other than the above that feels relevant!
I am also sharing these mood boards when I am pitching the project with other creatives, think stylists, hair and make-up, model agents, etc. I also share these PDFs with magazines when I'm pitching ideas.
So before you do your next portfolio shoot, take the time to really plan it out. I promise that you won't regret it.
