Just a normal, lovely day photographing this family in Holly Springs. Surrounded by sensational skulls, beautiful bats, sublime serpents, spirited skeletons, gorgeous gourds, and breathtakingly “restored” babydolls, I set about photographing this family with all the whimsical trimmings of the Halloween season. The kids went on a hunt for the elusive seasonal pumpkin eggs, containing treats and occasionally cash. The family decorated their beautiful black tree, adorning it with vomiting jack-o-lanterns and zombie unicorns, all while being watched over by a charming 8′ skeleton who eternally places a giant eyeball on the tree top. Melanie and Ryan celebrated the season by opening a box of “aged” cereal that they were letting ripen until the exact right moment, and grimaced with what I can only assume was sheer delight as they ate hardened bites of expired food from ~2018. Their cat Chloe participated by dressing up as a bat and modeling in the most adorable way in front of a black tea set. Finally, a killer clown emerged with an enormous, glimmering pair of scissors and chased everyone around – presumably to give them free haircuts, how nice. I love this family and their love for Halloween, which continues to live in all of our hearts 365 days a year. And always remember, if you can’t summon the flames directly from Hell, store-bought is fine.
![8' skeleton hanging an eyeball on a Halloween tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0001-1.jpg)
![Cat walking past couch with a Creepshow blanket on it](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0002-1.jpg)
![Family running and hugging in a backyard in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0003-1.jpg)
![Gray cat sitting with a Halloween tea set and bats coupled with a picture of a mother and daughter hugging outside](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0004-1.jpg)
![A variety of Halloween costumes laying on the floor](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0005-1.jpg)
![Dad giving his daughter a piggyback ride coupled with a picture of a Halloween themed entryway](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0006-1.jpg)
![Shelves around a TV covered in Halloween town houses](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0007-1.jpg)
![Family hugging and laughing in the backyard in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0008-1.jpg)
![Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy Krueger Nike shoes](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0009-1.jpg)
![An orange ceramic Halloween tree sits on a green end table and pictures of a Horror memorabilia collection on a shelf](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0010-1.jpg)
![Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0011-1.jpg)
![Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0012-1.jpg)
![Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0013-1.jpg)
![Chucky doll in a box coupled with a picture of a mother hugging her daughter](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0014-1.jpg)
![Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0015-1.jpg)
![Picture of parents with their kids wrestling in the backyard in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0016-1.jpg)
![Big sister holding her little sister coupled with a picture of skeletons lying in lounge chairs next to a pool](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0017-1.jpg)
![Mother and daughter laughing during family photos in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0018-1.jpg)
![Family laughing during Holly Springs family photos](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0019-1.jpg)
![Pictures of Lemax Spookytown Halloween houses on a shelf, a Viewfinder, and the Gremlins 2 soundtrack on vinyl](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0020-1.jpg)
![Father giving his daughter a piggyback ride](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0021-1.jpg)
![Gray cat sitting with a spooky black tea set and bats on the wall for Halloween](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0022-1.jpg)
![Father picking up daughter outside in North Carolina](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0023-1.jpg)
![Horror movie rug and Lemax Spookyhouse](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0024-1.jpg)
![Mother and daughter hugging while the mom laughs outside in Holly Springs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0025-1.jpg)
![Collection of fake Halloween weapon props](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0026.jpg)
![Parents laughing outside in a yard in Holly Springs while hugging](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0027-1.jpg)
![Gray cat with green eyes sitting on kitchen counter](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0028-1.jpg)
![Two sisters hang out by the side of a swimming pool in fall](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0029-1.jpg)
![Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0030.jpg)
![Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0031.jpg)
![Sisters going on a Halloween egg hunt around house](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0032.jpg)
![A collection of colored Halloween artwork hangs on a wall](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0033.jpg)
![Girl opens up an orange Halloween egg with money inside](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0034.jpg)
![Sisters sit on a couch next to a fireplace and a giant skeleton and open Halloween eggs](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0035.jpg)
![Girl opens up an orange Halloween egg with money inside](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0036.jpg)
![Parents stand by a couch and laugh](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0037.jpg)
![Sisters sit on a couch and open up orange Halloween eggs to see what they got after their hunt](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0038.jpg)
![Mom shows daughter Halloween ornaments for tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0039.jpg)
![Eight foot skeleton stands in living room and holds an eyeball tree topper for a Halloween tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0040.jpg)
![Girl hangs pumpkin ornament on a black Halloween tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0041.jpg)
![Mother and daughter decorate black Halloween tree with horror ornaments next to eight foot tall skeleton in living room](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0042.jpg)
![Eyeball horror ornament hangs on tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0043.jpg)
![Skull heart ornament hangs on black Christmas tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0044.jpg)
![Sisters decorate black Halloween tree with horror ornaments next to eight foot tall skeleton in living room](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0045.jpg)
![Horrorments hang on black Halloween tree](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0046.jpg)
![Family decorating black Halloween tree with horror ornaments](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0047.jpg)
![Girl crouched down on the kitchen floor giving gray cat a kiss on the head](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0048.jpg)
![Gray cat with green eyes walking toward you on kitchen floor](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0049.jpg)
![Woman putting a Halloween bat costume on her gray cat](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0050.jpg)
![Gray cat with green eyes walking around with a Halloween bat wing costume](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0051.jpg)
![Gray cat with green eyes walking around with a Halloween bat wing costume](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0052.jpg)
![Teenage girl sitting with her arm around cat in stairway](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0053.jpg)
![Dad helping his daughter with cup o noodle Halloween costume in living room](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0054.jpg)
![Gray cat walking around the house](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0055.jpg)
![Girl prepares Ramen in kitchen while gray cat watches](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0056.jpg)
![Dad puts away something in a kitchen cabinet while daughter prepares Cup o Noodles soup](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0057.jpg)
![Gray cat lies in a sunbeam on the kitchen counter](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0058.jpg)
![Girl prepares cup of noodle soup on kitchen counter](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0059.jpg)
![Cup of Noodles sits next to a bowl with cat chopsticks leaning on it](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0060.jpg)
![Girl in Noodles Halloween costume laughing in kitchen as she prepares noodle soup](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0061.jpg)
![Girl in Noodles Halloween costume laughing in kitchen as she prepares noodle soup coupled with a girl in a dark fairy costume plays piano](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0062.jpg)
![Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings plays piano in a parlour](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0063.jpg)
![Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings sits next to the piano and smiles while wearing black flower crown](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0064.jpg)
![The back of a girl wearing dark fairy wings playing piano in a living room that's decorated for Halloween](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0065.jpg)
![Girl with fishnet gloves for Halloween playing piano](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0066.jpg)
![Girl in a dark fairy costume with black wings plays piano in a parlour](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0067.jpg)
![Girl wearing a dark fairy costume with black wings walks through a sunlit living room](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0068.jpg)
![Family standing around kitchen making Noodle Soup](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0069.jpg)
![Mom helping daughter prepare noodle soup in the kitchen](https://www.carolynscottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-02_0070.jpg)
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