Pumpkin head photoshoots are one of our favorite Halloween photo trends. They can be spooky, nostalgic, funny, romantic, slightly eerie, or completely over the top depending on how you style them.

Whether you're planning a solo Halloween photoshoot, taking pictures with your best friend, creating pumpkin head couple photos, or getting the whole family involved, this is one of those photo ideas you can completely make your own.

And you really don't need a complicated setup. A carved pumpkin, an outfit you love, a simple location, and a few creative poses are enough to create an entire Halloween gallery.

In this guide, we're sharing how to make a pumpkin head, pumpkin head carving ideas and face templates, where to buy a pumpkin head mask if you don't want to wear a real pumpkin, how to make your own reusable foam pumpkin head, what to wear, pumpkin head photoshoot pose ideas, props and supplies, the best time of day to shoot, camera settings to try, and a few of our favorite ways to edit the finished photos.

What Is a Pumpkin Head Photoshoot?

A pumpkin head photoshoot is exactly what it sounds like: instead of taking traditional fall portraits, you wear a carved pumpkin over your head.

Depending on the clothes, location, lighting, and editing, the photos can feel like vintage Halloween snapshots, dreamy fall portraits, dark cinematic images, or playful photos with friends. There really isn't one right way to do it, and that's part of what makes the trend so fun.

Pumpkin Head Photoshoot Quick Guide

Before you head out, make sure you have the basics covered:

• Choose a location: field, woods, pumpkin patch, backyard, or another fall setting.
• Plan your outfits: black, denim, cream knits, plaid, corduroy, stripes, or fall tones.
• Prep your pumpkin: hollow it out, test the fit, then carve the face.
• Save a few poses: choose a mix of standing, movement, couple, or friend photos.
• Pick your lighting: soft daylight, golden hour, dusk, or direct flash after dark.

How to Make a Pumpkin Head for Photos

Start with a pumpkin that is large enough to comfortably fit over your head, then follow these steps:

1. Cut the opening from the bottom. Make the opening large enough to eventually fit comfortably over your head.
2. Hollow out the pumpkin. Scoop everything out and remove as much pulp and moisture from the inside as possible.
3. Test the fit before carving the face. Carefully place the hollow pumpkin over your head to make sure the opening is large enough and feels comfortable.
4. Adjust the opening if needed. Take the pumpkin back off and carefully widen the opening until you can easily put it on and take it off.
5. Protect your hair. If you want to keep pumpkin moisture and pulp out of your hair, wear a plastic shower cap or waterproof hair cap underneath the pumpkin.
6. Choose and carve the face. Once the fit is right, decide what expression you want your pumpkin head to have. You can draw your own or use one of our pumpkin head carving templates below.
7. Check visibility and airflow. Make sure you can see and breathe comfortably. Keep the pumpkin off while walking between locations, and have someone nearby to help when putting it on and taking it off.

Don't worry about getting the carving perfectly symmetrical. Crooked smiles, uneven eyes, and slightly imperfect carving can actually make the finished photos feel more charming and nostalgic.

Pumpkin Head Carving Ideas: 9 Face Templates

The face you carve can completely change the mood of your pumpkin head photoshoot. A happy face can feel cute and nostalgic, while sharper eyes and a jagged smile can make the same outfit and location feel much creepier.

We made these pumpkin head carving templates specifically for this photoshoot idea. You can use them with a real pumpkin or trace them onto a foam pumpkin if you want to make a reusable pumpkin head mask.

Save or print the face you like, resize it to fit your pumpkin, and use the black shapes as your guide for the areas you want to cut out.

How to Use the Pumpkin Face Templates

1. Choose your favorite face. Pick the expression that fits the mood you want for your photos.
2. Save or print the template. Resize it so the face will fit comfortably across the front of your pumpkin.
3. Trace the black shapes. Position the eyes, nose, and mouth where you want them and trace around each shape.
4. Carve the marked areas. For a real pumpkin, use pumpkin carving tools. For a foam pumpkin, use an appropriate craft knife and work slowly.
5. Check the face from a distance. Large, simple shapes usually photograph better than tiny carving details, especially in full-body photos.

You can also mix the templates together. Try the eyes from one design with the mouth from another, make two coordinating faces for a couple, or give everyone in a group a completely different expression.

How Long Will a Carved Pumpkin Head Last?

A carved pumpkin usually looks its best for about 3 to 5 days, although it may last closer to a week if it stays cold and dry. For a pumpkin head photoshoot, we recommend carving it the same day or the day before whenever possible.

Because a pumpkin head has a larger opening and gets handled more than a typical jack-o'-lantern, it can soften a little faster.

How to Store Your Pumpkin Head Before the Photoshoot

• Scoop out as much pulp and stringy material as possible.
• Pat the inside and cut edges dry with paper towels.
• Store it somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight.
• If it fits, refrigerate it overnight.
• Loosely cover it or place it inside a large bag in the refrigerator to help slow moisture loss.
• Take it out shortly before the photoshoot and avoid leaving it in a warm car or direct sun.

If the pumpkin becomes very soft, slimy, moldy, or smells unpleasant, don't wear it. For the freshest results, carve as close to your shoot as possible and use a fresh pumpkin if you're shooting on multiple days.

Don't Want to Wear a Real Pumpkin? Try a Pumpkin Head Mask

If putting a real pumpkin over your head isn't your thing, you can absolutely get the same photoshoot idea with a pumpkin head mask.

This can make the whole shoot a little easier. There's no pumpkin pulp in your hair, you don't have to worry about the pumpkin getting soft, and you can reuse the mask for another Halloween photoshoot later.

Where to Buy a Pumpkin Head Mask

You can find everything from cute jack-o'-lantern faces to much creepier pumpkin masks depending on the look you want.

• Etsy Pumpkin Scarecrow Mask: a fun option if you want something that feels more handmade, spooky, and unusual.
• Walmart Pumpkin Head Mask: an easy place to look for a classic ready-made pumpkin head.
• Halloween Express King Pumpkin Mask: a more dramatic option if you want your pumpkin head photos to feel darker or creepier.
• Trick Or Treat Studios King Pumpkin Mask at Walmart: another option for a full pumpkin-style Halloween mask.
• Amazon Jack-O'-Lantern Pumpkin Mask: an easy option if you want a traditional pumpkin head without making one yourself.

If you're buying a pumpkin head mask specifically for photos, look at the face shape first. A cute smile, crooked grin, or creepy jagged expression can completely change the mood of the finished gallery.

Also check the dimensions, visibility, ventilation, and head opening before ordering. Take the mask off while you're walking between locations and put it back on once you're safely positioned for the photo.

Make Your Own Pumpkin Head Mask With a Foam Pumpkin

Another option we love is using a large foam pumpkin instead of a real pumpkin. You still get to choose exactly what the face looks like, but the finished pumpkin head can be saved and reused again next Halloween.

This is also where the pumpkin carving templates above become really helpful. Pick your favorite face, print it, trace the black shapes onto the foam pumpkin, and cut out the design.

Where to Buy a Foam Pumpkin for a Pumpkin Head

• Large Orange Foam Pumpkin on Amazon
• Orange Craft Pumpkin by Ashland at Michaels

Artificial pumpkins come in different sizes, so check the dimensions before ordering if you specifically want to wear yours as a pumpkin head rather than use it only as a prop.

How to Turn a Foam Pumpkin Into a Pumpkin Head Mask

1. Start with a large foam pumpkin. Choose one that's big enough for the oversized pumpkin-head look you want.
2. Choose your face. Draw your own design or use one of our pumpkin head carving templates above.
3. Trace the design. Use the black eye, nose, and mouth shapes as your guide.
4. Cut out the face. Carefully cut through the foam using an appropriate craft knife. Never cut the pumpkin while you're wearing it.
5. Create the bottom opening. If you're turning it into a wearable mask, carefully create an opening large enough to fit comfortably over your head.
6. Check the fit and visibility. Make sure you can easily put it on and take it off and that the carved openings give you enough visibility and airflow.
7. Add soft padding if needed. A little lightweight padding inside can help stabilize an oversized foam pumpkin while you're posing.

This is probably our favorite alternative to using a real pumpkin because you still get to customize the expression. Make it cute, creepy, sleepy, happy, heart-eyed, or completely strange.

And because it's reusable, you can make your foam pumpkin head once and bring it back out every Halloween.

Real Pumpkin Head vs. Foam Pumpkin Head vs. Pumpkin Mask

A real pumpkin head gives you the most authentic, imperfect jack-o'-lantern look and lets you carve any expression you want. A foam pumpkin head gives you that same custom-carved look but can be reused. A ready-made pumpkin mask is the easiest option if you'd rather skip carving altogether.

All three can photograph beautifully, so choose whichever option feels easiest and most comfortable for your shoot.

Pumpkin Head Photoshoot Props and Carving Essentials

You don't need much for this shoot. For a real pumpkin head, bring your pumpkin, carving tools, a spoon or scraper, paper towels, and a plastic shower cap or waterproof hair cap. If you're making a reusable version, bring your foam pumpkin, printed face template, marker, appropriate craft knife, and any lightweight padding you want to use inside the mask.

What to Wear for a Pumpkin Head Photoshoot

You don't need a Halloween costume. Because the pumpkin is already the focal point, simple outfits in black, denim, cream, brown, plaid, corduroy, stripes, and warm floral prints photograph beautifully.

Here are six outfit directions we love:

All Black

Pair a black dress or fitted black top with cargos or a denim skirt, then add chunky Mary Janes, Doc Martens, or black Vans. Black makes the orange pumpkin stand out and gives the photos a moodier Halloween feel.

Corduroy Classic

Try a brown corduroy jacket with a cream knit, tan corduroy skirt, and black boots for a warm, textured fall look that doesn't feel like a costume.

Vintage Stripes

Pair a striped top with relaxed denim or a denim skirt and cream Converse for an easy retro look that works especially well with film-inspired edits.

Floral + Denim

Layer a denim jacket over a warm brown floral dress, or pair a floral skirt with a simple white top and black boots for a softer, slightly romantic look.

Plaid + Denim

Black plaid, a white shirt, classic blue denim, and black Vans create an easy casual look with a slightly grungy feel.

Cream Knit

Pair an oversized cream cable-knit sweater with light-wash jeans or a denim skirt and cream Converse for something soft, simple, and nostalgic.

For couples, friends, and groups, coordinate rather than match exactly. Black, denim, cream, brown, rust, muted florals, plaid, and warm vintage tones all work beautifully together.

Pumpkin Head Photoshoot Pose Ideas

Once the pumpkin goes on, you can get much more playful with posing than you might during a normal portrait session. The slightly strange poses are often the best.

1. Stand Straight Toward the Camera

Stand directly toward the camera with your arms relaxed at your sides. A serious, deadpan pose makes the oversized pumpkin head feel even stranger.

2. Peek From Behind a Tree

Hide most of your body behind a tree and let the pumpkin head peek into the frame. 

With two people, try one person on each side.

3. Hold Hands

Face the camera, walk together, or photograph everyone from behind. 

Try walking away and turning the pumpkin heads back toward the camera.

4. Give Someone a Piggyback Ride

For couples or friends, try a careful piggyback pose and photograph it straight on and from the side.

5. Lie on Your Stomach and Kick Your Feet Up

Lie on your stomach with your elbows down, hands around the pumpkin head, and feet kicked up behind you for an old-school sleepover-photo feeling.

6. Photograph From Above

Lie in grass, leaves, or on a blanket and have the photographer shoot straight down. 

Bring two pumpkin heads close together if you're photographing a pair.

7. Hug From Behind

Have one person stand behind the other and wrap their arms around them. Both pumpkin heads can face the camera or turn toward each other.

8. Carry Someone

Try a bridal-style carry or another safe lifting pose. A familiar couple pose feels instantly more surreal with pumpkin heads.

9. Reach Toward the Camera

Extend one or both hands toward the lens and shoot fairly close so the hands appear larger in the foreground.

10. Crouch Low

Crouch in tall grass, fallen leaves, or near the ground.

You can even hide most of the body so only the pumpkin head appears above the grass.

11. Take Off One Pumpkin Head and Kiss

For couples, have one person remove their pumpkin head while the other keeps theirs on, then lean in for a kiss.

You can also try kissing the pumpkin itself for a playful variation.

12. Bring Several Pumpkin Heads Together

For a group, cluster the pumpkin heads near the center of the frame at different heights and angles instead of lining everyone up perfectly.

13. Run, Skip, or Spin

Once everyone is safely positioned, add controlled movement with walking, skipping, spinning, or the feeling of running through a field. A little motion blur can add to the nostalgic look.

Try a Headless Pumpkin Photo

This is one of the most creative ways to take the pumpkin head idea a little further.

1. Have the person hold their carved pumpkin beside their body, under their arm, or toward the camera.
2. Keep the camera in the exact same position and photograph the background without the person's head in the way.
3. In editing, remove the real head so it looks like the person is casually carrying their pumpkin head.

A tripod makes this much easier. For couples, one person can even hold the other person's pumpkin head.

Pumpkin Head Couple Photoshoot Ideas

Take familiar couple poses and make them instantly stranger with pumpkin heads.

• Holding hands
• Walking away from the camera
• Hugging or dancing
• A piggyback ride
• Leaning the pumpkin heads together
• Peeking around opposite sides of a tree
• Carrying one another
• One person holding the other's pumpkin head
• One person wearing a pumpkin while the other interacts with them normally

You can carve matching faces or give each pumpkin a completely different expression.

Best Friend Pumpkin Head Photoshoot Ideas

Think about normal things you would do together, then do them while wearing pumpkin heads. 

• Walking around or holding hands
• Sitting in the grass
• Having a picnic
• Dancing
• Reading magazines
• Carrying pumpkins
• Taking pictures of each other
• Lying down next to each other
• Peeking around trees
• Sitting in the back of a car

The more ordinary the activity is, the funnier the pumpkin heads can feel.

Family Pumpkin Head Photos

For a family Halloween photo, try a traditional group portrait with some or all of the adults wearing pumpkin heads. Younger kids can hold smaller pumpkins or stand beside the pumpkin-headed adults instead of wearing one.

You can also mix a few pumpkin head photos into a regular fall family session rather than making the entire gallery Halloween themed.

Choose a Simple Location

The pumpkin is already such a strong focal point that you don't need an elaborate setting. 

• An open field or tall grass
• A dirt road or tree-lined path
• A wooded area
• A pumpkin patch
• A backyard or front porch
• A quiet neighborhood
• Anywhere covered in fallen leaves

An ordinary location can actually make the giant pumpkin head feel even more unexpected.

Best Time of Day for a Pumpkin Head Photoshoot

The light you choose can completely change the mood of your pumpkin head photos.

Soft, Diffused Daylight

Overcast light or open shade gives you soft, even light with fewer harsh shadows. Choose this for a softer, nostalgic, or slightly cinematic look.

Golden Hour

The hour before sunset adds warm light and softer shadows, making orange pumpkins, brown corduroy, cream knits, denim, and fall foliage glow. It works especially well with Vintage Film or Vintage Autumn edits.

Dusk and Blue Hour

Just after sunset, the light becomes cooler and moodier while there is still enough ambient light to see the surroundings. This is also a great time to start experimenting with direct flash.

Nighttime With Flash

Direct flash after dark creates a vintage snapshot or old point-and-shoot feeling. Let the background stay dark while the pumpkin and outfit pop, then add a little grain in editing if you want an even more nostalgic finish.

Camera Settings for Pumpkin Head Photos

There isn't one perfect camera setting for every location, but these are good starting points.

For Natural Light

• Aperture: around f/2.8 to f/4 for one person

• Aperture: around f/4 to f/5.6 for couples or groups

• Shutter speed: around 1/250 second or faster

• ISO: start around ISO 100 to 400 and raise it as the light gets darker

• White balance: Auto works well for most situations, or adjust it later in Lightroom

Keeping your shutter speed around 1/250 second or faster is especially helpful if people are holding hands, moving, spinning, or doing more playful poses.

For a completely still portrait, you can sometimes use a slower shutter speed, but keeping it a little faster gives you more room for movement.

For Dusk or Night With Flash

Try starting around:

• Shutter speed: 1/125 to 1/200 second, while staying at or below your camera's flash sync speed

• Aperture: f/2.8 to f/5.6

• ISO: around ISO 100 to 800

• Flash: direct flash pointed toward your subject

Don't worry if the background gets dark. That's part of the look. You can expose for the person and pumpkin while allowing the surrounding trees, field, or night sky to fall into deeper shadows.

Don't Worry About Perfect Photos

Pumpkin head photos don't have to look polished. Crooked compositions, unusual crops, direct flash, motion blur, film grain, and imperfect poses can make the gallery more interesting.

Photograph the planned poses, but keep shooting between them too. Those in-between moments are often the best.

How to Edit Pumpkin Head Photos

Editing is where you can decide whether your pumpkin head photos feel warm and retro, dark and autumnal, richly spooky, like a compact digital camera, or soft and eerie in black and white.

Vintage Film Lightroom Presets

For warm, nostalgic, retro-film color, try our Vintage Film Lightroom Presets. 

They work especially well with denim, cream knits, stripes, fields, and casual pumpkin head photos when you want the finished images to feel like old prints.

Vintage Autumn Lightroom Presets

For richer, darker fall color, try our Vintage Autumn Lightroom Presets.

They bring out warm seasonal tones in fall leaves, brown clothing, corduroy, florals, fields, and golden-hour light.

Spooky Season Lightroom Presets

If you want the photos to feel unmistakably Halloween, try our Spooky Season Lightroom Presets.

Rich color, deeper blacks, and stronger orange tones work beautifully with pumpkin heads, black clothing, dark backgrounds, pumpkin patches, and fall foliage.

You can also browse our full collection of Spooky Lightroom Presets.

Canon G7X Lightroom Presets

For a casual compact-camera look, try our Canon G7X Lightroom Presets.

They work with both flash and non-flash photos and can give camera or phone images that candid, slightly nostalgic point-and-shoot feeling.

Old Soul Black & White Lightroom Presets

Black and white can make a playful pumpkin head portrait feel dreamy, cinematic, nostalgic, or slightly eerie.

Our Old Soul Black & White Lightroom Presets are especially beautiful for direct flash, strong shadows, headless edits, and moodier portraits.

Adjust Your Preset After Applying It

Presets are meant to be a starting point. After applying one, make a few quick adjustments if needed:

• Preset Amount: make the effect stronger or softer.
• Exposure: brighten or darken the individual image.
• White Balance: fine-tune the warmth and color.
• Grain: add or reduce texture depending on how nostalgic you want the photo to feel.

The same pumpkin head photo can look completely different depending on the preset you choose.

Can You Take Pumpkin Head Photos With a Phone?

Absolutely. The idea matters much more than the camera. For better phone photos:

• Tap the pumpkin or subject to focus.
• Lower the exposure slightly if the orange pumpkin looks too bright.
• Avoid digital zoom and physically move closer instead.
• Mix full-body photos, close-ups, details, verticals, horizontals, low angles, and photos from above.
• Use a tripod and timer or remote shutter if you're photographing yourself.
• At night, try your phone's flash instead of Night Mode for a direct-flash point-and-shoot look.

Plan a Few Photos, Then Experiment

Go into your photoshoot with a few must-have poses saved, then leave room to experiment.

• Peeking around a tree
• Lying in the grass
• A piggyback ride
• A headless pumpkin edit
• An unusual camera angle
• Photographing the moments between planned poses

Halloween is one of the best excuses to make photos that are a little strange.

Make It Your Own

Your pumpkin head photos can be cute, creepy, romantic, nostalgic, funny, moody, minimal, or completely weird. Choose clothes you love, a location that works for you, a few favorite poses, and an editing style that makes the finished gallery feel like yours.