Trying to recreate this type of collage effect

[ocp_81854413]

Im looking to recreate this type of photo collage effect.(https://i.imgur.com/WNPlUVc.jpg)

I managed to create a basis for the design to attempt it, but it shows up as 1 single image.(https://i.imgur.com/qmDUj3G.jpg)

But Im at a complete loss as to what to do next, this is the result Im trying to get, from the image you can see placing the image in the top part, auto places the image into the lower framed section. (https://i.imgur.com/zRI2UP9.jpg

Im looking to get each layer to have it's own section of the image. Im a PS newbie and Im just not sure how to get each layer to represent it's own portion of the image. I should point out that Im looking to create a template. So Im not looking to add each image separately but add one image so it applies to all layers.  Iv tried playing around with layer 9, the image layer, as a smart object and clipping mask, just not sure if that's even the right thing to do. Looking for advice. I can upload the PSD of what I have for now but a detailed process of what I need to do would be awesome. Thanks

[Chuck Uebele]

This looks like you just take the rectangular marquee tool and create a selection of an area you want as part of the collage. press ctrl/cmd-J to put that selection onto a new layer. You can then transform it - make it bigger or smaller and move it around to position it with the move tool. Go back to the original layer and repeat as many times as you want. When you've created all the layers/images that you want, select one and use the layer styles to create a drop shadow. Copy and paste this layer style to the other layers.

[Nancy OShea]

IMO, these kinds of techniques work best on faces because they are recognizable to us as faces.  Even when they are mixed up & distorted, it's still a face.  Other objects don't have quite the same impact.

[Chuck Uebele]

I agree, Nancy. A lot of the stuff I do makes images hard to recognize, and I need to look for simple recognizable subjects. I did something similar to this with a script that displaced tiles of on image. Used in on an image of my father, who wasn't the easiest person to get to know, so it seemed to fit with a photo of him.

[Nancy OShea]

Very cool.  I also like what your script did to the plaid shirt. 

No scripts on this,  I did it all manually.  It's OK for what it is but I think a face would have made a better subject.

[Chuck Uebele]

That's neat, Nancy!

[Norman Sanders]

I believe a small but indispensible element (as seen in the first image) is a Drop Shadow for each fragment. It accents the separation of images. You might even experiment with a very gentle Bevel & Emboss