Rim Lighting Photography for Stunning Portraits

Using rim lighting as a backlight is a great way to shape a subject. Used correctly, it can result in some stunning images.

For this rim light portrait photography tutorial, Karl is joined by Urs Recher for a one-light setup demonstration.  Together, they demonstrate how to create beautiful soft rim lighting using backlighting with a special twist.

Learn a surprisingly simple but clever technique to achieve what looks like a four-light setup with just a single modified light.

Stunning female portrait using rim lighting as a backlight.

Stunning female portrait using rim lighting as a backlight.

In this class:

  • Portrait photography using a single light
  • How to use backlighting for creative effect
  • How to avoid flare
  • How to modify rim light
  • Using reflectors and flags
  • How to control shadows

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. simoninphotography

    Dear Karl, Dear KT Team,

    I’m trying to make my own window mask.

    My sensor is 53,7 mm by 40,4 mm. I multiplied by 10 and then divided by 2. But i Find it quite big.

    For portraiture, is it better to have it bigger or smaller !? Or the subject that we photograph doesn’t change the calculation.

    What would you recommend for the window mask size ?

    Thank you for your time and your help.

    Best Regards
    Simon

    1. Hi Simon, there is no recommended size, only the size that works for you. I have several sizes and will choose which one dependent on which lens i’m using and how far away from my lens I’m going to place the window mask. As they are made from simple black foam board or black card they should only take about 10mins to make each one so I’d suggest you make 3 sizes so if the one you have already made you find too big then make a smaller one and divide by 2.5 or 3 instead, even make a drawing of it on a piece of paper if you prefer to check the size before you commit?

  2. Dear Kark,

    The only light source here is a large soft box behind the model , am I right??? And what size of the window mask with window dimension is suitable to the len we use?

    1. Hi, yes the only light is the large softbox. The window mask can be made in various sizes as long as it is the same ratio as your camera sensor. I usually have a couple of sizes for different uses as they are very easy to make. For example if you have a 36mm x 24mm sensor then you can start off by multiplying by 10 = 360mm x 240mm but that would be a very big window mask so then you can divide that by 2 = 180 x 120 and there you go that can be your first size to test.

      1. Dear Karl,

        So, in case we use a cropped sensor (1.5x to the full frame 35mm) the window hole of 135mmx90mm, but how big the size of the black mask is suggested????

        TanNH

          1. Dear Karl,

            My camera’s sensor is “APS-C sized CMOS sensor (23.6 x 15.7 mm) with 24.96/24.24 million pixels (total/effective), aspect ratio 3:2 ” (Copied from Leica CL page), and the camera is Leica CL , len is Summilux TL 35mmf/1.4 (or equip. 50mm in full frame)

          2. Hi, great so the answer is in the facts! 23.6mm x 15.7mm is the shape of your sensor, so we multiply by 10 = 276mmm x 157mm and that is also the same shape just bigger. But if we made that size into a window mask hole then it would probably be a bit big so let’s divide it by 1.5 = 184mm x 105mm – so that’s the size I would make my first window mask.

  3. Hi, great dramatic one light set up. I was wondering if I would be able to do the same shot using the 120×180 soft box with the edge mask and having the model further away from the softbox to create the same effect.

    Thanks
    Andrew

  4. kenshi2008

    Good tips if you have one light with a big softbox. I see if I can get my camera out next week to work on a project.

  6. i have a question regarding the “window” you are shooting through. i understood that the measure is depending of the mm of the lens. how do you calculate the measures of the rectangle window ?

    1. Hi Johan, it is the same ratio as your sensor. So if you have a 36mm x 24mm sensor (full frame 35mm) then you could expect the same shape for your window – 36cm x 24cm divide by 2 = 18cm x 12cm

  8. Wonderful lesson learnt Karl. Thankyou for teaching us and creating like minded people in Industry for a big boom.

    Plz let me know which power output lights you use.

  9. Would a similar result be achievable with a large window, or is a soft box of this size essential to create this effect?

    1. Hi Sophie, a large window with some diffusion in front of it or on a cloudy/bright day would work if you follow the same technique we use here.

  10. Hi Karl, very interesting video as always! Just one quick question: I understand that the “square hole” in the window mask has to match the aspect ratio of my sensor so in my case 3:2 but is there a specific size recommended for the hole in the board? Is there a minimum size I should take in consideration for the long and short edge of the hole or even maybe a maximum size, after which, the window mask doesn’t work anymore to protect from flare?
    For example is a window mask with a hole of 30×20 cm enough?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Daniele, that’s a good question! You need a few sizes simply because sometimes they benefit from being at different distances based on which lens you are using and the lighting setup. I have 3, big, medium and small. The big is around the 30cm size, the small around 10cm (long edge). My guess is the medium is 20 long edge. Make them from black foam board, a good edge and stanley blade takes 5mins to make one.

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