When starting out with off-camera flash, especially in portraiture, we don't always have access to a lot of high-tech or expensive strobes and modifiers. Here's a simple setup that will help you create stunning low-key rim lit images with very little equipment required. In this video, Gavin Hoey shows us how to create a simple rim setup using just one light, including common

I took this self portrait in my garage with a small strobe with a red gel behind me to create a rim light and then used a flash with a mid sized soft box with a blue gel as my key light. #Portraits #SelfPortraits #Gels #Studio #Studio Photography

Enjoy these great photographs from our lastest photo challenge, Rim Lighting. Thanks to all who participated and stay tuned for a new challenge soon.

In many of my shoots over the last year, I have opted to use only LED continuous lights over my strobes, and I can only see that trend continuing. Here's why I think you ought to consider LEDs if you haven't tried them yet. Portability Both on and off Set Ryan Beatty shot for FAULT Magazine. My R3 set to its coolest Kelvin is off camera right, then a small LED on a lightstand

Lorde

The rim light is often set up behind the subject and slightly higher than the other lights. Because this light is facing the camera, it's important that it be completely blocked by the subject or out of the field of view. If not you may get lens flare and lowered contrast. One way to block the light is to position a piece of cardboard (called a gobo) between the light and subject.