Halloween is one of the most photo-worthy holidays out there! Costumes, a spooky atmosphere, fall colors, and more let your imagination run wild. Halloween can be fun for adults and kids alike. It is the perfect reason to do a family photoshoot and you can even involve your pets! 

Halloween offers a wide range of colors and gives you the option of coming up with something different than what we’re used to seeing the rest of the year. Make a broomstick to fly on, a witch‘s hat, a jack-o‘-lantern, or recreate a monster that’s straight out of your favorite scary movie.

Costumes are a key part of the shoot. You can use store-bought costumes or make your own. They can be as simple as a white sheet with holes over your head or they can be more complicated. Costumes can also be sewn or put together with things you find lying around the house. Don’t be afraid to experiment! 

Halloween is a spooky holiday and offers many possibilities for photography. A mysterious atmosphere, scary elements, and even fake blood can give your photography that spooky feel. Other parts of Halloween can be less scary and more silly, more suitable for a family photoshoot. 

Horror-themed: If you want your photos to be darker or even scary, try setting out for the forest at dusk and use different props such as skulls or fake blood. Or, try a costume inspired by a scary movie or monster from a book or scary story. You can even try taking pictures of something paranormal. There are great monsters in the Witcher series. You don’t need to play the video game or watch the show, just search the internet for a great source of inspiration for some frightening costumes.

Fun for the whole family. Halloween isn‘t only about goosebumps and hair-raising terror. You can do something sweet and innocent. Halloween is also a time for witches and wizards, so you can even turn to the world of Harry Potter for inspiration. 

Take pictures of the entire family near a haunted house as ghosts in white. Or have the youngest member of the family dress up as an adorable pumpkin. Supplement your costumes with different props such as a cauldron filled with dry ice to create a magical potion effect. 

TIP: Just as an ordinary bed sheet works for us humans it also can make a great costume for pets. If you have a dog or cat that is cooperative, you can try putting a piece of white fabric on them. Be careful not to torture them, of course. Cut holes for their eyes and snout and be sure to give them plenty of treats. Friends and family are sure to enjoy photos of your little furry ghosts. 

Where to get ideas

Movies, television series, books, and games are some obvious choices for where to find inspiration for your Halloween photoshoot: 

Movies with scary or dark themes are numerous and make a great source of inspiration for your shoot. You can use different Halloween classics and try imitating them. Focus on its use of light and color and try to carry it over to your photography. If that doesn’t work, take a picture of a specific scene of the movie that you want to portray and use it as a template. 

Television series are equally inspiring. Unlike movies, however, the plot is developed over a longer period of time. This works great for photo stories. Try writing a script and developing your own story photoshoots.  

Books are inspiring in their own unique way. They are descriptive and not visual like movies or television series so there’s more room for individual interpretation. Some like this method more, while others prefer imitating a more visual style.   

Games are a perfect combination of all three categories above and are often very rich in story and visual elements. However, not everyone plays games, so it depends on what inspires you. 

Halloween-themed ideas are all around you. Just let the spooky atmosphere take over and dive right in! 

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Get inspired! Halloween portrait photography and edits