Summoning Krampus
I am not exactly sure when this became a tradition. It was never planned or announced. A few years ago, my wife, Leslie, and I decided to do a Christmas themed photoshoot. Just one. Something fun and different. Somewhere along the way, without either of us really noticing, it turned into an annual ritual. Every year since, we have come up with a new idea or theme, something we want to create together before the season slips away.
This year, I felt drawn in a darker direction. Less glossy Christmas fantasy and more old world legend. One night, while sitting on the couch watching NCIS, I turned to Leslie and asked if we could talk about this year’s Christmas shoot. Then I asked how she would feel about doing a Krampus themed photoshoot.
She was immediately on board, with one condition. She wanted to include some classic pin up poses with Krampus.
Oh no, I said. Not that.
Which of course meant that was exactly what we were going to do.
From there, the planning began. We needed a model who could handle heavy prosthetic makeup, pull off a dark and ominous presence, and still have enough personality to lean into something playful. Finding the right person was not easy. Scheduling quickly became the biggest challenge, but eventually everything lined up. Our friend, model, and collaborator Will agreed to join us on a cold Thursday night after finishing a full workday.
That alone deserves recognition. Most people do not leave a long shift at work eager to drive forty five minutes, sit through an hour of prosthetic application, and then stand outside in the cold for a photoshoot. But Will did, and he did it with patience and enthusiasm. We could not have asked for a better person to bring this idea to life.
Leslie handled the costume and makeup from start to finish. My contribution was buying a Santa suit the day of the shoot. She did everything else. Designing, painting, airbrushing, distressing fabric, sculpting and applying prosthetics. I know how talented she is, but these themed projects always remind me just how much skill and artistry she brings to the table. The amount of work that goes into these looks is enormous, and it always shows in the final images.
Originally, I wanted to photograph Krampus in front of a large fire pit, using the flames to create dramatic silhouettes. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts and more lighter fluid than I care to admit, the fire never really cooperated. All I managed was a weak smolder. So we pivoted. Instead, I made a simple torch using a stick, some fabric, and lighter fluid, and suddenly we had the atmosphere we needed.
The photos turned out better than I expected. Many of my shoots rely heavily on post processing, but projects like this are different. They demand more attention to framing, lighting, and timing in the moment. When everything comes together on set, there is less fixing and more refining afterward.
While I still have a few pin up edits left to finish, the darker Krampus images came out exactly as I had hoped. They feel grounded, eerie, and just a little playful.
I am really proud of this one.
Enjoy.
