What is a moodboard?
If you don’t know what are moodboards, they are a great way to plan out your photography or shoot idea, and are indispensable for when you require a pull letter. They are a collection of images that reflect the mood, theme, and feel that you want to capture in your photos. Moodboards can be used for any type of photography, but they are especially helpful for fashion photographers. They can contain anything from magazine clippings, photographs, paint chips, fabric swatches, etc., all neatly organized into categories related to the project at hand.
Why are they so important for fashion photographers?
Moodboards have been around for centuries and have been used by many different creative professionals in various industries. Fashion photographers use them to give their clients a better idea of the mood they want to portray in their images. They show what colours, textures, patterns and styles will be featured in the final photo shoot.
One of the main reasons they are important is that they also give a point of reference to the others collaborating on the shoot, such as the hairstylist, the makeup artist, the wardrobe stylist, and even the model. Moodboards give fashion photographers a chance to create a cohesive look and feel for the photos they are about to take.
How do I make a Moodboard?
This won’t suprise many, but most moodboard have to start with an idea …. and images ! You can find them on Pinterest, which is one of the best places to find some truly inspiring fashion photos. You create a board full of images, and then you can cull out images that are not relevant anymore.
Once this is done, you can open any application and make a detailed document, doing different sections on each pages.
These sections are often:
- general aesthetic or mood
- hair and make up
- styling and wardrobe details
- poses and feeling
- location, lighting, colors
- props
- anything else that feels relevant!
Why do I create these documents?
Moodboards are an important part of the creative process because they help us to visualize our ideas and plan for the future, and also help your team be able to work towards the same visual aesthetic.
Moodboards can be used in a variety of ways:
- To get inspiration for new design projects
- To create a board with inspirational images and words
- To document the design process
- To collaborate with other designers on a project
