Create Spooky Halloween Content With Your Smartphone: 5 Tips!

Maak griezelige halloween-content met je smartphone

Halloween is almost here, and that means it's time to get spooky! It's the perfect time to unleash your creativity and create the scariest content of the year. Whether you're making TikTok videos, giving your Instagram feed a spooky makeover, or creating spooky content for another purpose, you don't need expensive equipment. With just your smartphone and a few clever tips, you can whip up the scariest Halloween content in no time. Curious how? We'll give you five tips to make your Halloween shots truly creepy.

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1. Play with shadows and low-light

True horror truly comes alive in the dark! Low-light is your best friend for that spooky Halloween vibe. Low-light means turning down the brightness of your light for a more dramatic effect. Because your vision is slightly reduced, it adds a mysterious quality to your footage. Perfect for spooky content!

Experiment with shadows and use a handy, lightweight lamp like a MOJOGEAR Lumi RGB LED bulb to create just the right spooky atmosphere. Be sure to play around with the color and brightness settings of your lamp to create the best Halloween content you can imagine!

Consider using a lantern or candle for an old-fashioned, horror-inspired look. The flickering light adds just that little bit of extra tension to your shots. You can also create this effect with the Ulanzi i-light tube light .

You can find more lights and other products suitable for creating Halloween content in our Halloween gear collection.

rookmachine halloween

2. Create spooky special effects with smoke or fog

Nothing makes your Halloween content as creepy as a misty background. This complements the mysteriousness of the previous tip: if objects in your shots are less visible, you create a mysterious and eerie effect.

Smoke/fog adds an extra spooky touch: wait for the fog to descend in the early morning or create content any time of day with a smoke machine . Film close to the ground to enhance the effect and use the slow-motion function on your smartphone to ramp up the suspense. Trust us, your followers will love it.

3. Use portrait mode for a professional effect

Try this: use portrait mode on your smartphone.

With portrait mode, you essentially focus on a single object, blurring the background mysteriously. Use creepy props (props are items used in photoshoots or film productions) like pumpkins, masks, or a creepy silhouette for the subject in your photo. The trick is to bring the background into focus so that you can see something, but not everything in focus. This way, you create a mysterious effect, even though you can clearly see the main subject in your photo. This is the best way to give your photo a spooky atmosphere with minimal effort.

4. Turn your environment into a horror movie set with smart lighting

The right lighting makes your Halloween shot. With RGB lights, you can quickly give any scene a creepy upgrade. Use red for menace and drama, with orange for a "haunted" glow. Prefer something cooler, for a graveyard vibe? Choose blue with a touch of purple for that cold, spooky look.

Place your main light low or angled to the side for long shadows. Add a backlight behind your subject for a thin, narrow rim light. A bit too harsh? Place a diffuser or a white sheet of paper in front of the light. Reduce your EV slightly (−0.3/−0.7) for added contrast.

Want to add the finishing touches to your Halloween scene? Use fog or smoke. Combined with colorful lights, you'll create the scariest effect. Creepy, right?

Check out the lights, smoke machine, and Halloween gear we've selected specifically for creating Halloween content.

5. Use slow motion for scary details

Want to make your Halloween content extra exciting?
Then use the slow-motion function on your smartphone for videos. Imagine a slowly falling pumpkin or bats fluttering slowly across the screen. It instantly creates that creepy feeling. Try other movements as well, like a door slowly opening or a shadow suddenly sliding across a wall. Using slow-motion footage prolongs the suspense. People will want to keep watching because they want to see what happens. And with a scary soundtrack, you maximize the scary content.

Inspirational video

Looking for some inspiration? Then watch this video! It clearly shows how using RGB/LED lights at a lower brightness, smoke, and a good setting creates an exciting, scary, and mysterious effect!

Conclusion

So this is how you create the best Halloween content:

- Use shadows and low light
- Use smoke or fog
- Use portrait mode (professional - effect)
- Light up your setting with red (spooky) or blue (ghostly) hues
- Use slow motion in videos

With a little creativity and the right gear, you can create unforgettable Halloween content, all with just your smartphone. Ready to scare the hell out of your followers? Happy Halloween and have fun!

Be sure to check out our collection of Halloween gear , where we've selected the best products to create Halloween content!

We can't get enough of jump scares and that adrenaline rush! So don't forget to tag us in your scariest content!

Frequently Asked Questions about Halloween Content

Which smartphone settings are ideal for Halloween content in the dark?

Start with 1/60s, ISO 400–800, and EV −0.3. Use a tripod and timer/remote for sharp low-light shots.

How do I quickly create spooky shadows?

Use a single light source low or from an angle (1-2 meters away), a dark background, and set the EV to −0.3/−0.7. You'll see results immediately!

Can I create fog/smoke without a smoke machine?

Yes. Use old fog spray (don't forget to ventilate well so the smoke doesn't linger) or create your content outside. A quick test run will help you see if it works well and what you need to adjust. Don't forget to keep your phone and lights dry.

What are the best slow-motion settings for filming a Halloween video?

These settings work best: 120–240 fps; shutter ≈ 1/(2×fps) (e.g., 1/240s at 120 fps). Use additional LED lighting; this reduces noise.

What gear do I need for the best Halloween content?

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