Rim lighting is often used when making profile portraits. Rim lighting is the same as backlighting, where the subject is lighted from behind causing the facial features of the profile to be highlighted (fig. 7-11). Some suggestions to use when taking profile portraits are as follows:

In a profile portrait, when a person looks straight ahead, only the whites of the eyes are seen by the camera. This causes an undesirable effect. Instead have the eyes cheat-turn the eyes slightly toward the camera, without turning the head, to show enough of the iris so the eye can be seen as an eye, not a white ball.

Have the subject's head tipped back slightly. This separates the chin from the far shoulder, gives a better neckline, and reduces the appearance of a double chin.

Allow more space on the side of the picture toward which the eyes are looking. This allows the subject to look beyond the frame.

If you are interested in learning more about rim lighting, refer to the reference list in appendix III.

PHC Carl Hinkle 302.315

Figure 7-11. Rim lighting.