Castle Combe Horror Photoshoot
Castle Combe might be known as one of England’s prettiest villages, but it also happens to be absolutely perfect for my atmospheric horror photography. Last month, I took Ivy Malice there for a spooky Castle Combe photoshoot, and considering it was the height of summer, the results were just as moody as I’d hoped for.
Why I Chose Castle Combe for a Photoshoot
The medieval architecture in Castle Combe is genuine. It hasn’t had any new construction since the 1600s. The beautiful old buildings and narrow streets made the perfect backdrop.
During the day, it’s all tourists, but in the morning, it is quiet and eerie, which is exactly the vibe we were going for.
The village has stayed largely unchanged; the only modern intrusions that got in the way of the shots were the double yellow lines, which I mostly edited out in post. Although I’m grateful for their existence because I’d imagine it would be a nightmare with the amount of people that turned up by 10am.
Planning the Castle Combe Photoshoot
I’d had the location saved in a little ‘horror shoot location’ file for ages. It’s only about an hour from home, so the idea was to get there shortly after sunrise and do the photoshoot while it was quiet.
I brought period props to enhance the supernatural feel: vintage lace veils and flowing fabrics that would work with the medieval setting. The key was choosing pieces that complemented rather than competed with the village’s natural character. Ivy brought along a brass candelabra, which looked incredible in the photos, even if we couldn’t keep the damn candles lit.
The plan was to then head up to Castle Combe Woods for some vampiric shots with lots of fake blood. This turned out to be a great idea but the walk with all the heavy gear felt extremely long!
Technical Considerations for Location Work
Shooting in Castle Combe comes with practical challenges. The riverside is a bit dicey when your model’s wearing a floor-length veil. I kept an eye on her footing the entire time.
The village also deserves complete respect – it’s a real place where people live, not just a backdrop. We kept our setup minimal and made sure all flames were properly controlled, and during the morning portion of the photoshoot, we whispered so we didn’t disturb anyone.
The weather in the Cotswolds is unpredictable, as it is everywhere in the UK, but that overcast sky actually worked in our favour. Cloudy days are perfect for creating moody atmospheric shots without harsh shadows.
This was Ivy’s first outdoor horror session after working exclusively in studios and doing burlesque. She was brilliant to work with – completely up for experimenting with the aesthetic I had in mind and didn’t let the elements bother her.
Results from the Shoot
Our Castle Combe photoshoot produced exactly the ethereal, ghostly images I was after. The contrast between the village’s olde worlde prettiness and our darker aesthetic created something awesome.
Working with authentic medieval architecture added layers you can’t recreate elsewhere. The look of each building (and the bridge) contributed to the gothic narrative we were building.
Ivy took to outdoor horror photography naturally. Her willingness to embrace the concept and work with the environment rather than against it made all the difference to the final images.
Tips for Your Own Castle Combe Photoshoot
If you’re planning to do photography in Castle Combe, whether it’s a Halloween shoot or an engagement photoshoot, timing is everything. Avoid peak tourist hours and respect the fact that people actually live there, so please be quiet and respectful.
You should be able to embrace the village’s natural elements rather than trying to impose your vision on them.
Bring props that enhance the setting without overwhelming it. Castle Combe has enough character on its own; your job is to complement that, not compete with it.
The weather will do what it wants, so be flexible. I personally think Castle Combe looks best under a moody, dark sky, so sunshine would have been slightly disappointing, but we would have worked it out. The only thing that would have put a nice cherry on the cake was if it had rained. Castle Combe looks incredible after rain!
If you don’t want to miss out on future shoots, give me a follow on Instagram as I post all new stuff there first.
