Let me tell you something real quick: when it comes to my birthday, I don’t play.
Not with the outfit.
Not with the glam.
Not with the location.
And definitely not with the Pinterest board.
Now, sometimes I wing it, sometimes I don’t even plan-plan, I just go with the flow. But for my birthday this year? Oh, I knew what I wanted since November last year. Months before March even pulled up, and I made sure I got it.
This year, I planned my birthday shoot like it was a Vogue cover.
– Mood boards
– Two themes
– Birthstone nails
– A dress I saved for 10 years
And yes, Pinterest was heavily involved.
If you’ve ever had a photoshoot that didn’t feel like you, this blog post is your cheat code
I’m walking you through how I used mood boards to plan every single detail of my birthday shoot. Plus, I’m sharing both looks (with all the inspo you need), and maybe a free template so you can create your own birthday mood board like a pro.
But First, Why a Mood Board?
Listen, you can wing many things in life, frying plantain? making pap, last-minute jollof but your birthday shoot? No ma’am.
A mood board is what turns scattered ideas into a real, intentional look. It’s like your event’s personal vision board, it brings together all the elements of your look, and story in one place.Whether it’s on Pinterest, Canva, or even a folder of saved IG posts, it helps:
- Define your birthday shoot aesthetic
- Communicate your vision clearly to your glam team
- Avoid waking up the morning of your shoot wondering, “Wait what are we doing again?”
- Get you excited and aligned before the big day
Trust me, having a mood board made the entire planning process seamless and gave me the confidence that everything would come together beautifully.
I used Pinterest (shout out to the OG mood board platform) and created separate boards for each look: the Victorian theme, and the sporty-but-soft tennis concept.
Mood Board 1: Victorian Glam & A Dress with a Story
Now, this wasn’t just a random dress I picked up from Instagram. This was a dress my mom gave me over 10 years ago.
She handed to me back when I was so skinny it practically slipped off my shoulders. It never fit, so I never wore it. Not once. But my mum, in all her motherly foresight, refused to give it away or sell it. “Jummy, one day you’ll wear this on a red carpet,” she said with a smile. And somehow, that dress waited quietly, patiently for its moment. March 2025 was that moment. A Victorian-style, backless beauty with dramatic sleeves and a cinched bodice, the kind of dress that demands a fan, a fainting couch, and a spotlight.
The Details:
- Dress: Vintage Victorian, backless, gifted by my mother
- Hair: Pixie cut, to balance the drama of the dress, inspired by Ayra Starr
- Makeup: Soft glam, flushed cheeks, romantic tones
- Earrings: Statement, but still elegant
- Location: studio with dark tones
Photos from the Shoot
Mood Board 2: Tennis Girl Era🎾
I play tennis. It’s one of my favorite things. So I thought why not let that part of me show up too?
This second look was for the sporty, carefree version of me who loves movement, power poses, and catching golden hour in a pleated tennis skirt. The theme: elevated sporty chic. Think: Venus Williams meets editorial glam.
Mood Board Sneak Peek:
The Details
- Theme: Sporty & playful
- Outfit: Classic tennis look, pleated skirt, red top, maybe a visor
- Hair: Pixie cut, inspired by Ayra Starr
(and yes, I showed my stylist her pic and said give me this exact look) - Makeup: Light, glowy, natural
- Location: An actual tennis court (because… details!)
Photos from the Shoot
Aquamarine Nails for a March Queen
Let’s talk nails. Because if your fingers are in every photo, they better be saying something.
Being born in March, I had to incorporate my birthstone: Aquamarine. I knew I wanted my nails to subtly reflect that cool, bluish hue. I found the perfect design, sent it to my nail tech, and she completely ate. The results? Classy, gorgeous, and 1000% me.
So, How Do You Make Your Own Birthday Mood Board? My top tips
Whether you’re turning 21 or 40, a mood board is your best friend. Here’s how to make one:
- Start Early: Give yourself 2–4 weeks before your birthday to start pinning ideas and gathering inspiration.
- Ask yourself: “If this birthday had a soundtrack, what would it be?” Romantic? Bad b? Sporty? Soft girl? Once you get the vibe, everything else falls into place.
- Use Pinterest, Canva, or Saved IG Folders
Pinterest is perfect for visual storytelling. You can organize looks into boards for makeup, hair, dresses, nails, poses, color palette, locations. You’ll thank yourself later. - Be that girl who sends references to your glam team: Yes, you’re allowed to be extra. Send your hair stylist the pixie from Ayra Starr. Send your nail tech the aquamarine design from Pinterest. Send your photographer the pose inspo. Help them help you.
- Pick 1–2 signature details that mean something to you: For me, the dress from mom, and my birthstone. Those small personal details made the shoot pretty special.
- Stay True to Your Vision: Choose images and elements that resonate with your personal style and the theme you want to achieve.
- Download my free Notion mood board template: I even made a customizable birthday mood board template to help you plan yours with ease.
Click here to download for free
PS: (tag me if you use it)
Planning this birthday shoot was one of the most intentional and empowering things I’ve done for myself. It reminded me that celebrating yourself is a form of self-love. And when you create with vision, magic happens.
If you’re thinking of doing a birthday shoot, I hope my story, mood boards, and final looks inspire you to go all out and create something meaningful.
Meet My Glam Team (a.k.a. the people who made me fine-fine)
Hair: Styled by my baddest hairstylist The Chapel. Priest me the Ayra Starr pixie of dreams. I’m going back for round 2.
Makeup: Myself. I used to be a makeup artist in Lagos
Nails: Slayed by Yamari nails My aquamarine nails were giving March goddess.
Photography: The number 1 commercial photographer in Africa Fowosire Damilola Captured both the Victorian theme and Tennis photos
Styling & Coordination: Me (of course) + my Pinterest board.
Your Turn
Are you planning a birthday shoot?
Need help with your mood board?
Tag me if you recreate any of these looks or ideas, or shoot me a DM, I’d love to see what you come up with. I’m your birthday shoot hype girl now.
And hey, don’t forget to save this post or share it with someone who has a birthday coming up.