Halloween is just around the corner and whether you are a professional photographer, or just a momma with a camera, I think we can all agree it’s a magical time of year!
Below our amazing ambassadors have shared some of their best tips for capturing kiddos in their costumes this Halloween. Enjoy!
#1 – Find the right costume!
Jessica of Jessica Lynn Photography says,
Costume choosing can be super difficult for parents! The weather in late October can be so unpredictable and although you might have purchased the most ADORABLE costume for your kiddos, they might not be able to wear it in inclement weather. This year for Halloween, my husband and I actually allowed our daughter to choose her own outfit. She’s only three, so she had our help, obviously. However, it was so fun watching her choose something that SHE wanted. We helped her choose an outfit that you can add long sleeves and leggings to if it gets too chilly on trick-or-treat night!
And if you waited too long to choose a costume from the stores and now the selection has dwindled, don’t panic! You can always throw something together and build a costume out of scratch or from what is in your child’s dressers! This is what we did for our one year old son when we decided to dress him up as an old man for Halloween! A quick run to our local department store to purchase temporary hair paint, and that was enough to complete his outfit!
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
My boys are at those ages where choosing their own costumes is half the fun of Halloween! And oh boy do they get big ideas… Sometimes this means being a little creative and looking outside of the pre-made costumes for other options. A few years ago my boys wanted to go as Plants Vs. Zombies so we were able to pick up some great second-hand pieces and put my sewing skills to use to help complete the look.
#2 – Choose the perfect backdrop.
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
These trees in front of our house always seem to make for a great backdrop… the fallen leaves, the bare branches and the cob-webs stretched over them, all add some holiday flair to the shot.
#3 – Help your kiddos get into character.
Samantha of Samantha Hayn Photography says,
My shooting style is very laid back and go with the flow so naturally I do not pose children unless there is some awesome go to pose for their costume/ character.
For girls if they have a princess type of costume I’ll ask them to twirl or dance like a princess, and even sing their favorite song! And for boys most of their costumes will involve some sort of action, or specific go to “move” so I will prompt them to do an action that their costume portrays. In some rare cases you can even catch me doing some awesome ninja moves myself just to get a laugh out of them haha!
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
I like to get some shots of the boys together and others on their own. This gives them the opportunity to really get into character. Those individual shots often range from funny to spooky, but they are always an awesome opportunity to capture “the magic of the costume,” in my opinion.
#4 – Ask question to grab your child’s attention.
Samantha of Samantha Hayn Photography says,
I always ask lots of questions and shoot during that exact time,This gives you direct eye contact with your subject ( to the camera ) also all kids have the CUTEST thinking faces!
#5 – Bribe them with a quick treat…it is Halloween after all!
Tricia of Made with Love Crafter says,
It can be very hard to get your kids to sit even for a brief moment on Halloween night, but it can be magic if you can do it. This is my absolute favorite Halloween picture of my kids. The pure joy on their faces captures the moment perfectly. We may have bribed them with some early candy eating to get this shot, which made my middle girl laugh, but it was worth it.
Kim of Apple of Our Eye Photography says,
Costumes are so fun! For all ages. Ok, that’s a complete lie. Anyone who has a 1 year old knows that this is not always the case for the younger ones. Bribery and goodies are in abundance on Halloween, so that’s always a bonus! You have a better chance of getting at least one capture of them in full costume.
#6 – When all else fails, sit back and watch the magic!
Samantha of Samantha Hayn Photography says,
Halloween has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to documenting childhood. It’s simply a time to sit back and watch the little ones imaginations run wild and get into character!
Especially if there are multiple kiddos, I honestly just let them play and run around and be a fly on the wall, capturing their every move! Prompting the kids to run, chase each other, jump as high as they can, tickle each other etc. are all great actions to get them having a blast!
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