Dark and Moody Photography Style: A Guide To Shooting and Editing

Photographers focused on creating an evocative, dramatic atmosphere in their work often choose dark and moody photography. This style is perfect for adding depth of feeling and a touch of mystery to your images. Keep reading to learn more about how to shoot and edit dark, moody photography that stands out.                                          

What Is Dark and Moody Photography?

Dark, moody photography can be used to capture almost any subject. To evoke a strong emotional response and an atmosphere of uncertainty and intrigue, this style of photography uses lots of:

• Shadows
• Low light
• Intense colors and dark backgrounds

Moody-style photography is often used to draw viewers deeper into a narrative. It can frame a viewer’s attention and evoke certain feelings that are difficult to pull off with light and airy photography. By playing with light and shadow, dark and moody photography is perfect for a creative vision built around nuance.

Planning and Pre-Visualization

It's essential to plan ahead for successful and evocative dark and moody photography. This style relies on soft light and dark backgrounds, which can be challenging to add when editing.

• Visualize the effect you’re after ahead of time. Before shooting or location scouting, make a mood board to review your ideas. Gathering images with elements of the dark and moody photos you’re after is a great way to detail your creative vision.
• Use your available light sources to create plenty of contrast between shadows and highlights, and really use that negative space. Plan your shoot time around the golden hour or overcast conditions.
• Choose a location that naturally lends itself to a moody aesthetic. If you use props, make sure they complement the tone without overwhelming the scene.

Shooting Techniques for Dark and Moody Landscapes

When the light is too low for mainstream photography, moody images are a good go-to. For the best low-light conditions, plan to shoot around twilight or dawn — or wait for cloudy days. By shooting on dark days or a little before or after peak golden hour, you’ll have conditions that naturally produce softer light and deeper shadows.

Dark clouds can be an incredible backdrop to add drama to a photo shoot. Notice how dark clouds can cast shadows across a landscape and use these unique lighting conditions to create depth and intrigue.

Really learn to play with negative space. It can create isolated, contemplative subjects that are perfect for moody photography. When shooting two subjects in one frame, using empty space can also create feelings of intimacy, which is ideal for dark and moody wedding photography.

Editing Techniques for Dark and Moody Portraits

To nail that moody vibe, consider desaturating your colors or changing the hue for a cooler, more somber palette. Portra Original is a great preset pack for this, as it will even out skin tones while letting you shift colors to match your vision.

You can also up the contrast with a preset pack like Portra Pushed, which creates highlights that make key colors pop without sacrificing shadow.

Boosting shadows with a preset like Portra 400+1 can deepen darker areas while carefully taming highlights for perfect contrast, adding depth to any subject, particularly portraits.

Use color grading when editing your images for a unified and consistent tone. While cool tones can often enhance a moody atmosphere, experimenting with warmer hues can also produce breathtaking photos.

Advanced Techniques With Presets and Edits in Photoshop

To fine-tune your exposure, dodge to lighten specific areas and burn to darken others. This technique can add just the right depth and texture to your moody image.

Local contrast can do the same, so experiment with tools like the clarity slider or high-pass filter. These will make the textures in an image feel more pronounced. Another great method is to sharpen key details to create drama or add emphasis.

Achieve Consistency With Dark and Moody Photography

The best way to achieve consistent results is to use careful color grading, contrast adjustments, and other specific techniques to find your definitive look.

Presets like those in the new Night + Day Preset Pack for Lightroom can simplify the process. Each preset can help you get consistent, polished results in a fraction of the time required for manual edits. It’s one of the best ways to develop a cohesive and easily recognizable dark and moody style.

Image selection matters, too. When creating a portfolio, carefully choose images that work well together, creating a visual narrative. Images with a sense of continuity will evoke similar feelings in a viewer, making them more powerful and memorable.

Become a Dark and Moody Photographer Today

Looking to join the dark side and create moody images full of emotional impact that resonate with your audience? At Mastin Labs, you’ll find a carefully developed range of presets designed specifically for this powerful aesthetic.