Spooky season is finally here! It's easily one of my favorite times of year, watching the creativity ooze out of people all over the world as they get dressed up  & unleash their creativity. From amazing makeup to home-made costumes, there isn't a better time to incorporate smoke bombs in your photos.

Jake from Shutter Bombs here, with some friendly tips and tricks to ensure your smoke bomb photos turn out amazing. Whether you have ordered your smoke bombs from us already or not, I'll share my deepest darkest secrets on how to make the best use out of our smoke bombs this spooky season.

8 Tips for Taking Amazing Halloween Photos with Smoke Bombs

There are so many key components that go into capturing amazing photos. For example:

1. Where to get the best smoke bombs (I know a guy)...
2. Different types of smoke bombs
3. The proper way to pull a smoke bombs
4. How to avoid the #1 mistake with smoke grenade photography
5. Model/subject movement
6. Different ways to incorporate the smoke bombs
7. Props to include in your session
8. Most importantly - smoke bomb safety

Let's dive in!

Where to Buy the Best Smoke Bombs

If you're wondering where to buy the best smoke grenades, you have come to the right place! At Shutter Bombs, we take pride in being the #1 smoke bomb supplier for photographers and have been the leading supplier for halloween smoke bombs since 2017.

We've been around since 2017 and have shipped well over 110,000 smoke bombs out to our customers. Our customer support is top notch, our products are the bomb (no pun-intended), and we offer the widest product selection with 9 colors for each product.  Save when you bundle through our halloween smoke bomb packs.

Different Types of Smoke Bombs

• The Original Shutter Bomb: Labeled (SBFX). By far our most popular product. Smoke lasts for 90 seconds and comes in 9 different colors. Our best price point per smoke. Perfect for all your spooky season needs. Smoke bomb colors: Black, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, and white.

• The Dual Vent: Labeled (Burst). Smoke emits from both sides and lasts for about 30 seconds. Comes in 9 colors. Great for photographers to create some amazing effects, typically best when your subject is holding them.

• The Professional Smoke Bomb: Labeled (SBFX). 2nd best seller, lasts for 90 seconds and puts out 2x the smoke as the original. Comes in 9 different colors. 

• The Big Daddy: Labeled (SBFX) Our newest and highest output smoke bomb, but lasts for 30-40 seconds. Comes in 9 different colors. 

If you ordered a combination of the originals + Professionals or Big Daddy; my recommendation is to always do a test pull with the original before you use the bigger ones.

How to Ignite Your Smoke Bomb

All of our smoke bombs use a ring-pull technology, meaning, you don't need a lighter to ignite them! Instead, there's a circle loop that comes with every smoke bomb that needs to be yanked in order for the smoke to disperse. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Arguably most important, you need to make sure you pull the ring straight out. Not up, not down, not diagonal - STRAIGHT OUT! The #1 reason for device failure is when the smoke is pulled incorrectly. 
2. You really need to YANK the ring - do not be shy! Once you do it a few times, you'll get the hang of it. It's not something you want to pull lightly on. Instead, get a good grip, and yank it back quickly! The main reason people end up pulling the pin up/down/diagonal is because they aren't pulling hard enough, so they end up pulling up or down to create more leverage. Don't be this person. 

#1 Mistake with Smoke Grenade Photography: Not Paying Attention to Wind

Wind direction is arguably one of the most important things to keep in mind for your photoshoot with smoke grenades. Wind is important to keep in mind for a few reasons:

1. You do not want the smoke blowing directly back to your subject/models face. 
2. The windier it is, the lest prominent the smoke will appear in pictures. Believe it or not, smoke carries with wind very easily - so do your best to shoot on a day when it's not super windy or find an area where your shielded from the wind. Tip: Find the backside of a building where the wind isn't as prominent, early mornings or late nights seem to also be less windy.

As a photographer, it's your job to make sure you're keeping wind direction (and speed) in mind and position yourself (and the model) accordingly. Nobody wants a face full of smoke, so make sure you've positioned them in a direction where the smoke isn't blowing directly back to them. Wind is also very unpredictable, so communicate with your subject before hand, and during the shoot, to have them rotate accordingly.

Creating Stunning Photos: Tips for the Subject/Model

Regardless of what people say, smoke bomb photography truly is an art. If you ignite the smoke bomb and start waving it around like a person on a sinking ship - the smoke isn't going to look as awesome as it could be. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. You want to make sure the model is doing SLOW movements with the smoke bombs. Slowly moving the smoke bomb up, down, or in circles work really well too! I repeat, VERY slow, almost like they're in slow-motion - this will allow the smoke to stay in one place and allow you to get as much smoke as possible in your shot.
2. Using two smoke bombs is also a really cool effect - but you'll need to help them ignite one of the smoke bombs and hand it off to them so you can capture the amazing shots! 

Best Way to Incorporate Smoke Bombs with Your Photos

Contrary to popular belief, the subject/model doesn't always need to be holding the smoke bombs. In fact, some of my favorite smoke grenade photos are ones where people AREN'T holding the smoke bombs. You can ignite the smoke bombs and place them in front, behind, or to the side of your subject/model to create a smokey overlay effect (super cool). Remember earlier when we talked about keeping wind direction in mind? This is another prime example of why you need to be aware of wind direction. If the wind is blowing from right to left, then you'll want to put the smoke bomb to the right of your subject so the smoke blows across/in front of them. If you're looking to make a pumpkin smoke bomb, then wind isn't going to have much of an impact since the smoke bomb will be within the actual pumpkin

Smoke Bomb Photography Ideas

There are so many different props and ways you can use smoke bombs for your smoke bomb photography sessions, but i'll outline my two favorite.

1. A carved pumpkin, in which you'll drop the smoke bomb into. These pictures turn out AMAZING and can be used in so many different ways. Whether the subject is holding it in front of their face so it looks like their head, or it's simply on the ground - a smoking pumpkin is something you must-try. 
2. An umbrella. An umbrella you say? Yes. Trust me on this....Having an umbrella to capture the smoke that rises up creates a stunning effect, keeping the smoke in one place - it's truly a work of art! 

Pumpkin Head Photoshoot Trends

If you're looking for all the different ways to use pumpkins and smoke bombs, we have you covered. We have all the ideas outlined for pumpkin head photoshoot couple, sexy pumpkin head photoshoot, pumpkin head trend, and much more! 

Smoke Grenade Safety

At the end of the day, these are pyrotechnics and can be dangerous. It's always recommended to wear safety equipment of some sort to prevent any unlikely malfunctions. 

1. Read Instructions Carefully: Before using a smoke bomb, read and understand the manufacturer's instructions and warnings. Each type of smoke bomb may have specific guidelines for safe use.

2. Use in Open Spaces: Deploy smoke bombs in well-ventilated, open areas to prevent inhalation of smoke and reduce the risk of fire. Confined spaces can lead to accumulation of smoke, which can be hazardous to breathe.

3. Keep Away from Flammable Materials: Smoke grenades can get hot and may ignite dry grass, leaves, or other flammable materials. Ensure the area around the deployment site is clear of such materials to prevent accidental fires.

4. Wear Protective Gear: Use gloves to handle smoke bombs, as they can become hot and may cause burns. Protective eyewear is also recommended to safeguard against smoke irritation and debris.

5. Monitor Wind and Weather Conditions: Be aware of the wind direction and speed, as well as overall weather conditions. Wind can carry smoke in unpredictable directions, and dry conditions can increase the risk of fire.

6. Dispose of Properly: After use, ensure the smoke bomb has completely cooled before disposing of it. Follow local regulations for disposal of pyrotechnic devices.

7. Keep Away from Children and Pets: Never allow children or pets to handle smoke bombs, and ensure they are a safe distance away when smoke bombs are activated.

8. Use for Intended Purposes Only: Only use smoke bombs for their intended purposes, and do not modify or attempt to disassemble them, as this can lead to unpredictable and dangerous outcomes.

9. Have a Fire Extinguisher Nearby: Always have a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water or sand nearby in case of an accidental fire.

10. Legal Compliance: Ensure that the use of smoke bombs is legal in your location, and comply with any local laws or regulations regarding their use.

Following these safety tips can help minimize risks associated with the use of smoke bombs, ensuring a safe experience for everyone involved.

I'd love to see all your spooky halloween photos so please make sure to TAG us on Instagram (@Shutterbombs). Putting @Shutterbombs in the comments doesn't do any good because I cannot go back and check these in my notifications. My notifications are a complete mess, and any comments get lost in the shuffle. However, when you tag us, it shows up in my profile and I consistently go back and check on those + repost on stories.

Happy Halloween and have a very spooky season! Here's a video from the one and only @BearShotz for more tips/tricks for shooting: