It’s the spookiest time of year! Halloween may look a little different this year, but we think any opportunity for candy is a time to celebrate. From pumpkin heads to dimly lit wineries, we’ve compiled our favorite spooky inspired shoots throughout the Rocky Mountains to get you in the mood to celebrate Halloween!
St. Anthony, Idaho
I have never been one for super creepy and gory Halloween shoots, my heart can’t quite handle those! I wanted to do something that felt a little bit more lighthearted but still gave you that “spooky season” vibe. My husband and I got these massive pumpkins and carved them out the night before the shoot. We had to carve them super thin, so they weren’t as heavy, and dry them out as much as we could – for the sake of the models.
I contacted Emily and Brad through Instagram and basically said, “So I have this super weird idea…are you willing to put pumpkins on your heads?” They were so down, which made me even more excited. We met at sunrise at a random abandoned corner in St. Anthony, Idaho, and shot for about 45 minutes! We made sure they had beanies on so they didn’t get pumpkin guts in their hair, and we were laughing the whole time. The thought of somebody driving by and seeing two people walking around with actual pumpkins on their heads makes me crack up!
This striking fall Harvest Moon elopement shoot was inspired by the song ‘Harvest Moon’ by Neil Young, and was a joint vision between Captured in Amber Photography,Melissa Alison Events and Orange Trunk Vintage Styling and Rentals. Heather from Orange Trunk owns ‘Margot’, a beautiful boho persimmon coloured sofa – this became the colour inspiration for the palette used for the shoot, along with other fall shades of burnt orange, caramel, deep burgundy, and different hues of blue.
We aimed to tell a story of an intimate fall elopement between a groom and his bride, from getting ready together in the quaint farm cottage, sharing vows in a beautiful farm field, to playing croquet at sunset. The Gathered was an incredible venue to host this harvest style visualization, with its acres of grassy fields, wildflowers and farm animals. A wooden farmhouse table, draped with blue velvet, featured a rich harvest spread of delicious treats by Food Works Craft Catering, with textures and colours that perfectly matched the season. The caramel drip naked cake, and gorgeous macaroons by Lemonberry Pastries were just breathtaking, paired with the stunning florals by Floral and Field, which were displayed on a charming vintage tea trolley. The bride’s bouquet and groom’s boutonniere beautifully embodied the shoot’s romance and ambiance, along with the ceremony florals which framed the wooden archway. Mountain Grove Studio hand printed song lyrics from ‘Harvest Moon’ on a stunning 7ft tall banner, which hung from the ceremony archway. Handwritten vow books, and terracotta fragments as name cards, added to the rustic details of the shoot. The ‘Margot’ sofa, coupled with a vintage vibrant rug, cushions, antique suitcase and crates, was the perfect backing to a romantic post-ceremony moment between the newlyweds. Avenue Beauty amplified our model’s personality, capturing the elegance of a bride, whilst maintaining a relaxed, bohemian vibe. Rings by Alberta Diamond Exchangewere the perfect match for our harvest theme, with additional jewelry from Fieldstudy shop adding a pop of colour with items such as unique tassel earrings. The captivating wedding dress by Durand Bridal highlighted the beauty of our bride, whilst the groom had a dapper textured tweed suit provided by Atelier by Ensemble. Flat lays included carefully chosen pieces by Curated Kits, along with custom designed wedding stationary by Create Love Design.The shoot was photographed by the wonderfully talented Captured in Amber Photography, and A-List Studios shot beautiful footage from the day to create the video reel. We were lucky to have recent newlyweds Stephanie and Connor to model for us and relive their wedding day all over again.
“Till Death do us part” a vow often bypassed but never truly appreciated. There’s a truly romantic notion to marrying someone you’ll spend forever with. What better time of year to capture that commitment then the dark and moody feel of All Hallows Eve?
We stepped outside of tradition and drew on the dark inspiration of Halloween. With deep dark red roses & natural witches twigs highlighting the arch, a flowing black dress, romantic candles and red mood lighting the scene was set. A sweetheart table was dressed with delicious grazing boards, poison candy apples, and a gorgeous floral center piece. The unique mobile bar served smoked blood red wine and the black amethyst vintage glass dressed the shelves. Located in the Foothills of Calgary, AB Azuridge Estate Hotel provided the perfect back drop with it’s spooky tower and mystery forest. The best part of the day is when the red and black smoke fully encompassed our couple creating a creepy yet dramatic moment as the couple posed for portraits.
In a time of uncertainty tradition does not need to be the theme of the evening. I encourage clients to be themselves, be romantic, comfortable and creative on their day. In the end it’s just a party so it should be about love, and truly honoring “Till Death”.
My girlfriend wanted to coordinate our halloween costumes this year, and she’d been watching this TikTok trend of doing a “ghost photoshoot” with your significant other. She brought the idea up to me that morning, so after my classes ended that afternoon I went to Walmart and bought everything you see in the pictures. We made the costumes and took the pictures that evening. It was all really rushed and none of it was planned more than an hour in advance – which added to the fun!
How often do you see a couple opt to share their most intimate vows together in the chilling depths of a wine cellar? From the dark and moody atmosphere, to the rows of barrels and twinkling candlelight, this venue sets the most romantic, alternative mood to preserve these lovely moments for a lifetime. Going from the hauntingly enchanting vault of the cool cellar, we see the couple retreat to a more warm, lively setting in the upper hall, surrounded by charming blossoms and the ever so elaborate and cozy table setting. What better way to spend such a fairy-tale wedding day with your one and only?
I’ve never done a Halloween shoot before so I was really excited to try something new this year. I wanted a couple who was really comfortable with each other and wanted to try something a little different. McKensie and Carson have been friends of mine for a long time and were the perfect choice. The black clothes and skeleton makeup just screamed Halloween!
Provo Canyon was my favorite part of the shoot and the perfect location because it really tied in the Fall and Halloween season together!
