8 Halloween Photography Tips and Ideas:
How to Capture Spooky Images
Halloween is one of the most photo-worthy days of the year. With pumpkins full of character on display in windows and doorsteps, scary costumes, rich autumn colours, and lots of fun props, it's the perfect time to reach for your camera.
Yet, it brings its own challenges, particularly with the low-light conditions often associated with spooky Halloween photography.
With the help of Product Specialist Lizzie James at Jessops, we've pulled together our top tips as well as the best tools to use for capturing some freakishly good Halloween photos!
Contents
Halloween photography tips
Consider your location
Halloween photography is all about creating the mood, and your choice of setting or even the weather can instantly elevate your photos.
Lizzie says: "Your location does half the work for you when it comes to taking photos, creating a haunting atmosphere without needing excessive props or setups."
"Consider shooting in classic spooky locations like abandoned warehouses, forests or a dimly lit ginnel. On a foggy or overcast day, an ordinary park or street can achieve a ghostly feel."
Use props
“Incorporating props into your Halloween photos can add depth and interest to your compositions,” says Lizzie. “Think cobwebs, faux spiders and skulls.”
“Even if you don't have an extensive collection of Halloween gear, many common items can elevate your shots. Pumpkins, autumn leaves, old lanterns, and even candles can be easily found and make great additions to your scenes.”
“Remember, sometimes subtly placing your props, like a spider web in the corner of a room, can capture the Halloween spirit without overwhelming the scene or feeling forced.”
Use a Tripod
“Halloween often involves dimly lit scenes, whether it's the soft glow of carved pumpkins or the flicker of candles,” says Lizzie. “In these lighting conditions, you may need to use a slower shutter speed to allow more light into the camera.”
“But here's the catch: with the shutter open longer, even tiny camera shakes can cause blur in your photos. That's where a tripod becomes a lifesaver. This stable platform for your camera ensures you get sharp images, not just on Halloween but anytime you're dealing with tricky lighting situations.”
Experiment with motion blur
“Usually, blurriness is the last thing you want in your photos, but Halloween presents the perfect opportunity to embrace it,” says Lizzie.
“You can achieve motion blur by using a slower shutter speed and intentionally allowing some movement, either from your subject or by slightly moving the camera. This technique can be particularly effective for capturing images of people in costumes, creating a sense that they're phantoms drifting through the scene.”
“To do this, set your camera to a slow shutter speed. Ask your subject to sit or stand still, and once you press the shutter, have them move. The final result should be an image that looks a little transparent with a ghost-like motion blur. It's a fun technique to try with the kids!”
For the best results, remember to use a tripod to ensure that the stationary elements in your scene remain sharp while only the moving parts (like a walking person or a swaying tree branch) show motion blur.
To learn more about shutter speed, read our beginner’s guide.
Find creative ways to light your subject
Lighting can make or break a photograph. Lizzie explains why: "Avoid using the built-in flash on your camera as this can sometimes be too harsh and will leave your image looking washed out rather than scary."
"Instead, think about other ways in which you could light your subject. If it's portraits, try using a lamp or torch and lighting them from below. This will create some creepy-looking shadows and give your photos that instant Halloween feeling."
You could even use a hand-held LED light wand, perfect for manoeuvring around your subject, allowing you to experiment with different shadow effects.
"Or, you could try lighting your subject or some props from behind, giving you a silhouette effect to your photos where you can then get creative with the outfits or poses."
Glow sticks or torches can also be a fun way to experiment with light painting around your subject; just set your camera to a slow shutter speed and start drawing. It's an excellent way to get the whole family involved, too!
Be clever with your editing
Lizzie recommends: "One of the easiest ways to give your photos a scarier look and feel is to desaturate the colours. This can be done in editing software like Photoshop afterwards or in the camera by playing around with the settings. The muted colours and darkness really help to add a creepier feel to your photos."
"Consider experimenting with black-and-white photography and search for subjects that naturally offer a lot of contrast, like pumpkins. Their vibrant orange colour can create a striking contrast against the darker or more neutral tones of their surroundings."
To learn more, read our guide on the best photo editing software for beginners.
Experiment with angles and perspectives
Don't limit yourself to traditional straight-on shots when getting into Halloween photography," says Lizzie. "Get low to the ground to make a carved pumpkin or a child in costume appear larger than life. Or shoot from a high angle to capture the hustle and bustle of a trick-or-treat street."
"You could even experiment with a fish-eye lens to capture a distorted perspective that adds a playful and surreal element to your shots.”
Read our guide on lenses to find out more.
Playing with different angles and perspectives can introduce a fresh and unexpected viewpoint to your Halloween photos, making them stand out in a sea of typical shots. Whether it's an ant's-eye view of a spider decoration or a bird's-eye view of a haunted maze, changing your perspective can dramatically alter the mood and impact of your images.
Experiment with filters
Incorporating filters can drastically change the mood of your photos.
Lizzie recommends: "Using coloured filters can cast a chilling or otherworldly hue over your Halloween scenes. These filters simply screw onto your lens."
"You could even try placing a piece of fabric or cling film over your lens to create a blur effect, adding an element of mystery and eeriness."
"To do this, softly drape your material over your camera lens and secure it gently with a rubber band. Adjust the material's texture and thickness to fine-tune the level of blur and experiment with taking pictures."
How to photograph pumpkins
It doesn't get more iconic for Halloween than a photo of a glowing carved pumpkin.
Lizzie says: “Just be sure to turn off your camera's built-in flash before you try to photograph it; otherwise, you might find yourself with a shiny-looking pumpkin that's lacking its freaky glow. Instead, increase your ISO or slow down your shutter speed to compensate for the lack of light. This can help capture the pumpkin's eerie illumination without overexposing your shot."
To discover more about these camera settings, read our beginner's guide to digital cameras.
"If you're finding the candlelight from inside your pumpkin not bright enough, try adding a few more or switch to using a torch or LED light. Just make sure you position yourself so you can't see the torch in the shot. An added benefit to using an LED light is that some give you the ability to change the colour of the light, too, so you can really get creative!"
"For a more detailed photo, try bracketing your images. This means taking several pictures of the same subject at different exposure levels. One shot might be a bit darker, one perfectly exposed, and another slightly brighter."
"By doing this, you give yourself options. You can choose the shot that looks the best later or even combine these different exposures using editing software to create a single, high-quality image."
How to take Halloween images in low light
Halloween night has an undeniable mystique, with shadows playing tricks and moonlight casting an eerie glow. But capturing those dimly lit moments can be tricky.
Here's a tip from Lizzie: "When photographing in low light, it's best to avoid the automatic flash, as this can wash out the shot. Instead, consider using a wider aperture, like f/1.8 or f/2.8, which allows more light into the lens, helping to maintain the scene's atmosphere."
"Another technique is to harness natural light. Position your subjects near sources of light, like street lamps or porch lights. This can give your photos a natural and eerie glow, enhancing the spooky atmosphere of Halloween."
The best tools for Halloween photography
"With its ability to effortlessly change colours, this LED light wand means no more fussing with coloured gels," says Lizzie. "You can set the perfect mood for your Halloween scenes easily, whether you're looking for a deep red or a hauntingly eerie green glow." "Plus, it's a hand-held tool, so you have complete control over where the light goes. It's also super portable, meaning you can take it anywhere your Halloween photography adventure leads."
Lizzie says, "this Canon mirrorless camera boasts a full-frame 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor. This large sensor size allows for excellent low-light performance by capturing more light and reducing noise, ensuring that your images remain sharp, detailed, and vibrant even when lighting is limited."
"Whether you're capturing the spookiness of a dimly lit street or the kids trick-or-treating on a dark Halloween night, this camera's sensor empowers your low-light creativity. And, of course, it's not just for Halloween; it's a versatile camera for all your low-light and general photography needs."
"This tripod is perfect for Halloween photography, ensuring your shots are free from camera shake and blurriness, especially when increasing the shutter speed in low-light conditions," says Lizzie.
"The sturdy construction and rubber feet also offer maximum stability on any surface, so you can capture your Halloween shots with confidence."
Create spooky Halloween images with Jessops
The key to photography is experimentation, so we hope you have some fun trying these Halloween photography tips out!
At Jessops, we have a wide range of cameras, lenses, lighting, tripods and supports, as well as accessories to help you capture your Halloween moments.
If you need more advice and inspiration, check out our blog. Or, if you have any questions or you're unsure about which product is right for you, contact us today.
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