Get in close and focus on one aspect of a costume—in this case, the makeup.
Whether photographing costumes, decorations, parties or Halloween parades, pick the most important
facet and zero in on it by moving in close. By doing this, you'll avoid a common photography error:
cluttered pictures with no discernable subject or not enough detail.
You can also narrow the focus of your photos with color. Try snapping a field of orange pumpkins, for
example.
Plan to take pictures in the hour leading up to sundown. This time of day is ideal because there's still some
light in the sky, which means you can take pictures without a flash. Ideally, use a tripod during twilight hours.
Other ways to deal with low-light conditions include:
Turn off auto-flash: Your camera's automatic flash will come on at night, but
for better results, turn it off and use a flashlight to illuminate spooky subjects from the side or below.
Use the Night Portrait setting on your HP camera, which uses flash and a long exposure to avoid blurry results. Set your camera on a tripod for best results.
If you're welcoming children to your door, work with a partner: Have one person open the door and greet the
kids while the other snaps away. When taking your kids trick-or-treating, position yourself so that you can
photograph them as they receive treats.
Photos make excellent party favors. Whether you're hosting the Halloween party or attending one, have your
digital camera and a portable photo printer on hand. Get people to pose in costume or with props, and send
them home with instant photo memories of all the fun.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
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