How to create a mood
Moody vignettes aren’t only for your Instagram feed. Imagine bringing a whimsy frame to life right in the centre of your living room. I won’t lie and say the process is simple. All you have to understand is that the final product may not look as precise as what was in your head. Don’t worry though. You might end up with something better! The basic process is having a colour scheme, a rough idea of the elements you want to work with and the environment you’d like to frame set them in.
You might ask the question - Well, how do I choose a colour scheme? The guidelines are simple. Work with 3 colours, out of which one is a neutral shade - whites, browns, greys and black. Neutrals break the monotony of colours and add a sense of balance to the final colour composition. As you get more comfortable with creating moods, you will start to balance multiple colours or even work with only neutrals.
How do you decide what are the best elements to use for a whimsical vignette? This really depends on the mood you’re trying to create and what are the best manifestations for that mood. Let’s take an example. I tried to create a subtle festive feel in the photograph you see above. Lights, candles and wine have always been visual markers of a celebration. The inclusion of food and some cutlery further reinforces a sense of ‘party’ or ‘festivities’ or even simply just ‘date night at home’ considering there are 2 wine glasses in the frame. First, choose elements that are obvious markers of the mood you’re trying to put together. Then make them look interesting through your placements and styling. Ultimately, bring these elements together for one visually appealing composition.
Where do you want to create this mood? This is usually the first question you tackle. If you want to create something special for a party that you’re having at home, find your niche. If it’s a styling project you’re working on, definitely make sure your environment has the potential to enhance your final composition. Lighting in this environment will affect your photography, so always make sure this is one of the first steps towards creating a moody vignette.