Have you started planning your Halloween photoshoots?

Have you started planning your Halloween photoshoots? I mean seriously planning. I know it’s only mid-summer or winter (depending on where you live), but October is going to come around very quickly. Depending on what you are planning on shooting, maybe it’s time to gather your team and start planning.

Inspiration

Grab a few friends, or your usual crew and have a few conversations over a coffee (or wine) and start to map out what you want to do. I’ve just done this with my creative teams … and I have three! Thanks to you-know-what I have not had a proper Halloween-themed shoot in a few years. So believe me, we are all SUPER keen. I’m not going to give away all my secrets, but we’ve got a couple of movie-inspired themes, some comic characters, and classic Halloween stuff. I mean really anything goes, right?

• Movies: Think “Ghostbusters,” “It,” “The Addams Family” or other fan favorites
• Comics: There are so many DC and Marvel characters floating around these days; there’s an endless supply there
• Standard Halloween: Pirates, witches, ghosts, astronauts …

.mgl-tiles { display: none; } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } } @media screen and (max-width: 460px) { #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cacfe .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } }

Planning

Work out dates that work for everyone. Decide in the studio or on location. If you are shooting on-location, pick alternative dates, just to be safe. Set up a day trip to source locations. Work out who needs to be where and when.

Who is your model/character, and who is doing hair and makeup? Is there anything special required to make the shoot work? What about gear, lighting, etc.?

Costumes, props and drops

What costumes, props and backdrops are required to make your shoot next to perfect? Do you or a member of your team already own it, or does it have to be borrowed, rented or bought? Can any costumes, be made, altered or reused from previous shoots. My tulle skirts are brilliant for that, mix and match colours. Paired with assorted corsets and tops. Hit thrift stores and find creative alternatives.

.mgl-tiles { display: none; } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } } @media screen and (max-width: 460px) { #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd { margin: -5px; width: calc(100% + 10px); } #mgl-gallery-634eb9a7cb6bd .mgl-box { padding: 5px; } }

Need more inspiration?

Check out some of these posts on Halloween shoots:

• Six Creative Halloween portrait ideas to try
• Halloween isn’t just for kids
• Great lighting concepts for Halloween
• Get creative with your lighting got Halloween

Just because October is a few months away, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun planning some spooky Halloween photoshoots!