This Halloween loving photog is all about the pumpkin head videos dancing on your screens. I’ve seen all sorts of takes on the theme from cute and sexy to terrifying. I obviously had to make my own because… Halloween! So here are the top 5 things I learned creating a Pumpkin Head reel.
1. Size Matters
It’s true: you have to grab a pumpkin that is large enough to fit your gourd. That means thinking about both length and width. If the pumpkin is too short, you’ll be able to see your chin poking out. If the pumpkin is too narrow, good luck squeezing in your noggin. That being said, you don’t want to grab the largest squash around either. These gourds have a weight that will leave you overly top heavy, especially if you’ll be doing a session with kiddos.
2. KISS
Keep it Simple, Silly. This isn’t really a how to post, but let me say in terms of crafting, this is a pretty low key DIY. While I prefer carving your standard farm grown pumpkin (fully compostable and full of delicious seeds–yum!), others use acrylic pumpkins or paper mache to reduce the mess. Honestly, though if you carve out the pumpkin well enough, there’s not that much mess to be had. My super squeamish kid was willing to model the head, and that says something. Just remember to carve out the bottom and leave the stem, and the grown up should probably be the one holding the big knife.
For more help, you can watch this video by Random Rivals.
3. Think Beyond the Head
Can you carve a pumpkin head and sit in a lawn chair? Sure. Would it be better spiced up with some red wine or spooky props? Probably. It’s totally possible to just put on a pumpkin head and take a few pictures, but putting some thought into the location/backdrop/props beyond the head will yield better results. Do you have a creepy building or stunning scenery nearby? Go there. Bring props. Be silly, scary, or both, but think about the whole picture. My kid wanted to be the headless horseman. I complied. Have fun!
4. Smoke Bombs Make Things More Fun
And a bit more dangerous. My husband actually had to sign for these “explosives” from www.eg-products.com last year because they are flammable and definitely not kid friendly. They come in a variety of colors, but I chose red, gray, and black as my “creepy” colors for this Halloween session.
5. Music Matters
I love these photos, but I love the reel I made more. Why? Well, image is only one part of the whole video experience. You need the right soundtrack to make it complete. Below are links to my 5 favorite songs to sync your Pumpkin Head videos to. Be warned, they’re quite the selection of ear worms.
- Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You
- My Adventure Book: This is Halloween
- Harley Poe: The Hearse Song
- Savior Audios: Spooky Scary Skeletons (Remix)
- Rosy.Audios: Ghost Busters
