12 Unique Halloween Photoshoot Ideas For Adults (2025)

It may be all about dressing up in costumes and eating tons of candy, but Halloween isn’t just for kids – grown-ups can enjoy the holiday too! And one excellent, creative way to celebrate Halloween is with a fun and/or spooky photoshoot. In light of that, here are 12 unique Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults to provide you with the inspo you need to start planning a photoshoot of your own!

You’ll notice that the venues we mention ahead come to you courtesy of Peerspace, the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals. We share some suggestions on where to host your photoshoot since the setting is crucial for photoshoot success. You’ll see what we mean as we share our favorite Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults!

1. Go for shock value with a head on a platter photoshoot

Looking to take your photoshoot in a gory or perhaps slightly silly direction? Then this is a Halloween photoshoot idea for adults that you might want to choose!

You’ll need to cut a head-sized hole out of a large cardboard box, then find a platter (made of plastic or another more malleable material) that you can also cut a head-sized hole out of. Place the platter on the table with both openings aligned and stick your head through! Surround the platter with a tablecloth to hide the box. You can hide any gaps between your neck and the hole in the platter with a “garnish” like lettuce to make it look even more like your head is being served on a platter. You may also want to do corpse-like face paint for added spookiness!

And if you’d like to do this photoshoot in a photo studio where you have complete control over lighting, backdrops, and so forth, you can easily rent one by the hour through Peerspace. For instance, if you’re near Saint Paul, MN, this Twin Cities photography studio is an excellent option. It’s an all-white cyclorama photo studio, meaning you can get creative with the editing in post-production and create the effect you want.

2. Incorporate props for a more immersive experience

Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults like this next one are easy to execute because you can simply go to any party or Halloween store and buy whatever decorations appeal to you and that would work with the photoshoot you’re planning! That might be candles, a witch’s broom/hat, pumpkins, etc. – the specific items are completely up to you.

If you love the idea of posing amid a crowd of creepy mannequins, then Peerspace can help you out! Check out this haunted mansion with over 250 costumed mannequins in Las Vegas, NV and let the creepiness and creativity begin.

3. Wear gothic makeup

Whoever the subject of the photoshoot is – whether it’s you, a friend, a model, etc. — gothic-style makeup is an ideal Halloween photoshoot idea for adults. We’re talking dark lipstick, lots of black eyeliner, and other such dramatic elements. Check out this tutorial from YouTuber and makeup artist Pixy Makeup on how to perfectly execute a “glamorous goth makeup look.”

Mix your media and experiment with our spooky Halloween video ideas next!

4. Dress up in your Halloween costume

If you’re already planning on dressing up as someone or something for your Halloween costume, that’s a natural choice for the subject of your photoshoot. Even better if you bring your friends into the mix for a group photoshoot! The result will be super cute (or scary, if you went with a scary Halloween costume!) and will capture the costume you put so much work into.

5. Use photo filters after the fact

There are tons of photo editors out there that allow you to add creepy filters to your images. For instance, the AirBrush photo editor has an explanation of how to use their application to edit a creepy Halloween photo. They even have a collection of specific Halloween filters that will create a truly dramatic effect.

6. Use colored smoke bombs for a more dramatic scene

The blog Charlie’s Wanderings has one of the most incredible Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults that you might not have considered: colored smoke bombs! They write, “Adding smoke to a photo can have a really cool visual effect and even more so when it’s coloured smoke.” You can buy colored smoke bombs for photography like the ones she’s talking about from Enola Gaye as well as lots of other online sellers.

7. Find a spooky location that inspires you

When it comes to finding scenery that would make the right backdrop for your photoshoot, it’s a great idea to try to take advantage of whatever your local area has to offer. Keep an eye out for the perfect cemetery, haunted house, or abandoned building near you (just make sure you don’t break any laws while doing so!) care of Peerspace.

For example, here are our favorite abandoned houses in NYC and in Los Angeles that you can rent for a creepy setting for your shoot!

8. Bring your four-legged friend along for a Halloween pet photoshoot

If they’ll tolerate wearing clothes (not every pet will), dress your pet up in an adorable costume and have them be the star of the photoshoot! Everyone loves to see a dog or cat in a costume, so these photos will be a real crowd-pleaser. You can also take photos of both you and your pet in costume for some especially cute pics.

9. Go artistic with a Halloween-themed still life scene

The Photo Argus suggests a Halloween still life as a potential photoshoot idea: “Like Christmas, Halloween comes with a lot of decorations, such as jack-o’-lanterns, skeletons, and spider webs. Along with special drinks and candy, the holiday has a lot of interesting subjects you could use for spooky or lighthearted still life photos.”

If you’d rather not photograph people or animals, setting up a still life and taking photos of it is a great alternative that allows for a great deal of creativity. Peerspaces like this spooky burned haunted house in Los Angeles, CA may provide the ideal setting for your Halloween still life shoot!

Our perfectly spooky photoshoot ideas can also inspire your Halloween shoot!

10. Take your photos in a spooky forest

One of our favorite outdoor settings for a Halloween photoshoot is a forest. You’ll probably want to head out there at the right time of day, however – either early in the morning before the sun has fully risen, or around sunset when things are starting to get a little spooky. A forest in the fall with lots of leaves on the ground or with completely bare trees is an especially eerie setting.

11. Take some candid snaps at a Halloween party

If you’re throwing a Halloween party for a group of adults, it’s a great opportunity to take photos of friends having a great time while wearing their costumes. Make your way around the party and snap candid photos (with the subject’s permission, of course).

12. Play with light to create shadows and silhouettes

Another creative and creepy Halloween photoshoot idea for adults is to use silhouettes in your photoshoot. You can do this by taking photos of whatever you want to create a silhouette of (a person? A hand? A cat? etc.) through a partially transparent piece of fabric or other material.

If you want a really spooky place to execute this Halloween photoshoot idea for adults, how about this mysterious Victorian craftsman home in Glendale, CA? You can explore every inch of this Victorian gothic and spooky home, so you’ll have plenty to work with if you do end up renting it.

Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults: conclusion

As you can see, when it comes to Halloween photoshoot ideas for adults, there are plenty of mature, creative options for you. Start by booking the ideal photoshoot location on Peerspace that suits your aesthetic and then put these ideas to good use. And, of course, have fun!

Find unique photoshoot locations on Peerspace