A few words of advice on headshot cropping

Given that I include cropping to various extents in my headshot prices depending on the exact package that you choose, you may be wondering why I feel the need to give any advice on cropping at all as a headshots photographer.

The answer to that question is that while I may be the ‘expert’ on the most effective and appropriate methods for cropping the headshots that we take together, I do feel that an understanding of some of the ‘art’ and ‘science’ of cropping can be useful for when you avail yourself of my services.

Different crops of one headshot can have different uses

The manner in which one particular headshot of yours is cropped may seem at first to be a relatively minor detail. However, there are various ways in which such a seemingly simple operation as cropping can enable just one of your headshots to serve multiple purposes.

Your headshot may be cropped in a traditional ‘2x3’ fashion, for instance, showing the face and much of the torso, if it is to be published in corporate marketing materials and websites. However, a square crop that removes most of the torso from view is more likely to be chosen for a LinkedIn profile.

A wide crop, meanwhile, may be useful for dropping your headshot into a presentation or publication, and there is also the option of a particularly close crop so that the headshot can serve as publicity for you in print publications.

What are the guidelines for suitable cropping?

Whichever crop of the above options you may choose for certain contexts, there are certain ‘rules of thumb’ that do consistently apply when you are seeking to achieve the right effect with your cropping.

These include ensuring that your head always remains in the upper third of the image, as well as keeping your face centred if you are cropping tight. While the face should always remain the focus of your headshots, you should not completely lose your neck and shoulders.

Ensuring that your face remains centred is also crucial if you are standing at an angle in your headshot and cropping in close. If the cropped headshot shows more of a front shoulder or too much of your back shoulder is visible, you may appear lopsided.

Would you like to be sure of the most professional retouching and cropping of your headshots in accordance with how you intend to use your final images? In that case, please feel free to consult my headshot prices before getting in touch with me to ask a question or book a session.