Another type of treat for Halloween
I hope everyone reading this received more treats than tricks during last night’s Halloween festivities. While setting up our display in the front yard an idea hit me. I’m always looking for new subjects to take pictures of and last night was going to provide a whole slew of interesting shots. Why not provide the parents a treat as well and give them a memory of their children’s Halloween?
I set up my Rebel on a tripod at the bottom of our steps and took shots of the various superheroes, princesses, ghouls, goblins and other characters that crossed our path. I then gave the parents a card with my email address on it for them to request a copy of the picture. The offer seemed to go over well, many of the parents were thrilled with the idea and the kids had fun with it too.
Here’s a few suggestions if you decide to do this yourself next year:
- Always ask the parents first if you can take their child’s picture.
- Then make sure you ask the child if they want their picture taken (don’t take it for granted).
- Don’t combine the giving away of treats with the picture. I did not want the children to think they had to pose to get their treat.
- Have a card available for the parents with either an email address or a website listed so they can easily contact you or download the picture. I decided to upload the pictures to a private gallery on SmugMug that they can go and download their picture directly. Next year I’ll have special cards made beforehand with the link to the gallery so they won’t have to go through the hassle of emailing me.
- Do not post the pictures publicly with the child’s name listed. I’m not quite sure of the ethics of this but I do not feel comfortable posting any identifying information on children who are not mine.
- After you take their picture, turn the camera around and let them see the result. Children normally love to pose for pictures but he real joy for them is seeing themselves in it.
- Be quick and don’t make it a chore for the kids to pose a certain way. While they will take a minute to stop for a photo remember their priority is CANDY and you are in their way of getting more.
- Have fun with it! Its a great way to meet your neighbors and their kids.
Here’s a few of our trick or treaters:
Related posts:
