Cropping issues -- getting your shots to fit their frame.

[lisakitty]

How does everyone else handle different crops to fit a clients frame. I tend to create each shot in photoshop with a crop that fits the photo. I usually go with either an 8X10 size or a 5X7 size, whichever I feel fits what I have in my frame. But obviously that's a problem when my client wants my 8X10 framed shot to fit in her 5X7 frame or vice versa.

How do you handle the situation? Do you just leave lots of room all around your image before you start your color correcting and PS edits so it can be cut down to their size later on?

[venchka]

It gets worse. What if you crop for a 5x7 frame and the client has a 7x5 frame?????????????

Ask the client first I guess.

[kenw]

Originally Posted by lisakitty

.....

How do you handle the situation? Do you just leave lots of room all around your image before you start your color correcting and PS edits so it can be cut down to their size later on?

altho I don't do people portraits, basically, yes. crop to the print aspect ratio is usually the last step.

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by kenw

altho I don't do people portraits, basically, yes. crop to the print aspect ratio is usually the last step.

crop first...then there's less to edit

I hit everything at 11x14. Why? because that's what I print for my portfolio book. Everything from there can be resized accordingly.

[douge]

Lisa,
IF you shoot your images in RAW mode than no problem. Crop the image to both a 5 x 7 and 8 x 10. Set up your rules in PS and use them as a guide. Also use points in your photo for your crops. and if all else fails use your resizing tool in 'Edit' ... 'Transform', 'Scale' this will work it just won't look as good as the crop. Play with it and see what you like. Keep shooting
Doug

[CaptainTom]

As an experienced commercial photographer, I have been trained (drilled into my head) to leave lots of space around the subject.
Editors need room to put in logos, ads, titles, etc.
So, cropping is easier, but you lose the edge on IQ.

[srwatters]

Maybe I'm old school, but I always edit the entire frame as shot. Then I can crop to the desired ratio. Before I shoot the first frame, I ask the client what their desired size(s) are and then compose appropriately. It's nice that my D3 can shoot 2x3 or 4x5 formats. The Hasselblad shoots 3x4. I should be able to deliver almost ratio asked for...

[CaptainTom]

Hasselblad ? That's one of those old time film cameras isn't it?

What ? A digital back ? Never mind !!

[Jake]

Do your post work to the full image. Don't do any cropping until the client orders. Sometimes I'll crop the image for viewing because I think it looks better, but the original is still processed and un-cropped.

I hit everything at 11x14. Why? because that's what I print for my portfolio book. Everything from there can be resized accordingly.

This doesn't make sense to me. If you crop an image to 11x14 you are losing something from the top and/or bottom.
Then let's say you crop it again because someone wants a 4x6. Now you're cropping some off the left and/or right side. So from you're original image, you have now cropped away quite a bit.

But if someone wanted a 4x6 from the original, there would be no cropping at all, just resizing.
You can still print your portfolio book at 11x14, but why crop all your photos that way?

[doctahjones]

i just learned this lesson the hard way...

i had a bridal shot that she really liked, but unfortunately i didn't leave alot of room around the image (really it was because i was backed against a 'hard spot' and couldn't back up anymore when i was using my nifty fifty), so when it came to print time, i had to chop her feet off (which is what she liked about the pic). :(

so that just reinforced the practice to leave a good amount of room on the edges of the long sides of the picture.

[Jake]

This is another time when having a good sales technique comes in.
You can "up grade" their print to the next larger size that fits the correct aspect ratio or a gallery wrapped canvas print that can be any size.

Or if you offer framing, just do a custom mat.

[terryturner]

Scott

That's the proper method for editing (full frame that is). Some programs say you should process the full image prior to cropping. Portraiture comes to mind. Not that it won't work on a cropped image the vendor just feels you get better results processing the full image.

Terry

Originally Posted by srwatters

Maybe I'm old school, but I always edit the entire frame as shot. Then I can crop to the desired ratio. Before I shoot the first frame, I ask the client what their desired size(s) are and then compose appropriately. It's nice that my D3 can shoot 2x3 or 4x5 formats. The Hasselblad shoots 3x4. I should be able to deliver almost ratio asked for...

terryturner added 2 Minutes and 1 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

You're dead on Jake!

Terry

Originally Posted by thejakestir

Do your post work to the full image. Don't do any cropping until the client orders. Sometimes I'll crop the image for viewing because I think it looks better, but the original is still processed and un-cropped.




This doesn't make sense to me. If you crop an image to 11x14 you are losing something from the top and/or bottom.
Then let's say you crop it again because someone wants a 4x6. Now you're cropping some off the left and/or right side. So from you're original image, you have now cropped away quite a bit.

But if someone wanted a 4x6 from the original, there would be no cropping at all, just resizing.
You can still print your portfolio book at 11x14, but why crop all your photos that way?

[kimberley]

I also edit first crop last....I crop all my images as a 4x6 for their proof...