One Light Rim Light | Take and Make Great Photography with Gavin Hoey - Video

[Martin Vronsky]

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There are many ways to create rim-lit portraits or product shots and most of them involve the use of multiple lights or flashes. But there is a way to achieve the perfect rim-lit portrait with just one flash and one medium to a large-sized softbox.

As Gavin Hoey demonstrates, a single small flash placed behind your subject will create unflattering rim light. And in a small home studio that light will bounce off the walls and back onto your subject. But a large light source, such as a softbox, creates wrap-around light that is a lot more controllable.

Gavin shows how a low-tech, DIY black background placed against a softbox creates amazing rim light from just one light. But he doesn’t stop there. Next, he adds a colored gel and later some smoke to elevate the look even further. 

Finally, Gavin takes you into Photoshop and creates a split-toned gel look with just a few clicks of the mouse.

Timestamps and Chapters 

• 0:00 Intro 
• 1:10 Rim light from small lights
• 2:18 Wrap around light from a softbox 
• 3:28 Rim light from a softbox and black background
• 4:56 Rim light photo session
• 6:24 Split-toned gel effect in Photoshop
• 8:04 Final tips
• 8:27 Conclusions and Subscribe