Every year, sometime after Labor Day, something wonderful happens. Autumn descends like a velvet curtain drawn over summer’s stage. There’s something about that first cool breath of September that stirs my soul. And every year, I fall in love with spooky season all over again. The moment the air turns crisp and the scent of pumpkin spice creeps into coffee shops, something shifts. For me, this magical, autumnal, spooky season stretches from early September to the final crackle of dead leaves underfoot in mid-November.
This is the season of foggy walks and flickering jack-o’-lanterns, of haunted houses, warm drinks, and candlelit windows—cozy nights filled with eerie charm. It’s when the ordinary feels a little enchanted, and everything outside takes on a shadowed, spookier glow.
To celebrate all of it, I’ve created something special for fellow spooky souls: a 40-item photo challenge to help you slow down, tune in to the atmosphere around you, and capture the strange beauty of the season. Think of it as part fall bucket list, part scavenger hunt, part creative ritual.
🔍 How It Works
Starting September 1st, try to photograph as many of the 40 items on the list as you can before spooky season ends in November. Let’s make the final day of the challenge November 15. You can post your photos on Instagram, Pinterest, or wherever you like using the hashtag #EerieEscapesChallenge—or keep them to yourself and complete the challenge in secret like a cozy little witch.
At the end of the season, I’ll choose one standout entry to receive a small spooky prize and be featured here on the blog.
Want a printable version of the list? Click here to download the 2025 checklist. You can keep it in your journal, on your phone, or tucked into your favorite ghost story paperback.
🍁 The 2025 Spooky Season Photo Challenge
Capture as many of these as you can:
- A jack-o’-lantern glowing at night
- A foggy morning walk
- Crunchy leaves underfoot
- A full moon rising
- A black cat sighting
- A candlelit dinner
- A haunted house (real or staged)
- A cemetery in golden hour
- A seasonal drink in a cozy setting
- A spiderweb catching the light
- A pumpkin patch
- A vintage or spooky thrift store find
- A street decorated for Halloween
- Your favorite scary book and a blanket
- An owl perched in a tree at dusk
- A grave with an unusual epitaph
- A broom, real or decorative
- A candy wrapper from your Halloween stash
- Something spooky in your neighborhood
- A doorway with autumn décor
- A glowing lantern
- A foggy window
- A crow, raven, or other ominous bird
- A mirror selfie in eerie lighting
- A handwritten creepy note
- A Victorian-style headstone
- An abandoned building with autumn leaves creeping in
- A piece of spooky jewelry or fall fashion
- A movie night setup with a horror film
- Your favorite fall candle
- A foggy forest path that disappears into the distance
- A roadside Halloween attraction
- A tree that looks haunted
- Something that looks cursed at a thrift store
- A scarecrow
- A weathered sign with spooky vibes (like “No Trespassing,” “Cemetery Entrance,” etc.)
- An old key or lock that looks mysterious
- Something broken that looks eerie (window, doll, chair, etc.)
- A “thin places” landscape—somewhere between worlds (misty shoreline, twilight forest, mountain overlook, windswept field, or other liminal place that feels otherworldly)
- A place that just feels haunted
🕯️ A Few Tips for the Journey
- You don’t need a fancy camera—your phone is perfect.
- Interpret the prompts however you want. If you find “a tree that looks haunted” in a grocery store parking lot, that still counts.
- Tag your photos with #EerieEscapesChallenge so I can find you and share favorites.
- Want to go all in? Create a photo album, journal, or story-style post to document your hunt.
🎁 End-of-Season Prize
One participant will receive a spooky surprise and a feature here on the blog. To enter, be sure your post or profile is public and uses the hashtag. Or, feel free to message me directly with your photo collection.
🍂 Let the Season Begin
Print the list. Light the candle. Watch for fog.
Spooky season is here, and it wants to be seen.