Halloween is SO close and I have no idea how we got her already! Did 2024 even happen?! This has to be the fastest year of my life. The week before Halloween is terrifying because I always worry my daughter will change her mind about what she wants to be at the last minute, lol! ANYWAYS I wanted to drop some tips for documenting Halloween photos here because I know you’ve either toiled away on a costume or spent a fortune and either way are also REALLY hoping your kid doesn’t change their mind this week and definitely need halloween photos of this costume regardless! So without further ado, here are some things to consider:
Get down to their level for Halloween Photos
The best photos of children always come when you’re photographing at their eye level. It’s also your best chance of keeping their attention!
Take pics before sundown
If you’re taking photos outside before trick-or-treating, try to use the light from the early evening sun (before sunset). The warm glow will make your photos pop without harsh shadows and be a lot easier to work in than the pitch black with street lamp light.
Let them play
Encourage your kids to get into character! Whether they’re pretending to fly like a superhero or casting spooky spells as a witch, this will help them “pose” more naturally than, “1, 2, 3, smiiiiile!” for more posing tips, check this blog post as well as this one!
Settings tip
If you plan to use your “real” camera, try these settings! Remember to increase your ISO as the day turns to evening to increase the light your camera can read, and monitor your shutter speed to make sure it doesn’t drop below 1 / 200 to avoid motion blur. I would open your aperture up as far as your lens goes if it’s getting dark too (think f/2.0)! Here’s a review of that!
Shutter Speed: no slower than 1 / 200
Aperture: f/2.0 or as close as you can get it
ISO: As high as it needs to go to make a properly exposed image (I am picturing dusk in this scenario, but everyone’s light will be totally different so I can’t say exactly how high you’ll need to go.)
Consider a pre-Halloween session
I know that may not feel authentic, but as moms, I think there are no rules when it comes to making our lives easier. If it feels like making it out of the house for candy is already enough of a gamble, consider just dressing up a few days early and snagging some photos! We still had tons of fun and I LOVE the photos (peep one below!). I hope you try this this weekend!
Need help figuring out how to capture Halloween Photos?
Consider registering for our DIY Portraits Workshop! It’s a 25-min self-paced, 100% online workshop that holds your hand through finding the right space, understanding lighting, choosing settings, tips for capturing authentic expressions, editing (+ a FREE B&W preset!), and where to print and frame photos! The best part? It’s designed for both phone and “real” cameras so you can work with whatever you bring to the table! You’ll be able to document these beautiful, simple portraits every season!