Night portraits: city lights, bokeh and flash balance

Night portraits can be magical, with a softly lit face against a background of glowing bokeh.

Use available light

Position your subject under a street lamp, in front of a shop window or near neon signs. Fast lenses at f/1.2 to f/1.8 make it possible.

Create bokeh

Place the subject far from background lights and use a long lens, such as an 85mm f/1.4. Lights turn into round, colorful balls.

Add flash

An off-camera flash with a small softbox lights the face while a slow shutter, 1/30 to 1/60, keeps the background bright. Use rear curtain sync for natural motion.

LED panels

A small LED panel offers constant light you can see, ideal for video and beginners. Add colored gels for creative looks.

White balance

Choose whether to match the subject’s light to the background. Gelling a flash orange to match street lights keeps colors coherent.

Keep it sharp

Use stabilization, eye AF and ask subjects to stay still.