13 Fun, Festive October Photoshoot Ideas For Spooky Season

Looking for October photoshoot ideas to revel in the spirit of the season? October is beloved by many, because not only does it have those fantastic fall vibes that so many of us crave for the rest of the year, it also has Halloween, a holiday devoted to dressing up in costume, eating tons of candy, and enjoying everything spooky.

For photographers planning a festive photoshoot to celebrate this month, here are 13 October photoshoot ideas to get your creative juices flowing.

1. Take photos at a spooky mansion

Find a spooky mansion near you where you can take photos, and you’ll be all set for your October photoshoot! For example, this haunted mansion is home to over 250 customed mannequins, giving the venue an eerie vibe. Combine that with the vintage furnishings and low lighting, and you have the makings for fun and festive October photoshoot ideas!

2. Visit an abandoned location…

…Or rent a space designed to look like one. If you can’t find an abandoned property where you can safely and legally hold a photoshoot. This spooky burned haunted house and eerie cellar in Los Angeles is a perfect alternative, giving the abandoned vibe while being safe and easy to access.

The home itself was built in the 1930s and, for a truly authentic feel, it “was in a sudden house fire in 2016, and all that remains in the home is now used as a film and commercial location that is unlike anywhere in Los Angeles.” For your convenience, you can even rent camera and lighting equipment here for an additional fee.

3. Pumpkin patch photoshoot

There’s a reason this is one of the most classic October photoshoot ideas! Find a farm with a pumpkin patch near you and take a visit. It’s also a chance to pick some pumpkins for your Halloween decorations and hold a photo shoot, whether you choose to go in costume or just in your coziest autumnal sweater.

4. Use colored smoke

Colored smoke is an affordable way to add drama to your photographs without much effort at all. It comes in all the colors of the rainbow. Check out these smoke bombs from Enola Gaye to see what’s available to purchase.

5. Use Halloween-y props

Another one of our top October photoshoot ideas is to incorporate seasonal props into your photoshoot. You might want to use items like carved Jack-o-lanterns, candles (fake ones are an option if the place where you’re shooting doesn’t allow open flames), and Halloween costume items like masks and fake fangs.

6. Add Halloween bokeh filters to your lens

You can buy these types of filters, but you can also make them yourself. As explained by Fotodiox Pro on Flickr, “It’s as easy as cutting a shape in some paper, zooming your lens in and shooting a shallow depth of field out of focus shot of some small points of light!” Cool and creative, not to mention festive!

7. Use motion blur for a ghostly effect

Expert Photography suggests using motion blur or long exposure photography to give your photos a ghostly feel and disguise the identity of your subject. They write, “Place your camera on a tripod and take photos with a slow shutter speed. The slower it is, the blurrier your image will look. This is a great way to capture different movements and make your Halloween photo look abstract.” Taking these photos without the use of a tripod will amplify the blur even more.

8. Desaturation and other photo editing tricks can make for extra spooky pics

Another suggestion from Expert Photography is to remove color from your photos to make them look older, and therefore creepier. “If you look up spooky Halloween photography online, you’ll notice that most of them aren’t that colorful. The older a photo looks, the spookier it becomes.”

They also suggest adding textures in a program like Photoshop, as “dust, scratches, and cracks can all significantly enhance a simple Halloween picture.”

9. Go apple picking

This October photoshoot idea is less spooky but definitely quintessentially fall! Imagine the wonderful photos you can take wandering through the rows of trees covered in fruit of different shades. You’ll also leave this photoshoot with delicious apples (and cider, cider donuts, and apple pies, as many orchards also sell products made from their fruit).

10. Fall baking photoshoot

One of our favorite fall activities has to be baking delicious snacks like muffins and pumpkin-based treats. You can get some wonderful candid shots of this activity, and you and your loved ones will definitely appreciate the resulting desserts. If you’re unsure what to bake, start with this list of 67 fall dessert suggestions from Epicurious.

11. Use a green screen

Perhaps you’re worried about finding a setting for your photoshoot that will work with your planned Halloween costume. Lucky for you, you don’t actually have to find a setting that exists in the real world–by taking photos on a green screen, you can add any background you want to your photos.

Lots of affordable photo studios come with green screens, such as this green screen cyclorama room in Denver, Colorado, as well as this photo studio with a green screen in Philadelphia, PA.

12. Spooky Halloween bar photoshoot

Find a bar with a spooky/antique theme where you can take photos, like this grotesque cocktail bar with antique industrial features in the East Village of New York City. This type of destination will make for a truly unique aesthetic for your photoshoot.

The space is “laid out with tables, oversized black baroque chairs, a full sized bar, and lounge seating,” with an ample 600 square feet in which you can take photos. Since you’re at a bar, be sure to get at least a few shots of your subject sipping a fancy beverage, alcoholic or otherwise!

13. Go all out on a Halloween-themed set

One of our top October photoshoot ideas is simply to dress up in your scariest costume and take photos at a scary, Halloween-themed set expressly set up for the purpose! This way, you don’t have to do any decorating, figure out lighting, or any of that tedious logistical stuff. Just dress up and take your photos!

A great example of the type of space we’re talking about is this scary Halloween set in Woodland Park, New Jersey, which is “something straight out of a horror film.” It comes with a “demonic gate with skeletons placed in torture devices all around,” which sounds absolutely terrifying! But don’t worry, your experience here won’t be terrifying. In fact, one happy reviewer wrote, “Had a wonderful experience! Brilliant set and everyone there was super helpful and kind and made sure we had everything we needed.”

Find unique photoshoot locations on Peerspace