Short answer: at a Halloween party the costumes are the props, so the booth's job is a dark backdrop and room for big costumes. Use a black or charcoal backdrop, add a few spooky props for guests who came without a costume, put a Halloween template with the party name and date on every print, and use the photos to judge the costume contest.
Pick a dark backdrop
A dark backdrop does most of the work: it makes costumes and makeup stand out and turns any room into a night scene. Of our 12 stock backdrops, Classic Black, Charcoal Grey and Black Geometric suit Halloween. Want something spookier? A custom printed backdrop ($149) opens up thousands of designs beyond the stock 12, so book early to leave time to print it. See them all on the backdrops and templates page.
DIY ideas if you are building your own:
- Black tablecloths and a spiderweb. Cheap, and stretchy web looks great under a flash.
- A string of orange or purple lights around the frame, not behind people's heads.
- A cemetery fence or a coffin cut-out along the bottom edge for depth.
- A giant picture frame spray-painted black, for “haunted portrait” shots.
Halloween photo booth props
Most guests arrive in costume, so the props are for the ones who didn't, and for group shots. A small bin is plenty:
- Witch hats, devil horns and cat ears on headbands.
- Half masks and masks on a stick, held beside the face so it still shows.
- Plastic spiders, a skull, a pumpkin bucket and a rubber bat on a stick.
- Capes: a black one fits any costume.
- Speech bubbles and signs (see the wording below).
More on what guests actually pick up in our prop ideas guide.
Halloween sign and template wording
- “Boo crew”
- “Creep it real”
- “Witch better have my candy”
- “Resting witch face”
- “Here for the boos”
- “Spooky season” with the year
Print them on our free printable photo booth signs: the blank “Write your own” page takes any of these.
Costume poses that photograph well
- The villain. Arms crossed, chin down, eyes up at the camera.
- The scream. Hands on cheeks, mouths wide open.
- The zombie lean. Everyone lurches toward the camera on the last flash.
- The group reveal. A group costume gets one serious frame, then one breaking character.
- The couple costume. Back to back, then face to face.
Thirty more in photo booth poses.
Setup tips for a Halloween booth
- Leave room for costumes. Wings, capes and inflatables need more floor in front of the booth.
- Keep the fog machine away. Haze between the camera and guests washes out flash photos.
- Let the flash handle the dark. Keep the party lights low; the booth brings its own light.
- Run the costume contest from the photos. Every costume gets judged from the same angle.
Office parties and school dances
A booth gives a Halloween office party something to do besides stand at the snack table, and the template can carry the company name. For a school dance, keep the prop bin school-friendly and see our prom and school dance guide.
A self-serve booth for Halloween
We set the booth up and test it before guests arrive, and it runs on its own until 11pm. Snap is $449with photos texted to phones; Snap & Print is $549 with unlimited prints and a props kit.Check your date early, or see packages and pricing.
Quick answers
What is the best backdrop for a Halloween photo booth?
A dark one. Black or charcoal makes orange, green and fake blood pop, and it hides the edges of a DIY setup. Black with thin gold lines works for a more grown-up party.
Can we rent a photo booth for a Halloween house party?
Yes. A self-serve booth needs a level spot about the size of a small table, room in front for a group, and a regular wall outlet. Basements and garages work.
Are there Halloween print templates?
Yes. The template library has a Halloween category, and we add your party name and date. Browse the templates page.
How do you run a costume contest with a photo booth?
Ask every guest to take one booth photo in costume, then judge from the prints or the online gallery. Announce the winners before the last song.
Still have a question? See the photo booth FAQ, or browse booths for birthdays, proms and parties.