The Importance Of Mood Images For Headshot Sessions

Why Use Mood Images For Your Headshot Session?

I believe the simplest way to communicate an idea to someone is through image. Images can express tone, colour, mood and feeling and they can inspire and remind us of a time or experience we’ve had which in turn can produce other memories and ideas. Images can be a catalyst for clarity, creativity and experiment.

So what are “Mood Images” and why are they important?

So what are “Mood Images” and why are they important? In simplest terms a Mood Image is a Visual Image (photograph, painting, etc.) that represents an idea or feeling. It could be a model wearing a white shirt in a green field or a thunderstorm - both represent feelings and ideas and produce a “mood” and if a number of these “Mood Images” are grouped together they are commonly known as a “Mood Board”.

Mood Images are a key ingredient in understanding what my clients are trying to achieve.

In my business as a Headshot & Portrait Photographer in Toronto, Mood Images are a key ingredient for me in understanding what my clients are trying to achieve with their Portrait Sessions and because Mood Images (and Mood Boards) are so effective I almost always ask Clients to send me these in advance so I can get a feel for what they want their photographs to express and to help me design studio lighting setups that meet their needs.

Another reason why I like working with Mood Images is that through the process of searching and selecting images my Clients begin focusing on their Headshot Session in advance and start bringing clarity to how they see themselves and how they would like to be seen which I believe is an incredibly important element to any truly successful Headshot Session.

Mood Images are an amazing reference to have for any Actor’s Headshot Session.

Mood Images can also directly reflect how an Actor wants to be “known” both visually and stylistically. Often, when I ask Clients to send Mood Images they’ll send Headshots and Editorial Images of Movie Stars which is fantastic because it not only reinforces the tone & attitude of the photos my Clients are looking for it also gives me a hint as to how my Clients would like to be seen as Actors which is an amazing reference to have for any Actor’s Headshot Session.

Mood Images can truly serve as a bridge to help you “Fake It ‘Till You Make It”

Finally, there are two simple ideas that I think are extremely important and are the basis of so many things… You Are What You Think You Are, and Everything Can Be Seen Through The Eyes... meaning, if you don’t believe it, we won’t believe it and in this instance Mood Images can truly serve as a bridge to help you “Fake It ‘Till You Make It” by boosting your imagination and sharpening your focus to help bring you to a place where you can help create a successful Headshot Session that results in capturing The Perfect Image Of You.