Some Halloween costumes get worn for one night of trick-or-treating and then end up in a closet. These three girls decided theirs deserved a portrait session, and I could not have been more excited to say yes.
They showed up to my Cedar Falls studio with flower crowns, braided pigtails, bright ruffled dresses and some of the most detailed sugar skull makeup I have ever photographed. My job was simple: build a backdrop moody enough to let all that color do the talking.
The looks
Every girl had her own color story, and it carried from the face paint all the way through the outfit.
Red went bold with deep red eye detail, swirls across her cheeks and a crown of oversized roses in red, coral and gold. Her red ruffled dress with ribbon trim and the woven sash pulled the whole look together.
Green wore soft green scalloped eyes with black vines curling across her face. Her black floral dress was one of my favorite pieces of the day, and it looked incredible against the dark backdrop.
Blue had icy blue eyes, delicate teardrops and the sweetest little leaf on her chin. Paired with her sunny yellow dress, her portraits have a quiet, storybook feel.
Sugar skull makeup comes from a rich artistic tradition, and it takes real skill to paint it well. We kept the focus on that artistry and on three girls who took their costumes very seriously.
Behind the scenes
Here is what a session like this really looks like. There is a lot of fixing flower crowns, moving little hands one inch to the left and saying "chin down, eyes on me" more times than I can count. Then I step out of the frame and let the camera catch the moment.
That is the part I love most. Kids give you their best expressions when they feel like the star of the show, and these three owned it.
Why a costume session works
A costume session gives you a Halloween photo that is more than a quick snap on the front porch. A few reasons parents love them:
- The details get captured. Face paint, hair and accessories take time, and studio lighting shows every bit of that work.
- The weather does not matter. Rain, cold or early darkness will not ruin your plans in the studio.
- You get wall-worthy art. Kids grow out of their costumes fast, but a portrait like this lasts.
- Kids love the spotlight. Playing dress-up for a real camera is fun, and it shows in the images.
Plan your own creative session
Have a costume, a theme or a big idea your kids would love to bring to life? I would love to help you plan it. Creative sessions are some of my favorite sessions to dream up.
Reach out at katie@katiemcbridephotography.com or 319-296-8483, or send me a message on Instagram or Facebook with the word CROWN. My studio is at 3316 Cedar Heights Drive in Cedar Falls, and I serve families across the Cedar Valley, including Waterloo, Waverly, Hudson and Cedar Rapids.