3 Examples of Moody Photography

by Teal Hankins, Photographer

A moody photo encompasses a style of photography that is meant to create an ambiance and evoke emotions from the viewer. Like all art, there is a message or feeling that the artist is creating to tell a story. Moody photography can be used in a wide variety of instances, from portraits to brand imagery, the possibilities are endless. 

The main tools in accomplishing moody photography are light and colors–which may sound obvious for all photographers, but there are specific ways to use them in creating the mysterious vibe of a moody photo.

3 Ways To Create Moody Photography

Below are three examples of photoshoots where we utilized moodiness, all in various and very different ways. I chose these examples because they show how “moody” is not a monolith. I hope these show how many different approaches there are to apply this style.

1. Using a Spotlight to Create Moody Photography  

First, we have very feminine, soft portraits for Kim, owner of Rind Skin. Creating moody photos is all about embracing low-light and darkness. This is an opportunity to be intentional about what is in the light and what is in the shadows. For these portraits of Kim, we used a sunset lamp – something you may have seen all over socials the last few years. We were able to create a spotlight effect and really leaned into the vibe this gave to lead our creative direction for the images. It doesn’t necessarily take expensive equipment to create images that will have you excited, it’s really all about playing with creativity. 

If you’re creating portraits, you can use a spotlight to highlight facial features and expressions, while keeping darkness and shadows for contrast. This play of light and dark is at the core of photography itself and makes for riveting images that tell a story and have an artsy ambiance. 

Different ways to use a spotlight to create moodiness in your photos:

• A spotlight can be used straight on, like in the rightmost photo above, to fully light your subject while also showing off the circular shape of the spotlight. 

• Spotlights are amazing for creating shadows like in the center image above. You can use light and dark to create shapes and symmetry. 

• Placed to the right or left of your subject, a spotlight can also be used to highlight specific facial features, like in the leftmost photo above. We had Kim face into the spotlight, which we held to one side of her face. This created shadows that show off her beautiful bone structure and created highlights on her lipgloss (my lipgloss is poppin’, my lipgloss is cool….anyone?). 

2. Using Ambiance to Create Moody Photography

Next, we have some cozy vibes for the amazing candle brand, The Melting Jar. For this session, we leaned into the nature of the product itself to guide us. Candles are used to create a cozy, warm atmosphere and our client wanted to create images that reflected that. The intention in moody imagery is to create an elevated, artsy effect. 

For the center image, one of our favorites, we decided to use a dark green, luxe, draped velvet fabric as the backdrop for three of the core scents in this client’s candle line. Color and texture help to create that moody vibe, and we love the way our art director, Jules, layered in eucalyptus behind a wooden platform to add in natural elements and create depth and contrast. 

For a few photos we used only the light of the candles, like in the left and right images. The cool-toned shadows contrast with the warm light coming from the flames to evoke feelings of nostalgia and calm. The key to creating moody photos is to not shy away from low light. An effective photographer knows how to utilize their settings to strike a balance of light and dark without sacrificing image quality. The product itself is still fully visible all while taking advantage of light and dark to create an elevated, artsy effect. 

3. Using Color to Create Moody Photography

Lastly, these photos were created to honor Hispanic Heritage Month and our beautiful Mexicana Art Director, Jules. We opted to turn off one strobe and moved the other to one side of our subject, making for a little drama from increased contrast. Moody images don’t necessarily have to be fully dark. It’s more about creating that emotion and vibe using light and colors. 

The center image shows Jules wearing all white with a red lip, against a rich turquoise. Even with these pops of bright color, we achieved an elevated, editorial, moody vibe using light and shadows to add to the atmosphere. For the left and right images, we decided to use a deep chocolate color, bringing some earthiness and darkness.

Here are some additional ways you can use color to create a moody aura to your photos:

• Consult a color wheel. Colors play off one another and understanding how they interact is such an effective way to create ambiance in your photos and further the story you’re telling.

• Rich colors with saturation and a darker hue are amazing for moody photos. They add interest without sacrificing the atmosphere you’re working to create.

• Earthy colors, like the rich brown backdrop we used above also lend amazingly to moody photos. Other earth tones you can use are deep greens, blues, purples, oranges, and greys.

Moody Low-light Photography Settings

Shoot in manual mode vs. auto so that you have full control over all your settings. The big three shooting settings to keep in mind are:

• Shutter speed: the speed at which the shutter opens and closes to allow light through. My rule of thumb is trying not to allow my shutter speed to go lower than 1/250 unless I’m deliberately looking for blur in my images or I’m using a tripod to photograph an inanimate subject/landscape.

• Aperture: Also known as the f-stop, the aperture adjusts how far you open the lens. Lower apertures, f/1.4 for example, let more light through as they leave the lens completely open and create a blurrier background, or more depth-of-field. To maintain sharpness, try using an aperture of f/2 at the lowest.

• ISO: This controls the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor and how much light it allows through. Higher ISOs mean more light gathering on behalf of the sensor, and can also result in more noise in your images. But still, don’t be afraid of using higher ISOs! Don’t be afraid to crank up your ISO–I usually just don’t go higher than 1250.

Find What Moody Vibe Works Best For You

These are my three examples of moody photography.  Moodiness is about evoking emotions and creating a story within your images. It can be accomplished using lighting intentionally, playing with colors, and combining the two in a variety of ways. I hope that through reading this, you feel compelled to try this style out for yourself. We love being a resource for photographers and those looking to have photos made for their business or brand, so drop us a message anytime with any questions or ideas you may have.