Camera craft / 5 minutes
Night light without the noise
City light already has a point of view. Keep the setup quiet enough to let skin, fabric and skyline occupy separate layers.
Expose for the face, protect the sky
At dusk, the sky loses colour more quickly than the eye notices. Begin while the horizon still has detail. Place the subject where reflected sky can reach the face and reduce exposure until bright signs and windows retain shape.
A small LED bounced from a pale wall can lift the eyes without making the portrait look lit. Keep it dim and close rather than bright and distant.
Give satin a narrow light source
Glossy fabric reveals the direction of every light. A broad source creates a smooth band; a bare lamp creates hard white spots. Turn the body until the highlight follows the garment rather than cutting across it.
Check the brightest fold on the camera screen. If it has no texture, lower the exposure before changing the pose.
Let the city remain secondary
A recognisable skyline can support the scene without becoming a postcard. Use one architectural cue, keep the horizon away from the face and allow some buildings to fall into shadow.
The portrait should still work if the viewer cannot name the city. Atmosphere lasts longer than location trivia.