Night photography settings: shutter speed, aperture and ISO by scene
Night photography is a balance between getting enough light and keeping the result sharp enough for your subject. There is no single set of values that works everywhere: a static cityscape, a person under street lights and a moving subject need different compromises.
Start with the thing you cannot compromise on
If the subject moves, shutter speed comes first. If the scene is static and the camera is supported, you can use a much slower shutter speed. If you need a shallow depth of field, aperture becomes the creative priority. ISO then helps you reach the combination you need.
Static city scenes
With a tripod or stable support, you can keep ISO relatively low and let the exposure run longer. This usually preserves more detail and cleaner shadows. Without support, use a shutter speed you can realistically hand-hold and raise ISO only as much as necessary.
Night portraits
For portraits, subject movement matters more than camera shake alone. A wide aperture can help gather light and separate the subject from the background, while shutter speed must remain fast enough to avoid facial blur. Do not be afraid of raising ISO if it protects a sharp expression.
Moving subjects at night
Cars, performers or people walking may require a significantly faster shutter speed than a static scene. Open the aperture first if possible, then raise ISO until the shutter speed is sufficient for the movement you want to freeze.
Long exposure at night
When movement is part of the image — light trails, flowing water or motion blur — use a slower shutter intentionally. A tripod or solid support becomes important because you want the subject movement to blur, not the whole frame.
If you are shooting handheld, see our guide to night photography without a tripod. For the relationship between the three exposure controls, read the exposure triangle guide.
Use Photo Coach to adapt settings to the actual scene
Instead of memorizing one night-photography recipe, describe the shot you want to create in Photo Coach. The app can suggest ISO, aperture and shutter speed values together with composition and lighting guidance, so the recommendation reflects the scene rather than a generic table.