How to go from DAY to NIGHT with LIGHT! | Off Camera Flash Photography
Have you ever wished you could shoot at night… without actually waiting until it’s dark? Whether you’re working on a creative project, don’t have the time to shoot late, or just want to try something new, you can actually fake the look of nighttime right in the middle of the day. The best part? You don’t need heavy Photoshop work—just a few in-camera adjustments and smart lighting.
Here’s exactly how I do it:
Step 1: Adjust Your White Balance
Think about what makes nighttime feel like nighttime: the cooler, bluish tones. By shifting your white balance down, you instantly cool the overall scene. If you’re shooting in RAW, you can always fine-tune this later, but nailing it in-camera saves time and helps if you’re delivering photos straight to a client via Wi-Fi (hello, instant wow factor!).
Step 2: Darken Your Background Exposure
Next, set your exposure so the background looks convincingly dark. Essentially, you’re underexposing the scene until it mimics that after-dark feel. Take a few test shots, watch your histogram, and keep adjusting until the background feels like it’s nighttime.
Step 3: Add Warm Light to Your Subject
Now it’s time to bring your subject to life. I used my Profoto B10 with two CTO (Color Temperature Orange) gelsto create a warm glow. The contrast of a warm subject against a cool-toned background sells the nighttime illusion beautifully—it feels just like a streetlight or cozy lamp lighting your subject.
Bonus Tip: Elevate Your Content with Stock Assets
If you’re creating visuals for social media, ads, or your website, pairing your photography with strong content is key. I love using Storyblocks—they have over 2.6 million stock assets, from video clips and photos to music and sound effects. With unlimited downloads and simple licensing, it’s such a time-saver when you need polished, professional content fast.
Final Thoughts
That’s all it takes! With a few adjustments to your white balance, exposure, and subject lighting, you can transform a sunny afternoon into a moody nighttime portrait session—no late nights required.
Give it a try and let me know how it works for you! And if you found this tip helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell on my YouTube channel so you never miss my next photography hack.
