What's the best way to create a mood board for your photography?

1 Find your purpose

Before you start collecting images for your mood board, you need to have a clear idea of what your photography project is about. What is the goal, theme, message, or story of your project? Who is your target audience, client, or collaborator? How do you want them to feel when they see your photos? Write down a brief statement that summarizes your purpose and use it as a guide for your mood board.

2 Gather your sources

Next, you need to find images and other elements that match your purpose and style. You can use online platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, or Unsplash to browse and save photos that inspire you. You can also look for magazines, books, artworks, fabrics, or objects that relate to your project. Try to gather a variety of sources that cover different aspects of your project, such as color, mood, composition, lighting, texture, and emotion.

3 Select your format

Now that you have your sources, you need to decide how to present your mood board. You can create a digital mood board using tools like Canva, Adobe Spark, or Google Slides. These tools allow you to easily drag and drop images, add text, and adjust the layout of your mood board. You can also create a physical mood board by printing out your images and arranging them on a board, wall, or notebook. This option gives you more flexibility and tactile feedback, but it also requires more space and materials.

4 Arrange your elements

The next step is to arrange your elements on your mood board in a way that creates harmony and contrast. You can use a grid, a freeform, or a combination of both to organize your images. You can also add text, shapes, or stickers to label or highlight certain elements. Try to balance the colors, sizes, and shapes of your images and avoid overcrowding or leaving too much empty space. You can also crop, resize, or rotate your images to fit your mood board.

5 Evaluate your mood board

Once you have your mood board ready, you need to evaluate it and see if it meets your purpose and expectations. Ask yourself some questions, such as: Does your mood board convey the style, mood, and atmosphere of your project? Does it reflect your personality and creativity? Does it appeal to your target audience, client, or collaborator? Does it inspire you to take action and start your shoot? If you answer yes to these questions, then you have a successful mood board. If not, you can make some adjustments or start over.

6 Use your mood board

The final step is to use your mood board as a reference and a guide for your photography project. You can share it with your team, client, or collaborator to get feedback and approval. You can also use it to plan your shoot, select your props, choose your lighting, and edit your photos. Your mood board can help you stay focused and consistent throughout your project and achieve the results you want.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?