How to Create a Pinterest Mood Board to Share with Your Photographer
Planning a photo session can be just as exciting as the shoot itself — and one of the best ways to communicate your vision is through a Pinterest mood board. Whether you're preparing for family photos, a senior session, engagement portraits, or branding imagery, a curated Pinterest board helps you visually express your style, preferences, and ideas with your photographer.
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to create a Pinterest mood board, what to include, and how it can help make your session everything you’re dreaming of.
Why Create a Mood Board for Your Photo Session?
Photographers are visual storytellers — and having a visual reference makes it easier to get on the same page. A Pinterest board helps:
Show your style and aesthetic (moody, bright, candid, posed, etc.)
Communicate color palettes you’re drawn to
Highlight outfits, locations, and props you love
Set the tone and vibe of your session
Even if you're not sure how to describe what you want in words, pictures can say it for you.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Pinterest Mood Board
1. Create a New Board
Log into your Pinterest account (or create one if you don’t have it).
Click the “+” icon and choose “Board.”
Give it a clear name like Fall Family Photo Inspiration or Engagement Session Mood Board.
✅ Tip: You can set your board to private if you’d like to keep it between you and your photographer.
2. Start Pinning
Use the Pinterest search bar to look for inspiration. Try terms like:
“Family photo outfits fall”
“Golden hour engagement shoot”
“Senior pictures outdoors”
“Lifestyle branding photography”
“Neutral family photo color palette”
As you find photos that reflect your vision, pin them to your board. Don’t overthink it — pin anything that catches your eye!
✅ Tip: You can also pin from outside websites by using the Pinterest browser extension.
3. Curate Your Board
Once you’ve collected a variety of images, go back through and refine your board:
Delete anything that doesn’t truly match your vision
Look for themes: Are you drawn to a certain color palette, editing style, or pose?
Add notes to pins to explain what you like about them (e.g., “Love this lighting!” or “This outfit color combo is perfect”).
This helps your photographer understand not just what you like — but why you like it.
4. Organize (Optional)
If you're feeling extra organized, create sections within your board for:
Outfit inspiration
Poses you like
Location ideas
Lighting/mood
Props or styling
This step isn’t necessary, but it can make your board more readable.
5. Share It With Your Photographer
Once your board is ready:
Click “Share” at the top of the board
Copy the link or invite your photographer via email or Pinterest username
Let them know you’ve created a board, and don’t be afraid to talk through it during your planning call or consultation. It’s a great jumping-off point for discussing creative direction.
What to Include in Your Pinterest Mood Board
Here’s a quick checklist of what’s helpful to include:
✅ Color palettes or outfit ideas
✅ Photo styles you love (candid, posed, editorial, etc.)
✅ Mood or lighting inspiration (soft light, bold contrast, golden hour, etc.)
✅ Location inspiration (fields, beaches, city, studio, etc.)
✅ Hair and makeup styles (if applicable)
✅ Props or details (blankets, florals, signs, etc.)
What Not to Worry About
You don’t need to match exact poses or recreate a photo down to every detail. The mood board is meant to inspire, not restrict. Your photographer will use it to get a feel for your vision and then guide the session in a way that’s natural and unique to you.
✅ Pro Tip: Be open to collaboration! Your photographer will bring their own creativity and style to the session — your mood board simply helps them understand your preferences before they start clicking the shutter.
Inspiration, Not Imitation
Remember: The goal of a Pinterest mood board is to inspire, not to duplicate. Lighting, weather, locations, and personalities all vary, and your final photos will have their own beauty and authenticity. Think of your board as a shared creative language — it helps your photographer understand your vibe so they can bring it to life in their own unique way.
Let’s Bring Your Vision to Life!
Once your mood board is complete, I’d love to take a look! I encourage all of my clients to share their inspiration — it helps us collaborate and design a session that feels true to you. Whether you have a fully fleshed-out vision or just a few ideas to start with, I’m here to help bring it to life through beautiful, meaningful imagery.
Have a photo session coming up? Let’s start planning!
Share your Pinterest mood board with me, and we’ll make some magic together.
