What Props Should I Use for Halloween Photography?
- Smoke is an Ideal Prop for Halloween Photography
- Invest in a Halloween Backdrop
- Add Flash Gels to the Mix
- Traditional Halloween Decorations Make Great Props, Too
Photo courtesy of Smoke Effect
Halloween will be here before we know it. And if you have little ghosts and goblins to photograph, now is the time to brush up on your Halloween photography skills.
A question we often get is what props should be used for Halloween photography. In today’s guide, we’ll dive into that topic in detail, so you have a few surefire ideas for making your images as impactful as possible.
Here’s a hint…use smoke bombs from Peacock Smoke and Smoke Effect to maximize the appeal of your Halloween photography.
Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
Smoke is an Ideal Prop for Halloween Photography
Photo courtesy of Smoke Effect
If you ask me, the best prop you can use for Halloween photography is smoke.
Not only is smoke cost-effective (more on that in a moment), but it’s dramatic. A smoke bomb has so many features that can really elevate the quality of your Halloween photography.
Photo by Mina Hami of Photos by Mina (Facebook, Instagram). Used with permission.
For example, you can use brightly colored smoke to create an eye-catching shot.
Alternatively, you can use dark-colored smoke to create an image that has a mysterious and spooky vibe.
Regardless of the color of the smoke, it will add a beautiful texture. On the one hand, you might have puffy billows of smoke that look like colored clouds. On the other hand, you might have wispy trails of smoke that have the look and feel of a scary, misty Halloween night.
Photo courtesy of Smoke Effect
You can use smoke for all sorts of Halloween photography, too.
Put a smoke canister in a jack-o-lantern. Take a portrait of a person enveloped in a beautiful shroud of smoke. Add smoke to a creepy-looking landscape shot to elevate the Halloween feel. The possibilities are endless!
Photo by Eddie Giron (Instagram: Fashion/Family/Headshots, Boudoir, Cosplay; Twitter). Used with permission.
And no matter what you envision for your final image, the smoke won’t distract from the primary subject. That’s why it’s a perfect Halloween photography prop - it’s something that can enhance your shot without overwhelming the primary subject.
So, the question is, where do you get the best smoke on the market?
I recommend Peacock Smoke, which is available online at Smoke Effect.
Photo courtesy of Smoke Effect
You can buy virtually any color of smoke bomb you want at SmokeEffect. While you’re at it, you can get single-vent or dual-vent smoke bombs. They have wick smoke bombs, ring-pull smoke bombs, and packs of smoke bombs as well. It really is a one-stop shop for all your smoke bomb photography needs!
Peacock Smoke offers smoke bombs that last anywhere from 20 seconds up to 90 seconds, depending on the style of smoke bomb you get.
Photo courtesy of Smoke Effect
For example, if you need a ton of smoke for a shot, a dual-vent smoke grenade is where it’s at. But if you need something that lasts longer, a single-vent smoke grenade gives you about a minute-and-a-half to capture your images.
These are but two examples. Head over to Smoke Effect today to check out their complete line of Peacock Smoke.
Invest in a Halloween Backdrop
Image Credit: Amazon
If you have a lot of Halloween portraits to make, you might consider investing in a Halloween backdrop. This is an especially good idea if you’re photographing an event with children because it gives you the opportunity to have a contained area where you can control the background and lighting for your portraits.
You can get Halloween-themed backdrops from a variety of places. Kate Backdrop is popular, as is Fox Backdrops. You can even find Halloween photography backdrops at Walmart and Amazon.
As with the smoke bombs discussed earlier, there’s a ton of variety in Halloween photography backdrops. This includes the subject matter of the backdrop, the size and weight of the backdrop, the material, and the quality, to name a few features.
If you’re considering getting a Halloween backdrop to use as a prop, it’s a good idea to get a backdrop that comes with a floor. When photographing larger groups, having a backdrop that extends onto the floor ensures that you don’t see the flooring underneath in the foreground of the shot.
Another thing to think about is the durability of the product. Halloween photography backdrops might only be used a few weeks out of the year, but they will be subject to a ton of traffic over the course of those few weeks. Look for backdrops that are thick for improved durability. For added measure, get a backdrop that is easy to clean and easy to store, too.
Add Flash Gels to the Mix
Another prop you can use to improve the visual appeal of your Halloween photography is flash gels.
Heck, you can use colored cellophane if you don’t want to invest in flash gels - you’ll get the same effect!
Adding colored cellophane or a flash gel to your Halloween photography gear enables you to create distinct moods by altering the color of the flash. Just like with smoke bombs, colored flash gels allow you to customize the look of the image with virtually any color you want.
Using flash gels as a prop requires a little experimentation, though. Take time to work with different colors of gels to see how they affect the mood of your shots. Also work on how many layers of gels you need - in some instances, one gel might be fine, but in others, you might need several layers to get the desired effect.
You can use flash gels or cellophane with an on-camera flash, speedlite, off-camera flash, and so on, so no matter what your setup, this Halloween photography prop will work just fine.
Traditional Halloween Decorations Make Great Props, Too
Photo by Albert Cain (Instagram, TikTok). Used with permission.
Of course, the decorations you have to spruce up your home for Halloween can make excellent props for your photography.
Pumpkins, masks (like the one shown above), and fake spiders can all add that Halloween vibe to your Halloween photography. Ghosts, goblins, and witches can also be used as props.
But, as I said before, for my money, smoke bombs are where it’s at for Halloween photography. They create beauty and mystery all at the same time, and they do so without detracting from the details of the subject. It’s a win-win!
If you’re not sure how to implement smoke bombs into your Halloween photography workflow, check out our other Halloween photography tutorial, as well as our guide to getting started in smoke bomb photography.