What Is The Ghost Photoshoot TikTok Trend? People Dressing Up As Ghosts Using White Sheets Explained

A TikTok trend where people dress up as ghosts to take cutesy Halloween-themed photoshoots was all the rage in the Fall of 2020, and it's making a comeback in the year 2023. Just in time for the spooky season, the latest videos following the trend have been inundated with people expressing their nostalgia for 2020 internet trends.

Each video is set to the hugely popular, algorithm-friendly TikTok song "Oh Klahoma" by Jack Stauber, but it still sparked some backlash on X (formerly Twitter) after veteran internet journalist Taylor Lorenz covered the story. Here's everything you need to know about every iteration of the ghost photoshoot trend, from conception to rebirth.

Where Did The Ghost Photoshoot TikTok Trend Originate?

In September 2020, TikToker @jackjanson88 posted a series of photos showing himself dressed up as a ghost using a sheet with cutouts for his eyes. Posed along various empty pathways, the nostalgic imagery of the video was a hit with viewers, gathering a million views in over a week.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6870497356673043718

How Did The Ghost Photoshoot TikTok Trend Spread?

Soon after the virality of @jackjanson88's video, various TikTokers recreated his Ghost Photoshoot and posted videos and photos of themselves dressed up in white sheets as well. TikTokers @katyya and @jadenellison08 were two early adopters of the trend, gathering over a million plays on each of their videos.

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6872113604548742406

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6871756199407160581

https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/6872162093462867205

Why Did Taylor Lorenz Face Backlash For Her Coverage Of The Trend?

Websites like HITC and Distractify published articles on the trend soon after videos under the hashtag #GhostPhotoshoot gathered over 500 million views collectively. Journalist Taylor Lorenz covered the trend as well, posting a few photos from various ghost photoshoots on her X (then Twitter) profile.

Various people responded to Lorenz's post saying that they found the use of white-sheeted costumes and primarily white participants suspect, but faced pushback on their characterization of a harmless TikTok trend themselves.

What Was The 2023 Resurgence Of The Ghost Photoshoot TikTok Trend?

In October 2023, various popular TikTok creators posted videos participating in the trend, with TikTokers @benjikrol and @natalieewoodsss posting videos that gathered several million views apiece.

@benjikrol someone complained to the hotel that we were on the roof 😭 @Nic Kaufmann @Benji Krol ♬ Oh Klahoma – Jack Stauber

@natalieewoodsss Heres your sign to grab some friends and do the ghost photoshoot trend #halloween2023 #ghosttrend #ghostphotoshoot #fyp #halloween #ghost ♬ original sound – Natalie Woods

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For the full history of the ghost photoshoot trend, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.