Costume Photo Tips

Photographing ghouls, goblins, and grown-ups

If you’re taking pictures of the living undead, you may find you need to rely on your flash to get sharp exposures. Remember that the best flash photos (especially when you use the flash built-in to your camera) are those taken close enough to allow the flash to light everything in the frame. And don’t forget to fully charge your camera (and flash) to make sure you’ve got the extra juice those flash shots will require.

Using an off-camera flash unit? Try putting a red or orange gel (or colored cellophane) on the flash to match your natural lighting and eliminate artificial flash tones.

Makeshift lighting tricks work here, too. Use a powerful flashlight pointed up and aimed at the face to give your subject a telling-a-scary-story-by-the-campfire look. Make the effect even more dramatic by shooting from below to make your monsters appear larger than life.

Quick tip: Don’t forget to get pictures of everyone with and without their masks! Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to identify people in your pictures as the years go by.

Creative Ideas

• Sporting an elaborate get-up? Stick your camera on a tripod and document your transformation through makeup, costume, etc. Try to maintain the same position in each photo to for a fun effect as you flip through photos in a slideshow.
  

• Silhouettes with jack-o-lanterns look great. Try getting shots of people holding lit pumpkins silhouetted against the sky at dusk. Remember to turn off your flash and use a tripod if you have one.

Courtesy: Photojojo