A photo-magnetic effect is evidenced using near-infrared light in the binuclear complex [Fe(bpym)(NCS) 2] 2(bpym). This compound has a 5T 2g– 5T 2g ground state and exhibits no thermal spin crossover – in contrast to the analogous [Fe(bpym)(NCSe) 2] 2(bpym). The estimated photo-conversion ratio is ca. 30%. By means of magnetic susceptibility measurements as well as Raman and infrared absorption spectroscopies, the nature of the photo-induced phase was established as the 5T 2g– 1A 1g state, which means that only one iron center is converted to low-spin. The photo-induced state was completely converted back to the ground state either by visible light excitation or by heating.