We’ve all seen the Halloween photography ideas on TikTok by general photographers and influencers that usually start and end with pumpkin head portraits and sheet ghost trends.
They’re fine, they’re fun, but they’re so 2020.
You want your Halloween photography to stand out from the rest and I’m here to hand to you some genuinely good ideas.
Being a horror photographer, I have a decade and a half experience of creating spooky content, which is why I want to share some of my Halloween photography ideas with you today.
Halloween Photography Ideas: The Basics
Halloween is the best time of year, I don’t care what any of you Christmas lovers have to say, it is the best.
For us photographers, this is an exciting time to think outside the box.
Think about all of the cool costumes and fun props in the Halloween section of the supermarket, there are many ways to add a unique, spooky twist to your photos.
Before getting into the more advanced and creative Halloween photography ideas, it’s important to cover the basics:
- Time of day: If you’re shooting on location, pick a time of day when the sun is lower. While it’s not impossible to create spooky photos in harsh sunlight, it’s definitely more difficult.
- Lighting: Work with candles, mood lighting, coloured gels etc. to create a Halloween atmosphere.
- Colour Palette: Halloween photos often feature rich, warm colours such as orange and reds or they feature a distinct lack of colour. Try and decide which way you’re going to go with them before you shoot, it will help you edit the colours later.
- Gear: Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera for maximum control, but a smartphone can also work if it has pro mode. A tripod is essential for long exposure shots and I recommend a remote shutter if you’re taking pictures of yourself.
With these basics in mind, let’s get into the real creative Halloween photography ideas.
Using Store-Bought Props
You don’t have to spend a fortune or create elaborate sets to capture amazing Halloween photos.
Store-bought props are an excellent, cost-effective way to add flair and spookiness to your images.
Choosing the Right Props
When it comes to Halloween props, the variety is endless. Here are some simple yet effective options that work well in photoshoots:
Fake cobwebs: Drape these around furniture, trees, or even yourself to make your photographs look more haunting.
Fake skulls: They don’t always look convincing but you can distress them with some makeup and use your lighting and photo editing skills to make them look like the real deal.
Candles and lanterns: Adding a bit of illumination to your photos with candles and lanterns helps light your image without adding too much light.
Vintage style mirrors: I often use mirrors in my horror photography. Try to find a decorative style mirror that looks vintage.
Other prop ideas: Balloons (if you’re doing clown photos), pumpkins, tulle fabric, fake bugs & spiders etc.
Costumes
Costumes are an essential part of Halloween but you don’t have to go for the typical made-for-you costumes, you can easily put together something more DIY.
Look for second hand items, they don’t need to be new. In fact, it’s better if the clothing is slightly distressed and if you’re using staining items such as fake blood, then it doesn’t matter quite as much.
Paint some plain masks that are truly unique to your photoshoot.
Ghost images are better shot with Victorian style night dresses and vintage clothing. For some reason, a ghost in a tracksuit doesn’t have the same effect.
Use a Long Exposure for Ghost Photography
If you want to get into the more technical side of Halloween photography, long exposure ghost photography is a really cool thing to learn.
This technique is well used in my photography and it gives your photos a very haunting feel that far surpasses the sheet ghost trend.
How to Achieve the Effect
For ghost photography, you’ll need a camera with manual settings, a tripod, and a basic understanding of long exposures.
- Set up your camera on a tripod: Stability is crucial for long-exposure shots to avoid unwanted blur.
- Use a slow shutter speed: Set your camera to a shutter speed of anywhere from 2 to 30 seconds. This allows movement to be captured over time, which is the key to creating a ghostly effect.
- Ask your subject to move: Have your subject stand still for a few seconds, then move out of the frame. The camera will capture both the stillness and the movement, resulting in a translucent “ghost.”
- Experiment with lighting: Low light works best for ghost photography. Soft light sources like candles or dim lamps add to the eerie atmosphere, while keeping the background slightly illuminated.
Ideas for Ghost Photography
- Ghostly figures in a graveyard: Shooting in a graveyard with a long exposure will give your viewer a proper ghost like experience. Have your subject dressed in flowing white fabric.
- Have your subject keep their body still but just move their face: This will make the face blur and look very creepy.
- Multiple ghosts: By shooting with multiple subjects who move at different intervals, you can create a scene filled with ghostly apparitions.
Long exposure ghost photography is all about experimentation, so don’t be afraid to play around with different settings, lighting, and movements.
I usually find that a shutter speed of 2-4 seconds is plenty for me to create the effect that I want.
Self-Portrait Halloween Photography Ideas
Halloween is the perfect time to step in front of the camera and get creative with self-portraits.
It’s the one time of year that you can look like absolute shite and it’s celebrated. You can roll out of bed after 2 hours of sleep and rock a Halloween self portrait because perfect and pristine isn’t necessary.
Setting Up Your Self-Portrait
Use a remote or timer: Set up your camera on a tripod and use a remote shutter release so that you don’t have to run back and forth between shots to take the next picture.
Focus correctly: If you’re manually focusing then put something in your spot while you adjust the focus, then replace it when it’s time to take your self portraits.
Creative Self-Portrait Halloween Photography Ideas
Mirror reflection: Use a mirror to capture a spooky reflection of yourself. You can enhance the image by fogging the mirror or covering parts of it with cobwebs.
Silhouette: Position yourself against a light source to create a shadowy silhouette. This works especially well if you’re wearing a dramatic costume with a defined shape.
Double exposure: For a truly haunting effect, experiment with double exposure to layer multiple images of yourself in a single frame. This technique can add movement, make it look like you’re a ghost etc.
Self portraits take a bit more work, as you can’t see your results as immediately and aren’t able to adjust as quickly as you need to. Be patient with the process.
Halloween Makeup & Face Paint
Halloween makeup and face paint are key elements of the holiday, and capturing these designs in photos can lead to stunning results.
Whether it’s simple face paint, prosthetics, or gory special effects makeup, photographing this art form requires attention to detail and good lighting.
Tips for Photographing Halloween Makeup
Use good lighting: You want to be able to show off your entire Halloween makeup look, so use adequate lighting. In front of a big window, a ring light or a decent video light would work great.
Focus on close-ups: Get in close to capture the details of the makeup. Highlight specific elements like painted textures, intricate designs, or special effects (like fake scars or wounds).
Enhance the look with props: Complement the makeup by using props that match the character or theme. For example, if the makeup is inspired by a witch, add a cauldron or broomstick to complete the look.
Highlighting Special Effects
If you’re working with makeup that incorporates fake blood, wounds, or prosthetics, focus on getting detailed shots of these effects.
Use side lighting to create shadows that emphasise the texture and depth of the makeup.
The beauty of Halloween makeup photography is that it allows you to be as creative as possible.
Using Pumpkins
Pumpkins are the quintessential symbol of Halloween, and there are so many ways to incorporate them into your photography without having to do the pumpkin head trend.
Pumpkin Portraits
Lighting: Use carved pumpkins with candles inside to add some lighting. The glow from within the pumpkin can be used as the main light source for moody portraits or still life shots.
Pumpkin patch photos: Head to a local pumpkin patch for a nice autumn setting. Capture candid shots of your subjects picking pumpkins or posing with them in the field. – Not all Halloween photography has to be scary.
Creative Pumpkin Ideas
Floating pumpkins: One image I took for a client, involved me taking several images of me holding pumpkins in different spots around my client and then compositing the images together without me in them. I did this using layer masks in Photoshop.
Stacked pumpkins: Stack pumpkins of different sizes for an interesting composition. You can even paint them or add spooky accessories like tiny bats or spiders.
Detail Photos
Details photos are great storytellers. They add something important to a series of images.
Adding some detail shots to your Halloween photos will definitely elevate your collection this year.
Halloween Macro Photography
Use a macro lens or the close-up mode on your camera to capture tiny details like:
Spooky decorations: Focus on intricate Halloween décor such as spiders, Autumn leaves and cobwebs.
Textures: Photograph the texture of rough tombstones, decaying leaves, or dewy cobweb to add some context to your series.
Candles and smoke: Close-ups of flickering flames or curling smoke are always an interesting addition.
By focusing on these small, often overlooked elements, you can create a collection of detailed shots that embody the spirit of Halloween.
Editing your Halloween Photography Ideas
Editing plays a huge role in enhancing the atmosphere of your Halloween photos.
With a few simple tweaks, you can transform an ordinary shot into a chilling masterpiece.
Tips for Editing Halloween Photos
Desaturate colours: Reducing the saturation can give your images a cold, haunting feel, especially for ghost photography or dark portraits.
Increase contrast: Boosting contrast can make shadows deeper and more dramatic, perfect for Halloween colours that you want to “pop”.
Add grain: A subtle grain effect can give your photos a gritty, vintage horror film look.
Play with the channel mixer: Try adjusting the greens and blues in your images to mimic the colours of classic horror movies. You can also play with red and orange tones to enhance blood or add warmth to carved pumpkin shots.
Adding Effects
For an extra spooky touch, use editing tools to add fog and smoke to your photos. If you’re familiar with Photoshop, you can layer in textures like cracked glass to add something interesting to your shots.
Halloween Photography Ideas
Halloween is the perfect time for you to stretch your creativity and experiment with new techniques.
Whether you’re capturing the playful side of the season with makeup and pumpkins or leaning into the scary side with long exposure ghost photography, the possibilities are endless.
With these Halloween photography ideas, you can now shoot something beyond the trends and do something much more fun. Be sure to check out the 30 Day Autumn Photo Challenge to put some of these tips in action and tag #clicksphotochallenge or @clicksandconfetti to get your photos featured on the instagram page.
Happy Halloween!
