Create a Haunting Image in a Small Studio

It's the time of year to get creepy and creative with your photography. And no better man to put shivers down your spine than Adorama TV's, Gavin Hoey.

Just kidding, of course. Hoey, being one of the most personable educators on YouTube, never fails to draw the viewers attention with his helpful and creative videos. Not only that, but his methods are always practical while requiring very little investment. Using two to three strobes — rebranded Godox AD200's with the XPro TTL transmitter — and shooting with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with the Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f/1.2 lens attached, Hoey and his model, Kerry Allingham, are able to create some haunting images in a tiny space. 

What really gives these photos their character is the use of props. We are introduced to a worse for wear looking Allingham, but Hoey quickly assures us that she is indeed in makeup and wearing some costume pieces. The other crucial ingredient to set the mood for any shoot is the correct background choice. For this shoot, Hoey has gone for a slate-grey and black textured background while also making use of a black cloth. In a tight space such as this, the black cloth not only acts as an addition to the textured background but also prevents light from bouncing off of the white walls which would ruin the dark mood that Hoey is looking for.

I love this time of year because it's a great excuse to create something a little more on the dark side. I'm off the photograph some oddly shaped gourds — don't know how I'm going to make them creepy, but that's part of the fun. What about our readers; care to share any fun and spooky shoots with us?  

Mike O'Leary's picture

Mike is a landscape and commercial photographer from, Co. Kerry, Ireland. In his photographic work, Mike tries to avoid conveying his sense of existential dread, while at the same time writing about his sense of existential dread. The last time he was in New York he was mugged, and he insists on telling that to every person he meets.

Log in or register to post comments
3 Comments

Thanks for sharing. Happy Halloween 🎃

Same to you, Gavin. Thanks for all the great videos!

Shame the photographer did not black out one or two of the model's super clean teeth. Thanks for sharing.