Mood boards, inspiration palettes, and brainstorming canvases... these things are not new to me. As someone who studied and practiced design for years before I was a photographer, we used to churn these things out day in day out as we undertook our projects to help us think more creatively and to keep all our random ideas tied to the original theme. Now, as a wedding photographer, I can't emphasize enough the importance of these things, and I can't encourage my brides enough to really let their imaginations and creative juices run loose while planning their wedding by doing an inspiration board.

Inspiration boards really help to tie in all the pretty little details and visual aspects of their big day together in a beautiful cohesive theme, so that at the end of it all, you get a gorgeous wedding, and everything photographs wonderfully because it has all been planned and laid out neatly according to a colour palette and visual theme. No more random style choices spilling across your wedding day and just getting 'so-so' photos :) As a photographer, I find that brides who have done their homework and made inspiration boards, and ensured that all their purchases, choices, and designs for their wedding day always fit and tie back into their theme/inspiration board, always get the prettiest (and I mean PRETTIEST!!) photos at the end of the day. And who doesn't want that? :)

So, as a little treat for all of you this monday, to brighten up your screens, and to inspire you brides out there a little, I've decided to post up this sweet little inspiration board put together by my FABULOUS sister, Jillian :) She has always has the most amazing eye for detail, colour, and layout (she was already picking out clothes for me when she was just 12) and she loves weddings and photos as much as I do :) I personally think she did a fabulous job on her first ever Inspiration Board - and get this... she is only 14 years old :) Yes, that's right 14 :)

 

The below mood board, was inspired by the sweet and warm colours of summer. Think pink guava juice, beautiful sunny flowers, orange and pink hues in the sunsets, and golden sand on the beach. Who doesn't love summer and all its honeyed goodness :) 
 

 

 

- I dare you to not think of just 1 colour, but 2, or 3, or even 4 like the one above. You'll be suprised how beautiful some shades can look together with a bit of experimentation!

- As mentioned in last week's post, a well executed theme will be carried ALL THROUGHOUT the wedding (that means, your place cards, your invitations, your menu design, your flowers, your cake design, your table linen/cloth colours!!, your napkin and plate colours!!, your seating plan design, your favours and favour tags/boxes, your signage, your dress STYLE, your shoe colour!, and so much more! The more we see your theme in your wedding, the better it will show in your photos :) )

- Style boards work JUST AS WELL for your engagement/pre-wedding shoots!! :D My favourite shoots to date have been styled so beautifully. Remember Joe and Vivian's shoot? Check it out here to see what I mean by a beautifully styled shoot :) Or check out a sneak peek from the latest shoot I did just this morning which I personally styled myself from an inspiration board that was inspired from the colours apple green/brown/peach/pink: