July Mood Boards

Another month of chaos but we made it to the end! This month I reassessed my priorities and had to step down from PhotosUnboxed Magazine leadership. As much as I have enjoyed bringing the project to life, it is time for me to hand over the responsibilities to other capable beings. (Don’t worry, I still have my monthly article!) My modeling had taken the back burner, and I had an almost two month gap between scheduled shoots. Don’t get me wrong, the break was nice, but I’ve missed creating. I’m still burnt out, but slowly and surely I’m realigning and recharging. My goal for the month was to send out casting applications for the upcoming Miami Swim Week. Even if I don’t get cast, there’s always next year! My goal for July is to book at least one paid brand deal and make $50 in commission with affiliate marketing. As you may or may not know, I’m a brand ambassador for a small business called The Letter Shoppe. There’s 9 designs up for last chance grabs and the code DELETEDAY will get you 15% off (ends 6/30); otherwise you can use code JUNETREATS for 10% off! For other affiliate links and codes, check out my LinkTree. Okay, sorry, enough shameless plugs, let’s get inspired for our July shoots with some curated mood boards.

July’s birthstone is the ruby. This rich red gem is one of the most prized gemstones. It was once believed that rubies were created by a bolt of lightning. The ruby is associated with passion, love, good luck, wealth, and success. This gem is assigned to Cancer birthdays (6/21-7/22) and matches their passionate, fiery energy! Oh Ruby is a red monochrome mood board that makes a big statement (What can I say? I love a good monochrome moment). Like May’s Green With Envy board, this concept allows you to play with all different shades of red. Between styling, props, and location, there’s so many opportunities to work the color in. Although the background doesn’t need to be red, it’ll complete the look. Could be red paper backdrop or red gels for the studio, solid color wall or mural outdoors, or even a flower wall at IG photo op spot. Red is assertive, daring, powerful, and exciting, embrace it!

I promise I really tried to do a swimsuit board, but you know I can’t resist spicing it up. Tropical Temptress is a hot and moody swim- or beachwear concept, utilizing a green jungle-esque setting. This board was a little more difficult to put together because I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. My favorite shots included the use of plants to cast interesting shadows on the model. Dream situation for this concept, for me, is the addition of exotic animals. If you’re in the Miami area, Secret Gardens Miami is a gorgeous venue with animals and props to rent for photography and productions. It’s about $300 for a 3hr rental, which is the only reason I haven’t gone yet, but it’s definitely on my model bucket list!

Things have obviously changed a bit since the pandemic (the understatement of the year), but when I think of summer, I think of fairs and festivals. Milwaukee is well known for all of its ethnic fests and Summerfest of course, but I also think of church festivals. So for that reason, I put together a carnival inspired board, Thrill Ride. This is a much more lively and playful vibe than the other editorial-esque boards this month. Because festivals are an all day event, you’re able to get a variety of shot styles. Day time is great for cutesy fair games and food, while nighttime will utilize the lights of the rides for a major bokeh effect. Prisms are a great tool to bring along, or even some cool sunglasses. Styling can be all over the place -- simple solids and basic pieces or wild and bold. This would also be a great venue to shoot with other models. Have fun and be safe! 

Which board is your favorite? If you’re inspired by any of my mood boards, I would love to see the final product! Use my hashtag #KittensKoncepts to share your shots with me!