You might have landed here for one of two reasons: either you’re new to planning a photoshoot and need guidance on where to start, or you’re curious about how to create and send a mood board for your upcoming shoot.
A photography mood board is a visual guide—not just for your photographer, but also for you and your creative team. While mood boards can be used for anything from event planning to logo design or even personal shopping, this blog focuses on creating the perfect mood board for your photoshoot at Studio on Hampton.
In short, a mood board is a visual representation of ideas, concepts, lighting, colours, and emotions that you want to convey in your photoshoot. It’s a collage of images and colours that aligns your creative vision. Below are four reasons why we love for our clients to supply a mood board when booking with Studio on Hampton.
Four Reasons Why Photographers Love Mood Boards
1. Clarify Your Vision First
Mood boards are the perfect way to gather your thoughts and avoid creative chaos. They help you feel prepared and organised for your photoshoot, ensuring consistency in your images. Once your vision is clear, you can share it with everyone involved in the shoot, ensuring the whole team is aligned.
2. Spark Creativity and Inspiration
Creating your photography mood board is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You may even discover new marketing avenues or ideas for your brand that you hadn’t considered before. Plus, it’s exciting to see your vision come to life!
3. Simplify the Quoting Process
Mood boards act as a universal language. When you share one with us, we can quickly grasp your desired look and feel. This helps us determine the best approach for your photoshoot and ensures accurate quoting. From background choices to lighting needs, your mood board gives us everything we need to understand your brand.
4. Enhance Decision-Making and Save Time
A mood board simplifies decision-making on the day of your shoot. Whether it’s choosing poses or styling products, your mood board acts as a guide, allowing you to make the most of your time in the studio.
How to Create and Send a Mood Board
At Studio on Hampton, we prefer mood boards sent in one of two formats:
- Pinterest Board: This interactive platform allows you to save and organise ideas easily. By sharing a public link with us, we can click into similar images during the shoot, making it an evolving guide. This is especially useful for brand shoots with multiple poses.
- PDF Mood Board: A more static option, PDFs are a seamless way to share ideas via email. You can create a photo collage in Canva and save it as a PDF to send directly.
What’s the Difference Between a Shot List and a Mood Board?
A shot list is a detailed, written document that outlines every shot you want to capture. It’s essentially a checklist for the day of your photoshoot. A mood board, on the other hand, is a visual collage that captures the overall aesthetic, style, and mood of the project. It focuses on colours, textures, and inspiration to guide the artistic direction of your shoot.
Both tools are incredibly valuable, and often used together:
- The mood board sets the tone and style.
- The shot list ensures every important detail is captured.
Ready to create your mood board and bring your vision to life? Reach out to us at Studio on Hampton for guidance and support. We’re here to help you create your dream photoshoot.
