Tips for shooting a film at night

The movie magic often happens at night

Filming at night can really bring a unique vibe to your project, but it definitely requires some extra thought and planning. When you dive into your nighttime shoot, start by considering your lighting. It’s amazing how the right lights can completely transform a scene. Using a mix of artificial lights, like LEDs or softboxes, can help you illuminate your subjects nicely. And don’t overlook practical lights—those streetlights or lamps can add a really authentic touch and enhance the overall mood.

Use the sunset to your advantage

Using the sunset to your advantage can elevate your film beautifully! The golden hour, which occurs just before sunset, offers soft, warm light that can add a magical quality to your scenes. Here’s how you can make the most of it.

First, timing is key. Plan your shoot to coincide with the golden hour. This window usually lasts about an hour, depending on your location and the time of year, so be sure to arrive early. This gives you time to set up and get ready before the light starts to change dramatically.

When the sun begins to dip, the quality of light becomes really flattering. This warm glow can enhance skin tones and create a dreamy atmosphere. Position your subjects so that the light hits them at an angle—this will create depth and dimension. Backlighting your subjects can also produce beautiful silhouettes, which can be striking if you’re aiming for a more dramatic effect.

Abdul sets up for a beautiful evening shot.

Don't forget about your surroundings. The sky can transform into a stunning canvas of colors—think oranges, pinks, and purples. Incorporate the horizon or interesting clouds into your shots to make the most of this backdrop. You might even want to experiment with different angles and compositions to capture the light and colurs effectively.

Another tip is to use reflectors. These can bounce that gorgeous sunset light back onto your subjects, helping to fill in shadows and maintain detail in their features. It’s a simple way to enhance your shots without overpowering the natural beauty of the sunset.

As the sun goes down, be mindful of the changing light. The warmth will fade, and you might need to adjust your camera settings accordingly. Keep an eye on your exposure; as it gets darker, you may have to increase your ISO or open your aperture wider to maintain the right balance.

Give yourself plenty of time - If you're shooting a film at night, start during the day! Don't leave it to the last minute!

ISO and Exposure when shooting a film at night time

When you’re shooting at night, exposure becomes a balancing act. You want to let in enough light to capture your scene clearly, but you also want to avoid overexposing highlights, which can wash out your image. The exposure triangle—comprising aperture, shutter speed, and ISO—helps you achieve this balance.

Aperture is the first piece of the puzzle. A wider aperture (like f/1.8 or f/2.8) allows more light to hit the sensor, making it easier to capture details in low-light conditions. This not only brightens your image but can also create a lovely depth of field, blurring backgrounds and emphasizing your subject.

Next, let’s talk about shutter speed. If shooting a film at night, you’ll often want to use a slower shutter speed to let in more light. However, this comes with a caveat: if your subject is moving, a slow shutter speed can lead to motion blur. For static scenes, a slower shutter speed is great, but for moving subjects, you might need to find a balance—often aiming for a shutter speed of at least double your frame rate (e.g., 1/50 for 24 fps) to keep things crisp.

Now, onto ISO—this is where things can get tricky. ISO measures your camera sensor's sensitivity to light. In a low-light setting, increasing the ISO allows your camera to capture more light, which is essential for getting a clear image. However, the downside is that higher ISO settings can introduce noise, which can degrade the quality of your footage, especially in shadows.

When you’re shooting at night, start with the lowest ISO that still gives you a properly exposed image. If you find that you’re struggling with light, gradually increase the ISO until you find the sweet spot. Many modern cameras handle noise pretty well up to ISO 1600 or even 3200, but it varies by model. If you do end up needing a higher ISO, consider applying noise reduction in post-production to clean things up a bit.

"The night is a place of dreams and nightmares. It offers a unique palette for storytelling." – Dennis Villeneuve

Use the tools on your camera when shooting in the dark!

One last helpful tip is to use your camera’s histogram. This tool displays the distribution of tones in your image, helping you see whether you’re losing detail in the shadows or highlights. Ideally, you want a balanced histogram that doesn’t bunch up against the left or right edges.

Finally, don’t forget to experiment! Nighttime offers a lot of creative possibilities. Play around with different settings, and don’t hesitate to take test shots to see how changes in exposure and ISO affect your footage. With some practice and attention to detail, you’ll be able to master nighttime filming and create stunning visuals that truly shine.

Our production agency can help with your night-time filming requirements.

Argyle Media is a production agency based in the south of the United Kingdom. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your night-time filming requirements.