The pumpkins are out. The air is crisp. The leaves have blanketed the ground. And now approaches All Hallow’s Eve...when the veil between our living world and the spirit world is at its thinnest and witches, ghosts and goblins venture out to walk amongst us...

Boo!

Whether you love the spooky vibes, seasonal decorations, or festive costumes, Halloween provides a unique opportunity for fun and creative photographs to marvel over the whole year. Read on for suggestions and ideas guaranteed to give you whatever Halloween mood you’re after!

Make use of all the festive props

If there’s one holiday that is all about the props, it’s Halloween! From grinning jack-o-lanterns to fluttering bats, dancing skeletons to clingy spider webs, black cats to scarecrows. And let’s not forget the bowls of colorful candy, the warm drinks heaped with whipped cream and sprinkled with spices, and the piles of leaves in yards. All this to say that this is the time to use the bounty of props and enjoy what both the holiday and season have on offer. It’s also the time when you can push the envelope and get super creative. Think about incorporating straw bales and cleverly placed skulls, candlelight, and smoke bombs, anything that gives you an otherworldly effect! 

Put that costume to use!

Another opportunity Halloween affords us is the chance to dress up...either for fun or to embody a character or persona we wish we could be year-round! And a lot of work goes into a good costume. And kids never look more adorable than when they’re transformed into small superheroes and princesses, witches and magicians, unicorns and vampires. These are all great reasons to have a Halloween photoshoot. Tell the story of your costumes and fantasies; capture your children’s creativity and interests; let yourself be a big kid for a while. And a costume photoshoot doesn’t have to be on Halloween night. It can be scheduled anytime, giving us another reason to dress up and put that costume to use before we pack it away.  

Capture the parties and trick-or-treating! 

Halloween is a time of activity...ghostly and otherwise!...and especially great for capturing action shots. If you’re throwing a party, there will be plenty of photo ops. Arrange for pumpkin carving and crafts, consider a traditional apple bobbing contest, or get a DJ for a dance party. Whatever you do to channel this holiday’s festivities, have a professional photographer in the wings so you can enjoy the moment while all the laughter and action are transformed into photographs. And if you’re taking the kids trick-or-treating, bring the photographer along! Porch lights and street lights will create the perfect ethereal mood as your costumed kids become the stars of their own flights of fancy!  

Pick a creepy or atmospheric setting

Location, location, location...especially at Halloween when it can be as wild and creative as the mood you’re going for. If you’re after something creepy, consider an abandoned building or city infrastructure (just make sure it’s legal and safe to be on the premises!), historical buildings (which may let you do photoshoots for a fee), or cemeteries (respectfully!). Want less creepy and more atmospheric, opt for a harvest festival, cornfields and pumpkin patches, or a decorated porch. It’s especially fun and clever to match your setting with your costumes, which can spark some inspiration. And remember Halloween photos don’t have to be at night time. They can be in the afternoon, with dramatic fall shadows and lighting working in your favor.

Conspire with your photographer

This is a chance for you and your photographer to get creative together, for you to show off your personality and for them to show their skills with lighting and processing! This is also an opportunity for some conceptual photography, telling a story and using symbols and themes to take your Halloween photos to another level. During the shoot, you and your photographer may decide to experiment with silhouettes, bare branches, spooky lighting, shadows, or elements of your costume. Depending on your goals and the setting, you might try double exposures and long exposures to get especially ghostly pics. During photo processing, your photographer can add more magical and otherworldly elements, like overlays and sparkles. Our online platform lets you chat directly with your photographer before your shoot, so start brainstorming those Halloween ideas now!  

Are you inspired to get Halloween photographs this year? We’re inspired to shoot them! Right now use code FALLMEMORIES to get $25 off! Check out our 450+ local photographers around the world, book a unique Halloween photoshoot, and get excited! Valid until October 31st, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

And don’t forget to learn more about Halloween, Dia de Los Muertos, and the other days that take us from October into November.