Meet Our Creator of the Month, Guillaume Lemaire. One of the winners of our 2025 Halloween Contest, Guillaume wowed us with his hauntingly creative shoot. Known for blending atmospheric effects with striking visuals, Guillaume brought a cinematic vibe to their Halloween shoot, evoking the eerie charm of classic horror films. Using PMI Gear’s SmokeNINJA Pro machine paired with a Bubble Kit, he created a surreal mix of dense fog and shimmering smoke bubbles that added depth and drama to every frame. Read on for tips on how he uses PMI's fog machine and accessories for this shoot.
What’s the idea behind this shoot?
The idea was to recreate a true “pumpkin atmosphere.” And what better than a pumpkin emerging from a cornfield to reference classic old horror movies?
What techniques did you use to ensure the bubbles appeared how you wanted?
To make the bubbles stand out more, I usually use a backlight, which helps bring out their silhouette. It’s a technique I use a lot.
How do you use the fog machine outdoors effectively?
It depends — I always make sure there isn’t too much wind where I’m shooting. That’s the first thing I pay attention to. Then I always double-check that everything is fully charged before leaving for the shoot, so I don’t end up with any surprises on location.
What’s your go-to settings on the SmokeNINJA PRO fog machine?
I think my favorite setting is the thick smoke. It gives you a real density that looks great in photos!
What advice would you give to other creators looking to incorporate smoke bubbles and fog into their work?
Don’t overuse it. I tend to use it too often myself, and it takes away the “wow” effect in the images. You should use it only when it truly fits the artistic direction of the project — otherwise you lose a bit of that unique, magical impact.
About the Creator
Guillaume Lemaire is a portrait and wedding photographer based in Alsace, France. Passionate about photography since 2019, he has built his style around natural light, travel, and capturing genuine human emotion. As a content creator and educator, he regularly shares photography tips on Instagram and YouTube, documenting his portrait sessions across Europe — from Ireland to Italy, including Madeira and the Pyrenees.
An ambassador for Aftershoot, Nikon, and Nanlite, Guillaume promotes a modern approach to photography, blending creativity, education, and visual storytelling.
