Halloween is a great time to take photographs. Whether you are taking them of children as they trick-or-treat or adults at an office party, the opportunities for fun photos and capturing otherwise camera-shy individuals on film, albeit disguised, are abundant.

The New York Institute of Photography offers these tips for taking great Halloween pictures:

1. Know what the subject of your photograph is. For instance, is it a particular aspect of a costume or the expression on someone's face?

2. Determine how you can focus attention on the subject.

3. Ask yourself if there is a way to simplify the subject. Too often we try to crowd too much into our holiday photos, resist the temptation and you will have more success.

4. If you are photographing children, get down on their eye level, don't shoot downwards at them.

5. If you are photographing more than one person, get them as close together as possible.

6. Be sure to get photos of people both in full costume and with their makeup or mask removed, so they can be easily identified after the party is over.

7. Lighting makes or breaks Halloween pictures. When possible, shoot in low light or shadows. Use "ghoul" lighting, that is light from a flashlight, reflected candle or firelight, or other light source shining upwards, especially when taking close-up photos of faces. This changes the shadows and planes of the face, giving them an eerie appearance.

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