Halloween Boudoir is So Fun it’s Scary!

halloween boudoir inspiration! Queer boudoir for LGBTQ+ people by Philly queer photographer Neon Velvet Studio
Italian horror boudoir with dramatic lighting and moody film noir vibes
Crown yourself queen of your favorite romantic fantasy with limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

It’s Halloween Boudoir season again, so let’s get into a few ways you can add a little pumpkin spice to your boudoir session! 👻

I’m a gay goth goblin so it’s probably no surprise to hear I love Halloween and the season that surrounds it. It’s leather jacket weather, the air is crisp but not too cold, leaves crunch when you step on them, and I’m not the only one listening to The Cramps and hanging out in cemeteries. I’ve got a great group of spooky friends and clients, so it’s only natural that energy creeps into my boudoir photography.

Let’s look at four basic categories of halloween hottie!

Sweet Treats

This one’s for my lifestyle spooky babes, who keep halloween in their hearts year-round. Your perfect boudoir session is dark and moody, atmospheric, dramatic, a little creepy cute, smolderingly sexy. Maybe you dream of witchy boudoir to help you cast a spell on your sweetie with a one-of-a-kind photo album!

Maybe you're a witchy woman looking to hex your ex this Valentine's Day? Or want a halloween session that's more cute than creepy? No judgment, bestie!

Spicy Pumpkins

Where are my sirens? Those who embrace sensuality all the time, and are looking to Halloween for an excuse to live out their particular dark romance fantasies! Maybe that scream mask hair pull TikTok awakened something in you. Your dream session a mix of drama, kink, nudity, and maybe fake blood or Evil Dead style black ooze. (Note: I’m keeping reference images here suuuuper PG but please don’t feel limited by that!)

Will you be the hero or the villain in a dark romantic fantasy? Limited edition sets like the Dark Garden of Eden at Neon Velvet Studio! Photography by Cassandra Panek in Philadelphia, PA

Spooky Cuties

You’re a halloween movie buff! Are you planning a Beetlejuice boudoir look while you’re reading this? Maybe you’ve been working on a sexy cosplay of an original character or a fan favorite. You’re delighted by fantasy boudoir, elaborate costumes, theme sets. More is more, and you really bring your best this time of year.

witchy halloween boudoir with candles and skulls for creepy queer cuties by LGBTQ photographer Neon Velvet Studio in suburban Philadelphia, PA

Autumn Vibes

This is for my babes who aren’t into all the halloween stuff. They want a little candy, some pretty leaves, and a nice latte! You love dress up but like to keep it cute, so maybe you’re a Pink Pony Girl looking for your fantasy dance club photoshoot. Your perfect halloween mask involves lace and rhinestones, more masquerade than mask. You get the picture.

is your halloween boudoir vibe more masquerade than mask?

Halloween Boudoir Inspiration: How to Get the Halloween Spirit

You’ve got a lot of options to make your photos a scream, whether you’re doing a professional boudoir photography session or taking some sexy spooky selfies! Here’s some things to help you prepare:

  • Choose your vibe: are you silly, spooky, or scary? Horror comedy, or dark thriller?
  • Pick thematic outfits. This can be anything from goth lingerie to something straight from the scenes of your favorite final girl or haunted horror.
  • Get atmospheric. Setting is huge! Maybe you’re a Scream fan, so you want to do your session in an oversized sweater in a kitchen while making some stovetop popcorn! Or the isolated woods are calling you.
  • Lighting matters! Deep ominous shadows and color gels can help create a dark and moody boudoir vibe to perfect your scenery and get that Dracula vibe.
  • The devil’s in the details. What little elements can you add to really put the last nails in the coffin? Claw-like fingernails, fantasy contact lenses, ominous ooze? Props are great so don’t forget candles, candy, jack-o-lanterns, or your favorite crystal ball.
  • Shy? Halloween boudoir is a great opportunity to wear a mask or get out of your shell and into character.

Final Girl Final Thoughts

The most important part of boudoir in general–and halloween boudoir in particular–is to have fun. In my opinion classic boudoir photography is a great opportunity to see yourself in a new way, and themed boudoir sessions are perfect for trying something fun and maybe a little unusual for you! So what are you waiting for? Get your selfie setup and start snapping, or schedule your free consultation for a session with me!

Explore Your Dark Fantasy in the Dark Garden of Eden

Star in your own dark fantasy romance

Did the Dark Garden set building post make you curious for more? Let me help you picture yourself in the Dark Garden of Eden.

Are you:
✧ Corporeal (possibly involuntarily, because you’ve been cursed by a witch)
✧ Extremely into halloween, cosplay, or sweeping dramatically into a room in a floor-length gown
✧ Looking for any excuse to wear a crown
✧ Someone who looks at fantasy romances and thinks, ‘hmm, could be gayer.’
✧ Exploring your sensual side (ominous, possibly as a threat)
✧ Ready to risk it all for forbidden knowledge of the arcane
✧ A will-o-the-wisp
✧ A crone who Knows Too Much
✧ Lowkey obsessed with being a Fae Prince (in a very hot and genderqueer way)
✧ Afraid for your mother to see just which books you read last year (ahem, dark romance readers)
✧ Into the Dark Maximalism or Dark Academia aesthetic

If you answered yes to three or more of the above, it sounds like your butt belongs in the Dark Garden!

Set Building: Dark Garden of Eden

Maybe it’s because I’m a photographer and a set building nerd, but I love to see process photos of how a series of images or a set are conceptualized and created! Here’s the first inkling of the Dark Garden of Eden set:

As you can see, the inspiration was darkness, gold, and roses. Maybe you’re looking at this thinking, ‘Wow, Cassie really loves red!’ and in 2024 that’s probably true! But it still feels surprising to me because I so rarely shot with a heavy red influence until the last few years!

I wanted greenery but not too green. I wanted it to be lush and detailed but not chaotic. So I began building…

…and this is when the Eden portion arrives! I thought, ‘More gold!’ and started buying and painting toy snakes, a totally normal expense to have to explain to my accountant as a boudoir photographer!

https://www.tiktok.com/@neonvelvetstudio/video/7128810239994137902?_r=1&_t=8imjYMhyBze

It’s difficult to paint with one hand and video with the other. But the vibe continued to expand as I added light and tested how it would look with the prisms I like to use when shooting…

https://www.tiktok.com/@neonvelvetstudio/video/7129185240781786414?_r=1&_t=8imjcuZkGbu

… and here we are, after hundreds of red fairy lights, dozens of roses, yards of black lace and greenery panels!

A versatile and moody fantasy boudoir vibe for all my dark queens and kings (and queer-coded villains, I love you). It’s a little bit fairy tale, but the dark foreboding kind that suggests maybe you’re more witch than princess. It’s a set in which you can be your own dark romance.

Dark Garden of Eden returns for a limited time in my suburban Philadelphia studio June 2024 for your choice of a mini session, deluxe session, or couples session (bring a sweetheart or a friend, or if you’re into booktok tropes, a friend you’re hoping might become a sweetheart?). Prepayment plans are available! Come see what romantic vibes are in the air.