SUMMARY
Creating polished night portraits involves a core principle similar to event photography: expose for the ambient light first, then use an off-camera flash to fill in the subject. For night photography, this means longer exposures allow for more deliberate flash placement. The flash can be used handheld, acting as a mobile light stand, and its brightness is controlled by power settings or distance from the subject. While flash excels at freezing subjects, light painting with LEDs is also an option for astro-landscapes and other night scenes.
TAKEAWAYS
Expose for ambient light, then use flash to fill subjects for night portraits.
Use a handheld flash for controlled lighting and mobility during long exposures.
Control flash brightness by adjusting power or distance from the subject.
Flash is effective for freezing subjects in night shots, unlike continuous lights.