Halloween Layouts

We have been preparing for Halloween for well over a month at my house. My son began his decision making process for his costume right after the first day of school, flip flopping between the top four contenders. Then we had to decorate the house and front porch, buy pumpkins, get the bags of candy treats, and bake cookies for the school party. Finally the night is upon us and it is time to load the camera and start thinking about layouts! Here are a few things you can do to make your pages spellbinding!

Photo Tips
Like most events and celebrations, these photos can be a challenge. Often, the photos are cluttered and dark. Use these tips to get better pictures!

• Capture the spirit of the evening by having your photo subject act the part. Instead of shooting a boring photo of your creature just looking at you, ask him to bring his costume to life. Have a little Frankenstein? Have him extend his arms and lock his legs.


• Low lighting is best to get that eerie Halloween feel. Flashlights make great ghoulish light!


• Zoom in and take pictures of the costume's little details, especially if you made it yourself.


• If the costume has a mask, take at least one picture without the mask.
  " Shoot from kid level or below by getting down on your knees or belly to take the picture.


• Get everyone close and fill the frame. With groups, resist a lineup of characters and stagger their heights. Have them touching to show a close relationship.


• Put more candles inside your Jack O'Lanterns and take the picture in twilight, just before the sky gets totally dark. Or if you have a fireplace, light a fire and take a picture with the lights out and the fire blazing behind the Jack O'Lantern. Use a fast speed film.


• If you are taking pictures of your child at a door while trick or treating, zoom in so that you can see the expression (unless of course, the mask hides her face.) Pay attention to where the door is, so that it is not distracting in the photo or blocks your view.


• Try black and white film, especially if the costume colors are all over the color wheel.


• Take pictures of the candy haul, and empty candy wrappers.

Journaling Tips

I find annual event and holiday layouts to be some of the most difficult layouts to journal. There were costumes and candy and a good time was had by all. Yadda Yadda Yadda. Blah Blah Blah. What more can you say each and every year? Try to go beyond the basics and journal about the following:

• Traditions - many families have traditions that have been passed along for generations. Journal about that tradition and how it was started, or ways that you have modified, or how it makes you feel.


• Favorites - Do you remember growing up what your favorite candy was? Your favorite activity at a Halloween party? Your favorite costume? Chances are you don't remember, or that if you do, it is because your parents told you. Favorites are a great way to record our way of life, and they say a great deal about our personality. Be sure to include your subject's favorite parts of Halloween.


• Descriptions of what you cannot SEE in the photographs- A camera cannot always capture everything that is going on at an event, and it can't capture smell, feel, and sound. Your words are often an extension of the photos, and should be used to complete the memory. Did anything happen before or after the photo was taken? Are there people in the room that were not captured on film? How did your subject feel about the night? Why was that costume chosen?


• Things People Say and Do - Kids often say or do things funny, especially when they are excited. Don't forget to write down these things, since they rarely are captured on film!

Halloween Titles

Just like your journaling, it is easy to get caught with the same titles every year. Here are just a few generic titles to get your creativity flowing:

Be safe, have fun and take lots of pictures!

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