Improving the light utilization efficiency of photosynthetic cells in photobioreactors (PBRs) is a major topic in algal biotechnology. Accordingly, in the current study we investigated the effect and suitability of photosynthetic pigment reduction for improving light utilization efficiency. The light-harvesting complex II (LH-II) genes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were removed to construct a mutant strain with less pigment content. The mutant strain exhibited a slower growth rate than the wild-type under a low light intensity, while the mutant grew faster under a high light intensity. In addition, the specific absorption coefficient was lower in the mutant due to its reduced pigment content, thus it seemed that light penetrated deeper into its culture broth. However, the distance (light penetration depth) from the surface of the PBR to the compensation point did not increase, due to an increase in the compensation irradiance of the mutant strain. Experimental data showed that a reduced photosynthetic pigment content, which lessened the photoinhibition under high-intensity light, helped the volumetric productivity of photosynthetic microorganisms.