I am often asked why certain parts of an image are cut off when a digital file is cropped to fit a 5″ x 7″, an 8″ x 10″ print size or a Facebook or LinkedIn profile size ratio of 1: 1.
This situation is also an issue for custom square format wedding albums. The camera sensor’s original size ratio is NOT proportional to those print outputs.
Original image file showing the cropping lines of a 5×7 print. This cropping isn’t as drastic as the 8×10 crop shown below.
Original image showing the crop lines for an 8″x10″. Notice that the resulting image will either crop the fingers or the top of the head.
Here are other examples of images being cropped according to common size ratios like 5″ x 7″, 8″ x10″ and 1:1.
Original image includes top of the lap.
Below are examples of cropped portrait images. The impact of each crop will depend on how tightly photographed the original image is taken.
Glamour photography.
Another portrait example with a horizontal composition.
Brockville portrait photographer.
Notice the impact isn’t as significant for horizontal portraits showing negative space on either side of the subject.
What about group images such as family portraits?
Studio family portrait photography
Studio family portrait photography
Notice the cropping cut off two subjects in the image.
Having an idea of what to shoot for helps guide the photographer with the composition. Don’t forget that you can let your photographer advise you beforehand as you map out the shoot together. She will crop the images for you for various size outputs and get the final image files ready for the print lab.