I wanted to write this post to explain a bit more about cropping. I’ve tried to explain it in my ordering instructions but lately, it seems to have been lost in translation. Im a visual learner so I thought image examples might help.
An image is formatted to a certain size in camera.
When you order a specific size (5×7, 8×10, 12×12 etc.) the image must “fit” into that proportion. A 4×6, 16×24 and a 20×30 happen to be that same in camera proportion and therefore will not be cropped at all.
An 8×10 and 16×20 are the same proportion and therefore the same crop. This size is not as “long” as the original image…. therefore, some will be cut off the top or bottom. A square image (12×12, 20×20 etc.) has to fit into a square and therefore be cropped as such.
There is nothing wrong with cropping an image. However, I have to use my judgement to crop it where it looks best. If I feel it looks better centered or off-centered I will change it if I need to. The biggest issues I deal with are “cropping heads off”. The 1980’s rule of the whole head needing to be in the image is OVER. I love the style of croppping close into a face. This happens a lot when a portrait is ordered in an 8×10. Since the 8×10 crop requires some to be cut off top or bottom than I sometimes feel it looks better to have the top of head cropped off rather than have the eyes near the center of the image.
Another issue is ordering square images. If you have an image thats a rectangle shape, you have to trim off some of the image to make it into a square…
please see examples below:)
If you have any questions about a crop, please ask before ordering.