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11/17/2012 06:00:34 PM · #1 |
Okay believe it or not I really don't do many paid portrait sessions. Mostly I just do stock work and I can crop things however I want. Whenever I do a paid gig, I always run into the same dilemma. What size should I crop them at? I wish I could just leave them alone but many need to be cropped in closer, or straitened or whatever. So what should I be cropping them to? Should I use the photo ratio, or should I use a 4x6, 5x7 or 8x10 ratio? So far I usually use an 8x10 and leave a bit of room for further cropping at different ratios, unless of course an 8x10 crop absolutely won't work then I use a 4x6 or 5x7.
This almost seems like a silly question to be asking but as a self taught photographer I have always wondered what was the standard for professionals. |
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11/17/2012 06:30:05 PM · #2 |
Best to not crop at all before you know what the customer may want. If you have to straighten slightly, do so and maintain the original aspect ratio, keeping as much image area as possible so you can crop however you wish later.
If you are using Lightroom, you can pretty much do whatever you want, because you can always just change it back. Also, if you are running CS6, you can choose to "crop" without deleting the cropped area, again making it flexible (until you save to JPEG). |
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11/17/2012 07:07:17 PM · #3 |
| Thanks I don't think elements has that option. I will just keep them at photo ratio. |
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11/17/2012 07:20:26 PM · #4 |
I get kickbacks from a local frame shop by cropping to a very odd ratio for which only they have stock.
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11/17/2012 07:40:19 PM · #5 |
You need to use Lightroom -- you can crop to any ratio you want and then if the customer wants a different ratio later you can simply adjust the crop because Lightroom doesn't change the original file. Solves your issue completely. And it'll probably speed up your workflow in the process.
Message edited by author 2012-11-17 19:40:58.
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11/17/2012 08:05:34 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by kgeary:
...if the customer wants a different ratio later... |
No no no. This is the point where I stand up, flip the table, and freak out. After locking myself in the bathroom, if the customer begs enough, I'll come out and resentfully offer to change the ratio at an exorbitant fee. I call it the "Ratio Change Fee."
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11/17/2012 08:17:38 PM · #7 |
My brothers and I crops 210 acres in Missouri. :-)
Normally I will do a full edit on the original pic, save, then crop to a 5x7 or 8x10 to submit as a proof. That way I have the original edited pic for what ever they choose. I am an Elements User. |
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11/18/2012 10:50:23 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
Originally posted by kgeary:
...if the customer wants a different ratio later... |
No no no. This is the point where I stand up, flip the table, and freak out. After locking myself in the bathroom, if the customer begs enough, I'll come out and resentfully offer to change the ratio at an exorbitant fee. I call it the "Ratio Change Fee." |
I don't mean if they request one ratio and then change their mind. I mean, if you want to crop it the way YOU want and they end up wanting a different ratio...
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11/18/2012 12:01:01 PM · #9 |
 sempermarine and I just shot the Marine Corps Ball and we cropped at 5x7 leaving room on top and bottom for an 8x10 crop. Then again, we use lightroom so recropping is not an issue if the customer requests something different. Also, cropping at 5x7 kind of pushes the customer to that size which we make more money on... |
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11/18/2012 12:11:48 PM · #10 |
| Hmm...I keep all the RAWs so if a customer does want a specific crop I can go back and re-crop from the original. My PS is pretty minimal. Generally I use the 3:2 aspect ratio, occasionally a square. Trying to get away from squangles. |
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