Rim light: separating your subject from the background

When a subject’s dark hair or clothing blends into a dark background, the image looks flat. A rim light, also called a hair or edge light, outlines the subject with a thin line of brightness and separates them from the background.

Natural rim light

At golden hour, place the low sun behind your subject. Their hair and shoulders will glow. Expose for the face and add fill if needed.

With flash or LED

Place a light behind and to one side of the subject, aimed at the back of the head and shoulders. Use a grid or snoot to keep the light off the background and out of the lens. Keep it slightly brighter than the key light for a strong rim, or dimmer for subtle separation.

Avoid flare

A rim light pointed toward the camera can cause flare. Hide the light behind the subject or flag it with a card.

Where it shines

Headshots on dark backgrounds, interviews, product shots of glass and bottles, and night portraits all benefit. In video interviews, a rim light is often the difference between amateur and professional.