Looking for a unique and creative way to add some color to your next photoshoot? Smoke bombs are here to knock your socks off.
Often called smoke sticks, cakes, or grenades; these bursts of vibrantly-colored smoke bring the wow-factor to any photoshoot.
You may have seen smoke bombs used in gender reveal announcements, but they have so many other uses in photography. I personally think these work perfect for Halloween.
Let’s get into the tips and learn how to really make the most out of your smoke bomb photoshoot.
Everything you Need to Know about Smoke Bomb Photography
What are smoke bombs?
Essentially, smoke bombs are fireworks that produce colored smoke for up to 90 seconds when ignited.
What are the types of smoke bombs?
Smoke bombs come in several different forms, including cakes, grenades/balls, and sticks. They are ignited by fuses, pull rings, or are lit directly like incense. Some are just the colored smoke cake and some have packaging for easy handling. The type you choose to work with will depend on our desired results and experience.
Where can I get smoke bombs?
Small smoke bombs are often sold at firework stores, but these are useless for photography. For full color, long-lasting smoke bombs you want to use a more professional product. My favorite brands are Smoke.Effect and Shutter Bomb - Affiliate Link here.
Smoke Cakes
I ordered these smoke cakes on Amazon just to see what they were all about. They do not have any pull-tab or fuse and are lit similarly to the way you would light incense.
Compared to the professional product, I noted the following:
Pros:
They can be broken apart for multiple uses
Inexpensively priced for a multi-colored pack
Cons:
Trickier to light as they are lit like incense
Since there’s no packaging, you can not hold them in your hand, and are a bit messier
Took a while to ship
Some arrived broken
The smoke they produce is less vibrant and less dense. This makes them great for small props around the face or with children or those that are sensitive to smoke. Overall, these are a great place to inexpensively practice working with smoke bombs or to use as recommended above.
Smoke Balls/Grenades
These are like the Gucci version of the smoke bombs you can buy at your local firework store. They are lit with a fuse and ideal for tossing in props. They are small, but strong, and produce an abundance of thick-colored smoke for their small size.
Smoke Sticks
If you’re really looking to make a statement with your photos, go for a smoke stick. These will create those big clouds of smoke you often see in smoke bomb photography.
The ease of handling, igniting, color vibrancy, and general production of active colored smoke make these perfect for photoshoots.
What I really like about these is how well they create a smokey background. Since they are so big, the smoke will often linger in the background while it’s still smoking around your subject.
These sticks can be held in your hand and can be single or double-sided, with smoke coming out of both ends. Single-sided smoke bombs will last longer than double-sided smoke bombs.
Tips and Tricks for Epic Smoke Bomb Photography
- Remember you are working with smoke. It cannot be controlled and you have a short amount of time to capture the shot before the smoke changes.
- Get your settings right, nail down your angels, adjust all the props, and then get the smoke going.
- Pre-plan every pose and practice shooting them before adding the smoke. This way, you know what you need to shoot and your model knows which way to move. You do not want to be scrambling to direct a model while the color is wafting away.
-Have both the model and photographer prepared to move around. The smoke can quickly overpower an area if you keep it in one spot. To get the best shot, move around and move the bombs.
- Pick a day with NO wind. The wind is going to cause the smoke to separate and lose any distinct shapes of the clouds and cover your subject more quickly.
- To create an aesthetic distinct smoke trail, move the smoke bomb back and forth as it’s smoking, holding it in place for a few seconds each time you move it. This will allow the smoke to clear in one area and allow you to bring it back, essentially wiping the area clean and making it look like the smoke has just started.
- Have your model or subject step in and our of the smoke cloud with your camera on the shutter to increase your chances of the perfect smokey shot.
- Experiment with a fan, different light sources or tie the bomb on strings and spin them for cool effects.
Cautions
- Do not forget this is a firework! They can spark and get hot. When choosing a brand, definitely make sure your bombs are cool burning and safe to hold in your hand.
- Since technically, these can burn, pop, or explode, keep them away from your face as best you can.
- Always have a bucket of water nearby just incase
- If you are going for the pumpkin shoot, it will stain your pumpkin, so start with the lighter colors first or prepare to photoshop as I did!
Frequently asked Questions
Are they hot in your hand?
Not really, so long as you don’t touch the part that is actively smoking
What is the best bomb for a gender reveal?
If you plan to put it inside of something, the grenade is the perfect amount of smoke to announce the gender while still allowing for plenty of good photos. The bigger sticks smoke a lot and might not be what you are going for.
Do they stain?
I have not experienced any clothing stains, but the smoke can stain concrete/grass if you put the smoking side on the ground. You will see this with double-sided bombs or if it gets knocked over.
Do they smell?
Yes, they smell a little bit like fireworks, which is not a bad smell to me.
Photoshoot, Prop and Pose Inspiration
This is where you can be the most creative. Use the smoke in props or behind your subjects for seriously spooky and creative photos sure to impress anyone.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with your photos. Where would you normally find smoke? Some ideas to play with are army, fire, graveyard, zombie, or gas masks. Since these can go in props throw them in cauldrons, bottles, pumpkins, or even just hold the sticks in your hand.
