How to Take the Perfect Photos of Your Kids on Halloween
I’ve been a professional photographer for over 10 years. Here are some helpful tips for parents when taking photos of your kids this fall:
1. Take Photos Before Dark
While trick-or-treating happens at night, it's best to take your main costume photos before the sun sets. Natural light will make colors pop, show off details, and avoid the harsh shadows that come with flash photography….unless of course that’s the vibe you’re trying to achieve.
2. Choose a Festive Backdrop
Skip the messy driveway or garage door and pick a spot that adds to the Halloween vibe. Your decorated porch, a pumpkin patch, or even a neighborhood park can make the perfect background. We highly recommend taking your photos with your porch pumpkin display installed by Porch Pumpkins.
3. Get on Their Level
Bend down or sit so your camera is at your child's eye level. This makes the photo feel more personal and keeps their face as the focus.
4. Capture Candid Moments
The best Halloween photos aren't always posed. As a photographer, I love phots that capture a real moment in time. Snap a few shots while your kids are laughing with friends, adjusting their costume, or holding up their candy bag with excitement.
5. Focus on the Details
Zoom in on their sparkly tiara, superhero mask, or pumpkin-shaped candy bucket. These little touches help tell the full story of their Halloween night. I also try to get detail photos of their tiny hands holding their candy or bucket so I can always remember how little they once were. They grow up so fast. It’s really special to have to these moments frozen in time.
PRO TIPS:
Golden hour is the best time for photos. Golden hour is the hour before sunset. Pro tip: Google “sunset on October 31, 2025 in Orlando, Florida” to figure out the exact time of golden hour. It changes from location to location. When I lived up north, sunset was at a different time. Keep that in mind if you’re new to the area!
Anytime you take photos of your kids, have fun with them. Give goofy prompts. Be silly so you can get genuine expressions. And be quick!! As a pro photographer I usually aim to keep the attention of little ones for no longer than a few minutes at a time. I also give a lot of prompts that involve movement. I’m not a big fan of the forced smile pictures. I want to capture my child’s joy when I take her photo. Keep an eye out for a future blog that will give you some ideas that you can try with your kids to get amazing, genuine expressions.