Dan McClanahan and his wife Alex will be celebrating the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II” by throwing a costume party at McClanahan Studio. The event will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

McClanahan Studio is the site of their photography service, which shoots photos for weddings, advertisements and general events.

Dan and Alex graduated from Iowa State in 2008. They opened McClanahan Studio the following year.

“We started a studio because we thought we could do things, and thought we could be more fun, edgy and modern,” Dan said. “There are some really great photographers, but on the whole it’s more traditional [in Ames].”

Dan defined his photography as vibrant, and said it has been received positively by clients.

“It’s … free-flow and colorful,” Dan said of his style. “It’s cutting edge. It’s been received really well.”

The McClanahans wanted to have a Harry Potter-themed festival because they are fans of the series. They grew up with the Harry Potter series.

“I read the first book when I was little, so I was the same age as Harry,” Dan McClanahan said. “He was evolving as I was evolving. In that regard, it was a memorable part in my upbringing.”

The number of clients who came to them wanting Harry Potter themed-pictures encouraged the McClanahans to pursue the idea of a party.

“We had the idea just casually with clients,” Dan said. “One senior brought her books and a wand to a photo session, and from there we talked about Harry Potter.”

Plans kept gestating as they continued to shoot photos with Harry Potter themes. The first Harry Potter-themed party they shot was an event for a wedding.

“For the very first one, we had some of our brides and grooms,” Dan said. “There was another couple who looked exactly like Harry and Ginny.”

The couple enjoys these events because they give them a reason to dress up and spend time with clients.

“When you work with somebody, you bond, and many times you don’t get together,” Dan said. “Though in this case we do, and can continue to build those relationships.”

The only rule for the event is that all attendees must come in costume. Guests generally show up in a custom costume.

“Last time, everyone made their own costume,” Alex said. “Some of them went to Goodwill or the Salvation Army for the material to make their costumes.”

There will be many activities guests can participate in at the event.

“Guests will be able to have their picture taken in their costume,” Alex said.

The couple saw the first costume party, which was for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” as a success.

“It went really well,” Alex said. “Everyone got their photo taken and could post it on Facebook. There [were] Harry Potter-themed snacks and foosball [games].”

One of the most memorable costumes was worn by former ISU basketball center Ross Marsden.

“Marsden came dressed up as Hagrid,” Dan said. “It was great. It worked because he is so tall.”

The next event for “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I” had more guests because of the success of the first event.

“Next year we got bigger. We had 40 people for ‘Deathly Hallows, Part I.’ It was really fun,” Dan said.

As part of the this year’s event, guests will watch “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I.”

“They can watch that and get refreshed for Part II,” Alex said.

The event will conclude before the midnight showing of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II” takes place.

Dan believes that book series like Harry Potter can bring friends together because of their cross-cultural popularity.

“It seems pretty universally liked,” Dan said. “I don’t think there has been a phenomenon as widespread.”