As a photographer, nothing gives me greater joy than showing my clients the images from our family and senior sessions, wonderful outdoor family portraits that I want you to love and cherish for a lifetime! I present your gallery images to you in person for ordering, so you can see them on a full screen and touch and look over the prints and products when deciding which package is right for you. I will also help guide you when ordering gift prints, wall art and canvases because the ratio matters for the most flattering presentation.
The standard gift print size is usually 8×10, perfect for sitting framed on your desk or in a scrapbook album. However, it is not the same shape as the original 8×12 ratio that the camera produces. Since 8×12 is not the standard, you might be hesitant to order your favourite images in the original ratio. Let me show you why it’s sometimes better to retain the original composition and ratio in which the image was shot and compare to the cropped version.
On the left is the original image with the 8×12 ratio, within an 11×14 frame and matted, with an 8×12 opening. As intended, this young couple is framed perfectly, with some ground below them to stand on and the beautiful fall colours of the trees in the background. It’s just as common to find 11×14 frames in stores as it is to find 8x10s!
On the right is the 8×10 crop, within an 8×10 frame. Due to the way the 8×10 ratio crops into the image, they have lost their feet! And the beautiful background trees and sky are almost gone, losing that environmental feel.
Another example shows how this pretty little fairy shot changes when the 8×10 crop closes the frame in around her. In the 8×12 ratio on the left, she’s lost in her own little world, in the forest. On the right, cropping in closer lets us focus on her but eliminates some of the environment. In this case, it’s a personal preference which crop ratio you may prefer for the final print.
Just one more reason why I am happy to do in person viewing and ordering sessions with my clients! My goal is to make absolutely certain you are happy with your final images and order the right size and shape for your prints, so your family looks their absolute best!
Thank you very much to Katie Belmont at Katie Belmont Photography in Omaha, NE for providing the template for this comparison. Please follow this link to view her wonderful work at her website, and follow along here to Facebook and “like” her page!
What a great explanation of why it’s a good idea to consult with your photographer on the sizing of your photos. I love the visuals!