Choose print sizes that won’t crop your images
Why Choosing the Right Print Size Matters for Your Photos
One of the most common issues I see when customers order prints of their digital images is confusion around print sizes. It might seem like a simple decision—just pick an 8×10 or 24×30, right? Unfortunately, it’s not always that straightforward.
Digital cameras capture images in specific aspect ratios, and those don’t always match standard print sizes. So when someone orders a size like 8×10, part of the image often needs to be cropped to make it fit. That might not be a big deal for some photos, but if your subject fills most of the frame, that crop can completely change the look—or even cut out something important.
I’ve had many situations where I’ve had to contact a customer to let them know that their requested print size would result in losing part of their subject. It’s never fun to deliver that news, especially when they were excited about their print.
To avoid surprises, I always recommend choosing a print size that closely matches the original shape of your photo. Or better yet, reach out to me first—I’m happy to help you find the perfect size to preserve the full beauty of your image.
Common print sizes
So to explain print sizes I made the following chart.
If the size you are looking at having printed says cropped then you will be loosing some of the subject in the image. Sometimes this is not a huge issue. Other times it is not good.
Samples of cropped images
The image below of the Meadowlark is a good example of a photo that still works well, even when cropped to fit a different print size. While the crop does change the overall look—shifting it from a longer format to a more square shape—it doesn’t cut off any of the main subject. The bird remains fully in frame, so the impact of the image is preserved.
The pheasant image is a great example of when cropping simply doesn’t work. No matter how you adjust it for cropped print size such as 8×10 or 16×20, you end up losing part of the subject—either the head or the tail gets cut off. In cases like this, printing the image full frame (without cropping) is a much better option to preserve the composition and detail. Instead of printing as a 8×10 an 8×12 would work, instead of a 16×20 a 16×24 would be perfect.
If you’re unsure about print sizes or how cropping might affect your image, just ask when placing your order. I’m always happy to take a look and make sure your photo will look its best in print.