Carolyn Braden's Ideas for Character Photo Shoots

Planning a photo shoot for a party or any occasion? Be creative and add a unique theme to your photo shoot.

Dress as famous historical movie characters for your photo shoot. Dress in a southern belle-style dress and become Vivien Leigh from "Gone With the Wind." Dress in a long, pink strapless gown and wear pink gloves and shimmering jewelry to become Marilyn Monroe from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Dress in a long, black sleeveless dress and wear black gloves, a pearl necklace, diamond earrings, and a tiara to become Audrey Hepburn from "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Your photos can be turned into movie posters and hung at the party venue. You can also dress as a movie character for your party and have your guests do the same.

If your birthday falls close to a holiday, your photo shoot can have a holiday theme. For Valentine's Day, dress as cupid with a bow and arrow, about to make a couple fall in love. For Easter, dress in a bunny costume and pretend to hide eggs in a field of flowers. For the Fourth of July, dress as Uncle Sam and point directly at the camera. Under the photo, print the  phrase "I want YOU to attend my party."  For Halloween, dress as a witch, ghost, or the Bride of Frankenstein. The witch can appear to be riding on a broom, the ghost can appear to be haunting a graveyard, and the Bride of Frankenstein can be in a stone walled room with chains and lights hanging from the ceiling. For Thanksgiving, dress as a pilgrim, searching for a turkey. You can have someone dress as the turkey or use a stuffed animal. For Christmas, dress as an angel and have a Christmas tree and presents surround you. The photos can be printed on party invitations.

Try replicating a film noir look for your photo shoot. Noir is a french word meaning "black." View film stills from Alfred Hitchcock movies. A horror film director and producer, Hitchcock used high contrasting blacks and whites in various scenes in order to scare his audience. Take silhouette photos of your face and body. Your shadow should be black against a white background. Include these photos on your invitation, hang them at your venue, and play famous scenes from Hitchcock films for ambiance.

Recreate famous works of art or become the artist in your photos. Become Frida Kahlo in her 1940 painting "Self-Portrait." Become Georgia O'Keeffe in Alfred Stiegliz's 1920 photo, "Georgia O'Keeffe." Recreate Andy Warhol's "A Shot of Marilyn Monroe" by turning your portrait into colorful pop art. Become your own crazy character like in one of Cindy Sherman's many "Untitled" works. Include your photos on the invitation and at the party venue. You could also enlarge some of the artist's original works to hang among your own photos.