Anchor & details
Give a lead reference a large region; place up to three supporting references beside it. Fill the lead with the overall direction, then explain the specific light, texture or framing to borrow from the details.
Photography · Moodboard templates
A board worth
bringing to the shoot.
Six original layouts for a clearer visual discussion. Put the reference in the right place, and say what the team should take from it.
Choose the discussion before the grid.
A useful photoshoot moodboard pairs visual references with explicit intent. Put one image in the lead when it anchors the direction; give two options equal room when the team needs to compare them; use a sequence when the relationship between images matters.
The six layouts below are original practical starting points, not a survey of what photographers use most. They organize different conversations. Milanote’s photography guide describes hierarchy and explanatory notes; Adobe’s photography moodboard guidance connects visual direction to the wider shoot plan. A layout supports that discussion—it cannot establish a lighting setup, approval or permission by itself. Milanote photography guide · Adobe photography moodboard guidance
Six ways to
make the intent visible.
Choose by the question you want answered. Image counts below describe this composer’s page capacity, not a required formula for a successful shoot.
Reference wall
Six equal image regions on a page. Use this when references deserve similar weight. Give each image a distinct intention; six nearly identical images do not automatically make direction clearer.
Two directions
Two images side by side. Write what differs—palette, mood, pose or location—and the decision you need. Side-by-side placement does not establish that one option is better.
Three-part study
Three equal regions across one row. Pair them with three specific purposes, such as light, wardrobe and environment. Keep the titles explicit instead of expecting the reader to infer the categories.
Balanced quartet
Four references in two rows. Useful for a compact review of four related choices. Explain which qualities should transfer and which are incidental.
Vertical conversation
Three wide reference regions down the page. Give each image room for a full intention note. The sequence is manually ordered; the tool does not turn it into a shot schedule.
An image says more
with a clear note.
Name the quality you want to borrow. Record the source. Keep unresolved decisions visible. Then ask for feedback on the direction rather than assuming the board is approved.
Explain the reference’s job
“Borrow the warm palette, not the location” is more specific than “make it cinematic.” Notes help distinguish inspiration from a literal recreation request.
Keep the source attached
Record creator, source and permitted use where you know them. An embedded image and exported board do not grant rights to use the reference in other work.
Carry open questions forward
A moodboard can suggest soft side light without specifying a workable rig. Mark practical details that need confirmation in the brief, shot list or production discussion.
Compose with
your actual references.
SVG.js 3.2.4 constructs self-contained boards from your embedded JPG/PNG images. Each image remains uncropped, with its full title and intention. Overflow references continue on additional boards.
Loading the local composer…
The demo is original illustrative geometry. Uploads are decoded in this browser. The composer does not infer a style, generate AI images or validate a shoot. Changing source text, order or layout invalidates the previous boards; build again before exporting a visual handoff.
SVG ZIP includes every board, source JSON and full credit notes; fflate 0.8.2 creates the actual archive. Original images are embedded in each SVG rather than linked to external files. SVG remains scalable; raster references do not gain resolution. PNG renders the first board only; use the ZIP for the complete multi-board handoff. Full credits remain in JSON and Markdown. Visual export text uses Arial for portable rendering. Large image files and long notes increase export memory use. There is no autosave or tool image-upload endpoint; unrelated site analytics are outside that statement’s scope.
Give the board
a question to answer.
Pick a layout, fill it with intentional references and share the exact decision you need. Keep the wider brief and shot plan available when the discussion moves from mood into execution.
Are these the six most-used photographer layouts?
No usage study is claimed. These are original layouts organized around six practical review conversations.
Will all my references be exported?
Yes, a built visual sequence paginates references according to the chosen layout. The SVG ZIP contains every board. First-board PNG is explicitly a single-board export.
Can I edit the exported boards elsewhere?
SVG contains image, text and shape elements. The editor’s SVG support determines how it imports them. Source JSON remains the editable format for restoring this composer.
Does the board replace a lighting plan or shot list?
No. It captures visual direction and human notes. Equipment, safety, availability, coverage and approval need their own review.
Guidance checked October 5, 2026. Implementation: SVG.js (MIT) and fflate (MIT). Technical documentation is not evidence of photographer usage patterns.