Kids love October for Halloween but the month is filled with lots more fun!! Pumpkin carving, leaves falling, county fair, campfires, and even school parties, make sure you have your camera with you to document it all.

But Halloween is the grand event to end the month so here are TEN tips for improving those spooky night photos:

1. Get different angles of your trick-or-treaters - a wide shot from far away but also get some up close to show the details of their costume and makeup. Move to a different position or angle to get unwanted objects and people out of the background. And don't forget to get to their eye level. 

2. Not all photos need to be "smile for the camera".  Look for the moments of the kids taking in the excitement and having fun and not posing for you.

3. Take some portrait photos of your kids in costume before it gets dark... sunset is ideal... and take photos on the front porch so your house is in the background. The kids will look back fondly one day and say "I remember that house we grew up in!".  Include details like the house number or door decor and don't forget to add your family pet.

4. Skip the flash. Halloween and photos at night should look darker.  Use the street lights, porch lights, flashlights, or moonlight to create a more dramatic effect. Low light adds to the spooky-ness of Halloween.

5. Moments happen fast so have the camera ready.  Stand back and watch - no posing, no guiding - just let the kids do what they do and be ready for a great unexpected image.

6. For groups, encourage your ghouls to get closer to each other. Groups tend to have space between people but encourage them to get close and "pretend that you like each other".  It will help them relax, you'll get a great smile, and they will be a tighter group.

7. Take some detail photos of the evening to fill the mood -- decorations, little hands holding a candy bag, pumpkins, and a pile of the candy at the end of the night. It fills in the overall story for the day.

8. Encourage the kids to pose like their characters. Encourage the Jedi to pose with the light sabre, Dracula to take a scary pose, and princesses to curtsy in the gown.

9. Don't forget a few photos of the kids wearing their masks. The masks make for *perfectly posed* photo.

10. Turn some of your images black and white.  It adds to the moody and spooky feel.  Black and white is also timeless!  But, Halloween is also full of colorful costumes so take photos with bright colored backgrounds, like a bright blue door at one of the candy stops.

Your kids will surely remember the fun night of Halloween and their sugar-filled loot. Let go of any stress of the evening and watch them enjoying the fun. It will be full of TRICK AND TREATS!

I'd love to do a holiday storytelling session for you -- your entire family carving pumpkins together, making Halloween cookies, some play time at the park with the beautiful fall colors, or going Halloween costume shopping.  See your family through the stories that photos tell.  These memories will make up their childhood... And YOU need to be in there memories too, not always behind the camera.  CONTACT ME to learn about a Fall Family Storytelling Session.

Happy October!
Jennifer Crow
Documenting Everyday | Augusta Birth Photography