The Art of the Mood Board: How We Curate the Visual Communication Tool Before Your Brand Session
At Lightbulb League, we use mood boards as a key part of our creative process, but not in the way you might think.
From the second that a potential client starts to describe what they’re wanting out of their photo session, we can picture it. Whether it be lighting scenarios, locations, styling props, wardrobe, or even poses and expressions, the visions are living rent free in our heads. Now it’s our job to translate our vision back to potential clients. If they’re into the ideas we have for them and they book us, it’s time for the fun to begin.
Communicating Creative Direction
A mood board is a great way to communicate with you before your session. It gives you a visual preview of the overall direction we are aiming for, helping you get excited and aligned with the look and feel of your photoshoot.
We’ll always ask our potential clients if they have any inspiration images as we begin the journey of planning their brand photo session together. We always like to hear about what your ideas are via visual inspiration, just know this:
We will not copy your inspo photos at your brand session.
Our goal is always to create something original that aligns with your brand, rather than copying someone else's vision. While some of the photos we capture may inherently share similarities with other images floating around the internet (it’s almost impossible to be truly original these days), we are inspired by you, your story, and your brand. Not random photos on the internet that have nothing to do with you.
It’s Not a Shot List
While a mood board definitely helps set the tone for your session, it does not dictate an exact sequence of photos. We do not aim to recreate images we find online because your brand deserves something unique. Instead, we use mood boards to inspire a creative direction, ensuring the overall aesthetic fits your brand while leaving room for flexibility and innovation during the shoot. For that reason, we usually keep from 4 to 6 photos for your mood board.
Our mood boards are primarily for our internal organization. We gather a collection of images from around the internet that reflect the vibe and elements we envision for your session. This helps us stay aligned and ensures that when we arrive at your session, we are fully prepped to create imagery that matches the feel we have discussed with you.
Our approach ensures that your brand photos are one-of-a-kind, capturing your essence rather than someone else’s. If you are ready for a creative and original brand session, we would love to collaborate with you!
