White Bride Halloween Photoshoot: A Hauntingly Beautiful Collaboration
Every now and then, I get to step away from traditional portrait or fitness photography and dive into something a little darker, a little moodier—and a whole lot of fun. This Halloween-inspired shoot, which I like to call the White Bride, was one of those moments. It brought together haunting beauty, a touch of horror, and some incredible creative collaborators who helped bring this eerie vision to life.
The concept was simple but striking: a ghostly bride, pale and intense, emerging from the shadows. Think Victorian-era mourning meets supernatural elegance. I wanted to explore that intersection between beauty and fear—the kind of imagery that gives you chills, but makes you stare just a little longer.
Working with Stephaine, our model, was a dream. She brought this character to life with a chilling grace that instantly elevated the shoot. Her expressions were haunting and expressive, perfectly embodying the mysterious backstory we imagined for this bride: someone not quite of this world, possibly searching for something lost... or someone.
Special thanks to Stephaine for costuming, makeup and hair—she absolutely nailed the pale, almost porcelain look with dark, intense eyes. The contrast between light and shadow in her styling played perfectly into the overall mood. And of course, the custom white dress tied everything together. It had this timeless, spectral quality that made the whole story feel real—like we’d captured a ghost in mid-wander.
Lighting was key. I kept things dramatic—low-key setups with directional lighting to sculpt the face and create deep, moody shadows. The location also helped sell the concept; the slightly decayed, empty setting enhanced that haunted, abandoned feel we were going for.
This shoot was part passion project, part creative escape—and honestly, it reminded me why I love doing styled shoots like this. There’s freedom in taking a concept and running with it, especially when everyone on set is equally excited to create something a bit outside the norm.
Would I do another Halloween-themed shoot? Absolutely. The combination of atmosphere, storytelling, and raw visual impact makes these some of the most memorable images in my portfolio.
Until next time... keep things a little weird.
- Mark Ruddick Photography - My images are an exploration of the human body under muscle stress — understanding the body’s strength, flexibility, and power. Creating these images has given me a better understanding of the human form which has transitioned into my commercial fitness work.
I am a London, Ontario photographer who specializes in fitness, bodybuilding and fight photography.
I love to tell stories as anyone who's worked with me can attest. That includes visual stories through photographs. Let me tell your story and provide high impact images of you to sponsors, agencies, family or just for yourself.