If you’re like many parents, your phone’s camera roll is probably filled with photos of your kids. And who could blame you, because your kids are pretty damn cute, if you do say so yourself. While you don’t need a reason to take, say, 26 photos of your baby eating carrots for the first time, a holiday like Halloween gives you an excuse to take even more images. But unless you know how to take great Halloween photos with your phone, you might wind up with horrifying images instead (and not in a good way). Here are some tricks to making those Halloween pics truly a treat.
Forget The Flash
Trick-or-treating poses a photo challenge for even the most prolific of photographers. It’s dark, and getting an image of your child dressed up as Bluey might wind up as a blur. But back up from using the flash on your phone, since it will most likely blind your babe, but also blow out the image. Instead, hold your phone steady as you attempt to memorialize the moment. The result: a photo that allows you to capture the details in your child’s costume without creating a separation between the subject and the background.
Get Action Shots
Not every Halloween image has to be of your tiny truck driver cheesing directly at the camera. Consider action shots instead, like your child stopping to look at a decorated door or that adorable look on their face when they realize that they’ve scored full-size candy bars.
Pick Portait Mood
When blurring out the background is your photography goal, avoid the Photo setting and skip straight to Portrait. This option on your phone allows for a moodier image by making everything (and everyone) and can create a hazy, dream-like vibe, which is perfect for Halloween.
Stand Still To Get The Best Halloween Photos
Sure, Halloween night is sure to provide some spooky moments, you don’t want to look at your camera roll later to find some truly sinister pics. So learn to focus your energy (and your images) on getting crisp shots. Try standing still for an extra second or two so that the camera has time to acclimate.
Look For The Light
If you thought that you’ll be in the pitch darkness as you knock on all those doors, think again. There’s light everywhere on Halloween, from streetlights to porch lights and everything in between. So look for places that offer some additional light (like street lights or porches) and snap some shots of your child. You can have them stand in front of the light to create a halo effect, from the side to add drama, or in front so everyone can see their chocolate covered mouth.
Consider Going Earlier
It might be tempting to ring those doorbells when the stars start to twinkle in the sky. Thing is, you might wind up with a lot of images that are just, well, dark. Squinting to see if your child is even in the shot can be frustrating, and that’s why you should think about going outside a little earlier. Not only will an earlier trick-or-treating sesh yield better images, but (woot), it means you can get home sooner, too.
Snap A Shot Before They Leave
Let’s face it: things happen on Halloween. Your kid takes a tumble on the sidewalk, and rips their Rapunzel costume, or your child dressed as Anxiety from Inside Out 2 spills some grape juice on themselves (and cause you anxiety instead). To make sure that you get some pristine pics, take a shot or two before leaving your house. You’ll know that you already have photos of your child in their costume and won’t have to worry about getting The Shot once the day is done.
Don’t Forget The Pre Halloween Pics, Too
If you thought that Halloween really starts when your child dons their costume and is ready to go out the door, think again. Getting pics of your child putting on their fairy wings for the first time or holding their trick-or-treat bag are all fun photos that you’ll wish you had taken. Set aside a few minutes to soak up their excitement, and take some Halloween photos, too, while you’re at it.
Consider Every Angle For Your Halloween Photos
It’s spooky how photos can look completely different depending on the angle they’re taken from. Obviously, it’s easier to photograph your child facing downwards, but doing so has a tendency to make anyone look like their head is wayyy too big for their bodies. For some photos, squat down to your child’s eye level. Although it might not be easy to get back up again, the Halloween photos you’ll end up with will be worth the extra effort.
Zoom In On The Details
Getting pictures of your costumed kiddo from every imaginable angle is customary come Halloween, but sometimes the sweetest moments aren’t always the most obvious ones. For example, imagine Halloween through your child’s eyes. but sometimes the sweetest shots are the unplanned ones. From your child’s itty bitty hand holding some candy to the glitter on your Elsa’s eyes, you might find that it’s the smallest details that will give you the most joy.
Halloween is one of those “I must photograph my child from every angle possible” holidays. Knowing how to use the camera app on your phone means that you won’t be able to Reese-ist.