Hey! TJ here from the Gibbons House. It's great to see you!
If you've read my previous posts, you know that I have a few furry friends in my family: my dog, Anayah (pronounced Ann-I-ah), and my four rabbits—Cosmo, Caspian, Eclipse, and Artemis.
You'll also know that I'm a passionate photographer. Taking photos of my pets is so much fun, and it's a great way to practice photography while improving my skills in the safety and comfort of my own home. There’s no pressure to perform instantly, and no one is waiting for the photos with super high expectations. I can work at my own pace.
With Halloween coming up, I thought it would be fun to do a spooky-themed photo shoot for the four-legged creatures in the house.
As I was shopping for props and setting up the scenes, I figured I’d turn it into a bit of a tutorial blog post too!
So, if you have pets and want to give them a spooky makeover, you're in the right place!
I'll share some prop ideas, setting ideas, and backdrop ideas. If you only have a phone to use for the photos, that's more than enough! You don't have to be an avid photographer to have fun with this. By the end, you'll have some cute and fun photos of your pet(s) to cherish forever.
The ones I took of my crew are ones I plan to frame and display in the house because they make me so happy!
So, here we go!
The first thing I did was head to Home Bargains and raid their Halloween decorations. I chose affordable items, but ones I knew I could use again. I also picked up some pumpkins and squash from a supermarket for props.
You can use things you already have at home too! It doesn't have to cost a fortune to have a fun, spooky shoot!
This is where it’s totally up to you—you get to choose what items to include in your photo shoot!
Here’s a list of items you could use. This isn’t a complete list of possibilities, nor is it a list of “must-haves.” They’re just suggestions!
Fake bones or skeletons
Fake candles (If you have awesome photo editing skills, you could use real candles that aren’t lit and add the flame in later.)
Autumnal vegetables (Pumpkins—carved or not, marrows, squash, carrots, apples, etc.)
Halloween-themed blankets
Fallen leaves and twigs
Fairy lights
Pet outfits (Please ensure your pet is comfortable and not stressed if you choose this! For Anayah, I only used a bandana and a hat, as other clothing items freak her out!)
Halloween bunting or wall decorations
Trick or treat bags or buckets
Cauldron
Spooky signs
Fake Graveyard stones
White sheets as ghosts
There are no right or wrong choices, it's about choosing the things that you feel would make an awesome scene.
As for your backdrop, you can be as creative or as laid-back as you want!
I personally prefer taking photos outside since the natural light makes everything look better. So, my photos were taken in my garden, but there are plenty of options. If you're photographing pets that aren't dogs, some choices might not be suitable, so be sure to select a location that is safe for both your pet and yourself!
Pumpkin Patch: If you're photographing your dog, consider taking them to a pumpkin patch. That way, you won’t even need to bring props if you don’t want to!
Woods: A walk in the woods can create a lovely autumnal feel. Adding some of your props will increase the spooky factor. The colors of the leaves and the shadows from the trees can create a fantastic atmosphere.
Backyard or Local Park: Your backyard or a local park can also work well. I’m lucky enough to have a black fence in part of my garden, which makes for a great backdrop. You could also use your house as the setting; the bricks would add texture and color.
DIY Backdrop: You can create your own backdrop using your props and a hanging blanket or curtain. This way, you can really get creative and control every aspect of the photo.
Inside the House: If you prefer to shoot indoors, consider using a well-lit area in your home. You can set up props and create a cozy, spooky atmosphere right in your living room!
Hay Bales: If you have access to hay or straw bales, they can create a rustic and seasonal vibe, especially for outdoor shoots.
Wood basket: As weird as this may seem, a wood basket was the perfect backdrop for my photo shoot with the rabbits. It was enclosed on all but 1 side meaning they were mostly contained and couldn't run off throughout the shoot, it gave me enough space to still incorporate some props, there were gaps in the basket that allowed natural light in whilst maintaining a darker atmosphere and I could have them at a height that meant I wasn't bending my back or on my knees trying to get the photos.
Now that you have your setting and props figured out, it’s time to get creative! Don’t let fear or embarrassment hold you back, and don’t dismiss any idea as a bad one until you’ve tried it. Arrange the props in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing to you, and add whatever elements you think will help achieve the vibe you’re going for.
The last thing you need to complete your photo shoot is your pet!
Dogs are going to be the easiest to photograph, by far—if they can sit and stay, that is!
If your dog knows tricks, use them to your advantage! For one of the photos with Anayah, I had her playing dead among the bones. If your dog can hold items, let them hold a trick-or-treat bucket or a fake bone. Just have a pocket full of treats, and you’re all set!
If you have a dog that’s less inclined to be a willing participant, you could always get them a dog bone or a chew that looks kind of like a bone and photograph them with that!
The key is to have fun and enjoy the process. If you are having fun, so will your pet.
Other animals might be a bit trickier to photograph. You know your pet best, so think about what would make them stand still long enough to get a few good snaps!
For horses, you might need to have treats in your pocket or a bucket of food on hand to encourage them to behave (if that’s even possible!).
For cats, try to catch them when they’re feeling lazy and set up the props around a spot where they tend to hang out the most.
For rabbits and other small pets, utilize an enclosed area like a wood basket or an empty kiddie pool. I used a wood basket turned on its side for my rabbits and laid a Halloween-themed blanket at the bottom. To keep them calm and in place, I used their favorite treats as part of the props: carrots, apples, forage mixture, and fresh herbs. This way, they were too busy stuffing their faces to plan an escape route! All of the food I used for the set up was rabbit safe, so I wasn't concerned about what they were eating.
Remember to be patient and let your pets get comfortable in the setting. With a little creativity and some tasty incentives, you can capture some adorable shots. You know what you are doing and understand that you want them to stay still or pose, they don't know that!
If you’ve got more than one pet, you have a couple of fun options for your Halloween photo shoot! You can either snap some adorable pics of them together—if they get along, of course, or take individual shots. Capturing them together can create some super cute and memorable photo opportunities that really show off their personalities. Just keep in mind that it can also be a bit of a juggling act trying to keep two or more pets in the right spot at the same time! For my own shoot, I decided to go with individual portraits for each of my furry friends. It was a lot easier and allowed me to focus on capturing their unique expressions and quirks without the added chaos. Plus, it gave each of them their own moment to shine!
When it comes to your pet's safety, it should always be the top priority! Here are some things to consider.
Never put yourself or your furry friend in any risky situation just to get that perfect shot. Remember, a great photo isn’t worth any harm!
Make sure to only use props that are pet-friendly. Some decorations might look cute but could contain toxins if your pet decides to take a curious nibble. It's better to be safe than sorry!
Keep a close eye on your pet around the props. Pets can easily get tangled up in things, and we want to avoid any mishaps that could lead to a little chaos during your shoot.
Also, don’t forget to consider your pet’s comfort level. If they seem anxious or stressed, it’s totally okay to take a break or even call it a day. Happy pets make for the best photos, and ensuring they feel comfortable will help prevent any accidents for both of you.
Lastly, keep track of those treats! It’s easy to get carried away while trying to coax your pet into the right pose, especially if they’re on a calorie-controlled diet. A few extra treats here and there can add up, so just be mindful of how many you’re handing out during your fun photo session.
Some photography tips to get great pics:
Focus on the eyes of your subject, if they are blurred, the photo doesn't work as well.
Remember the grid of 3 rule - putting it simply, don't always have your subject in the centre of the photo. Think of the photo as having a grid over it, splitting it into 9 equal parts. Most of the time, your subject should be either on the lines or at the cross sections to make a more ascetically pleasing shot.
An example of the Rule of 3. The main subject is not in the middle but off to one side. Keep an eye out for harsh shadows that are affecting the look of the photo and eliminate them by adding more light or removing the source of the shadow.
Use a faster shutter speed if your pet keeps moving.
Try playing around with the settings on your camera or phones camera, see what each of the adjustments do and learn your tool.
Awesome! You have some adorably spooky pictures of your pet!
Now what?
Editing, of course!
You don't have to do this part if it's not up your street, but there are so many apps and tutorials out there now of how to edit your photos. You could even turn them into art-styled pictures if you want!
I tend to edit minimally, only playing around with the lighting and colouration.
If you took the photos on your phone, some apps you could use to edit them are: Lightroom Mobile, Canva, Your phones editing options, Snapseed or Photodirector.
If you took the photos on a camera, the likelihood is you already have a go-to editing software. I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, but there are other programs that are free that offer editing tools, too.
Some edit ideas for you:
Adjusting the light and contrast to find a scale that you like. You can make the photos super moody or mysterious and ghostly.
Cropping to make your model fit better in the picture.
Add filters to enhance the mood of the photo.
Reduce noise and increase sharpness if needed.
Don't over do it on the editing, though. You'll take away from your pets true colours! Think less is more.
There you go! Now you’re armed with some adorably cute photos of your pet(s). Share them on social media, get them printed to decorate your wall or simply save them to your phone and look at them when your feeling gloomy! Whatever you decide to do with them, just remember that while the photos are the end goal, they’re not the main focus. The real magic happens when you spend quality time with your pet and let your creativity flow while setting up the scene. Some of my favorite shots have come from just playing around and having fun with my pets. So, go in with no expectations and just enjoy the moment! In the end, you’ll have pictures that not only capture the Halloween spirit but also remind you of the fun times you shared and the bond you’ve strengthened with your furry friend.
And, now you've got the Halloween props, use them to spookify your house and then save them for next year. I even snapped a few still-life photos using the props!
I also used the pumpkins I bought and made pumpkin soup, so nothing went to waste!
If you do snap some spooky-themed photos of your adorable companions, I’d absolutely love to see them! Feel free to send them my way or tag me on Facebook or Instagram.
Connect with me in the comments or on social media, I love meeting new people and chatting with you lovely lot.
Until next time!
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