12 Creative Night Photoshoot Ideas (2025)

Considering the importance of light in the photographic process, it’s hardly a surprise that a nighttime photoshoot comes with its own set of challenges as well as unique features that might draw creative photographers looking to experiment. To help you figure out where to begin planning, here are 12 creative night photoshoot ideas that’ll inspire you.

We’ve also provided several links to relevant Peerspace listings where a night photoshoot will be a possibility, so keep an eye out for those. Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, making finding and booking unique spaces a breeze. And yes, this includes countless photogenic spaces that look even more amazing at night.

And one last note before we get to the list. If you’re taking photos at night, then be sure to account for safety when doing so. Take precautions and be sure never to endanger yourself or anyone who’s out there with you. Now, let’s get to our tips and tricks for mastering any night photoshoot idea!

1. Light up the night with a fireworks photoshoot

You don’t have to wait for the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve to do a fireworks photoshoot! Simply find a local event where there will be fireworks (usually these are announced in advance) and plan to attend to take some photos of the festive explosions. To photograph something moving as rapidly as fireworks and in a context of darkness, you’ll want to have your shutter speed set to roughly 1/20th or 1/15th of a second.

2. Take photos of the night sky filled with stars

One of the most beautiful subjects we can imagine for photography is the night sky, especially if you’re in a remote location without too much light pollution so you can see the stars (and perhaps even the Milky Way!) in all their glory.

If you live in a city where you can’t see the stars clearly and would like to find a more remote location for photography, consider using Peerspace to rent a cabin in the woods, like this log cabin retreat in the Rocky Mountains. Here you can “rest in a log cabin with a wood fire & sleep comfortably under the stars in a forest pod.”

3. Photograph a city skyline from a distant vantage point

City skylines are at their most beautiful at night, so this is for sure one of our top night photoshoot ideas. When all the lights of the buildings are visible, contrasted against the dark night sky, you can really appreciate the beauty of the urban landscape. In case you don’t want to spend extra time looking for a vantage point where you can capture the skyline at a reasonable distance, you can find tons of rooftop rentals on Peerspace throughout the country advertising awesome views of their respective city skylines.

For instance, check out this 12,000-square-foot open rooftop venue in Los Angeles, CA. It can provide you with 360-degree views across the city, and as you can see in the photo above, looks so amazing at night. Search for Peerspace listings with “skyline” as a keyword to find more options in your area.

Don’t forget to peruse our tips for mastering skyline photography to learn more about this crucial photography skill.

4. Explore nighttime street photography and light trail photography

This night photoshoot idea is similar to #3 in that it focuses on the beauty of the night-time cityscape, but in this case, we’re suggesting getting a little more up close and personal. In a blog post on light trail photography, Adobe recommends “creat[ing] vibrant light trail photos by capturing the motion of vehicle lights with longer exposure settings.” You’ll want to focus on moving lights for these, which might include cars, trains, and other moving vehicles with lights.

Light trail photography creates a surreal and beautiful visual effect, and it isn’t too challenging to accomplish. Here’s how to do it: “Start with ISO 800, a shutter speed of five seconds or longer, and an f/8 aperture. Continue to adjust or experiment with your settings to get your desired light trail shot.”

5. Capture famous landmarks lit up at night

Living in (or visiting) a world-class city like New York or Paris? You’ll have no shortage of lit-up landmarks to photograph at night, whether that’s the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, or other lesser-known landmarks that are also beautifully lit up in the dark.

6. Reach new heights and give nighttime drone photography a whirl

Do you ever use a drone for aerial photography? Consider using it at night, too! If you’re interested, here’s a guide to flying a drone safely and legally at night.

7. Grab your partner and enjoy a date night photoshoot

Going on an evening date with your partner? Bring your camera and snap some candid photos throughout the course of your night together! Check out Peerspace’s collection of date night ideas resource articles to find something creative to do in your city.

8. Take long-exposure photographs to add a surreal element

Long-exposure photography, or photography that uses a slow shutter speed, is ideal for nighttime photography. It entails “compensat[ing] for the lack of light by opening the camera shutter for a determined length of time and capturing scenes that your eyes can’t see.” If you’ve never done this before, here’s a guide to long-exposure nighttime photography to help you get started.

9. Use streetlights as your subject and focus on silhouettes

Streetlights create a moody feel in photos and can form “pools” of light on the street where you can capture interesting silhouettes. They’re an ideal subject for nighttime photography and easy to find in any populated town or city.

Speaking of cities, our chic city photoshoot ideas provide additional inspiration if you’re hoping to capture your nearest urban landscape.

10. Take photos in a well-lit garden

For this night photoshoot idea, you can even stage your photoshoot and your subjects as if it’s the middle of the day, perhaps having them enjoying a picnic or doing some sort of everyday activity for an extra surreal vibe.

If you need an outdoor space that’s guaranteed to be well-lit, you can rent one through Peerspace. As an example, this Kelly Oliver / Frank Lloyd Wright home in Irving, TX on a private estate includes a “clearing in the woodz that can be used as a firepit or campground setting” with “numerous lights in the trees for nighttime lighting.”

Another great example is this Larchmont Village loft with an amazing deck in Los Angeles, CA where you’ll find “two stunning open and covered decks with large seating areas, a gigantic glass tile bar, water features, and nighttime lighting.” What a beautiful option for a photoshoot!

11. Gather ’round for a campfire photoshoot

A campfire photoshoot is a great excuse to go camping, and frankly, camping is a great excuse for a campfire photoshoot! If you and your pals enjoy going on camping trips, plan one where you’ll take photos as everyone lounges around the fire. The warm, reddish glow of the fire creates an especially unique and mesmerizing visual effect.

Remember that you can find and book the perfect cabin rental anywhere you want to go camping through Peerspace today.

12. Capture the Northern Lights like a pro

Most of us don’t live in a location where the Northern Lights are visible regularly, but the places where they’re visible are worth visiting. After all, they’re one of the most gorgeous natural phenomena on Earth! If you live near them or decide to take a trip to photograph them, here’s a guide to doing so from Capture the Atlas.

Night photoshoot ideas: conclusion

We hope these night photoshoot ideas have inspired your next nighttime shoot. Remember, no matter the time of day you want to capture, whether indoors or out, you can find the perfect venue for your creative project on Peerspace. Start searching for photoshoot locations near you to see what you can uncover today.

Find unique photoshoot locations on Peerspace