A Pocket Studio – In Your Living Room

A First Impression with the SmallRig RM 03 Macro LED Lights

A lot has happened last year. And looking back, I realized something: most of my photography only happened while I was on vacation.

A few weeks ago, I added some new gear to my setup. Nothing crazy. But as usual, time was the real issue. The gear was there. The motivation too. The opportunity? Not so much.

I know studio work. In the 1990s, I spent a lot of time in professional studios, working with Broncolor flash systems for advertising photography. Back then, a studio meant space. And a lot of it. Heavy equipment, cables everywhere, and budgets that would make you think twice.

So the question came up again:

• Can you bring a studio into your living room?
• Can you create controlled, intentional light in a space that’s barely bigger than a desk?

The short answer: yes.

And compared to the past, it’s surprisingly affordable. Thirty years ago, similar setups easily cost several thousand dollars. In some cases, Broncolor even relied on fiber-optic light guides simply because there was no better option. Today, modern LED technology changes everything. No flash, of course. But for many applications, that’s a trade-off worth making.

Reality check:

I don’t have much space. I don’t have much time either. But I don’t want to give up the studio mindset. I still want to shape light, control shadows, and turn small subjects into something larger than life.

That’s where the SmallRig RM 03 Macro LED lights come in.

The RM 03 is a compact LED light designed specifically for macro photography and close-up video work. It uses five 3-watt LEDs in red, green, blue, warm white and cool white, giving you a lot of creative control in a very small form factor. The flexible spring-mounted arm makes positioning quick and precise. Thanks to its IP54 rating and built-in rechargeable battery, it works just as well in the living room as it does outdoors. Accessories like a diffuser, barndoors, and a spot attachment round out a surprisingly capable little system.

The first results?
Great. And honestly, a lot of fun.

It really does feel like having a pocket-sized studio — right in the living room.