The following is excerpted, with permission, from photographer and writer Andrew Darlow’s article, 5 Tips for Phoographing Pets in Costumes. Read his full piece on the photzy site.

Every year, millions of people in a number of countries across the globe dress up to celebrate Halloween. And like with so many other family events, pets are often included in the fun. I’ve photographed quite a few pets wearing costumes over the years, and I’ve seen images of pets wearing everything from baseball hats to full-body “hot dog” suits, complete with mustard-looking trim. (Of course, Dachshunds are almost always the type of dog chosen for this humorous look!)

[Read: Fun Halloween Photography Tips and Tricks]

When it comes to photographing pets wearing costumes, it’s very important to always think about the safety of the pets you plan to photograph. Some pets will require more supervision than others. Some of the costume-related items to be careful with include:

• Any small items, such as toys or accessories that might be mistaken for food
• Any costume that causes a pet to become too warm
• Any item that restricts a pet’s movement, breathing or vision
• Any costume that contains sharp or pointed items.
  
  

3 Tips on photographing pets wearing costumes:

1. Decide which costume(s) you will purchase or create.

Some ideas for what Halloween costumes generally work well for pets are:

• A ghost: a white costume can be made from a sheet, fabric, or t-shirt.
• A witch: a small hat can be purchased, and optionally, a black costume can be made from a sheet, other fabric, or t-shirt.
• Jack-O’-Lantern: an orange costume can be made from an orange sheet or other fabric, with cut-out black shapes glued or sewed onto the fabric.
• A Court Jester: Either purchase or make a stylish neckband. Here’s a link to a DIY option from hgtv.com.

This chihuahua (above) would probably fetch more candy than most if he went trick-or-treating in his super cool costume! His eyewear is made by Doggles, and his jacket was made for dogs, but purchased from a store that specializes in human outerwear. Lighting came from three continuous lights in softboxes on stands, placed side-by-side (camera right), about 10 feet from the subject. The reason was twofold: Multiple lights gives the feeling of multiple windows when you look into the subjects’ eyes (when the subject is looking straight ahead); and the extra lighting was needed to avoid blur, even with about 1000w equivalent of Compact Fluorescent Bulbs in each softbox. Two large white reflectors were placed camera left to fill in the shadows.

2. Get great photos with off-camera flash or just a reflector.

There are countless ways to use an off-camera flash, and because of that, there are many looks you can create. For example, you can use a white umbrella and create a look similar to the sun, or you can use a black umbrella with white or silver reflective material for softer shadows. The most important thing to know is that it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to set up a wireless flash system for your camera.

Using one or more fill cards or reflectors can do wonders for your photographs. A fill card helps to direct light onto the subject. Reflectors can be white foam boards, white walls, posters, aluminum foil (for more dramatic effects) or anything else that helps to fill in or add drama to the main light.

The sun shades often used to keep cars cool can be excellent fill cards, and some even fold up nicely into a small circle, like more expensive options from photo-related companies.

3. Photograph your family when watching or participating in sporting events.

Looking for more ideas on photographing pets wearing costumes? Pets and team merchandise can be a very funny (and sometimes expensive) combination. You can express your love for your favorite teams by outfitting your dog or cat with shirts, jackets, or other gear specifically made for them (or you may be able to use or alter human clothing slightly to make it fit).

Even more photographically interesting is to have pets match the rest of the family on game day. However, don’t just limit the fun to professional team wear. Consider making outfits with the same colors as the Little League baseball or football teams in which your family participates, or buy shirts or sweaters with matching colors. Then hit the field (or backyard) and capture the color-coordinated fun!

I photographed this man and his Chinese Crested dog at an outdoor dog agility event in which the dog was participating. I asked for his permission and then photographed both of them from a number of different angles (in both horizontal and vertical orientation). I chose this image because I think it captures the special bond between a man and his sports-loving pooch. I added the catch lights you see in the dog’s eyes to help give more sparkle and life to the photo. Natural daylight on a clear day provided all of the lighting.

Andrew Darlow is a NJ-based photographer, author, and digital workflow coach. His images have appeared in many publications and media outlets, including: People Magazine, Animal Planet and Rangefinder Magazine. He is editor of ImagingBuffet.com, an online resource with news, reviews, and interviews covering the subjects of photography, printing, and new media. He is also the author of four award-winning books, including: Focus and Filter (Ulysses Press), available in both English and Spanish, Pet Photography 101: Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Dog or Cat (Focal Press), and Biscuit for Your Thoughts? Philosophy According to Dogs (Ulysses Press). For workflow videos and excerpts from Andrew’s books, visit ImagingBuffet.com/newsletter.