Close-up portrait crop of young woman with long dark wavy hair

Four Portrait Cropping Ideas

The crop of a portrait (or any photograph, for that matter) is one of those simple tricks that can make a huge difference to the image, yet it’s one of those things that isn’t talked about enough.  Composition, yes; cropping not so much. For all portraits other than full-length ones, you have to decide where on your subject’s body to place the edge of the frame. 

The nice thing about working on location is that, more often than not, you can create numerous images out of one spot, and make them look very different simply by changing your crop. I photographed Cimmie shortly before her birthday. Her mum wanted to create a photobook as a gift, so it was imperative that I created a wide range of images from the time we had.

It varies as to whether I will start with a wide shot and then work my way into a close portrait, or whether I start close in and work out – it depends what first attracted me to the image in the first place, I guess. If your subject is nervous about being photographed, it can be helpful to start with full length shots taken from further away, as it will feel slightly less intimidating for them. With Cimmie, I started with a close-up then pulled back.

The change in crop is a combination of me moving and changing the zoom length on the lens – though I also do this with prime lenses, in which case I have to move a lot further. The image with the widest crop is in fact shot on the longest zoom. Although I wanted a full length image and plenty of background, I love the effect a long lens gives, making the house in the distance appear large behind Cimmie. I also like crouching on the floor to get the perspective I am looking for, which makes Cimmie appear taller.

This sequence was taken within a minute or so, and shows my four favourite portrait cropping ideas – the places I return to again and again when working with a subject.

Crop Shot (Close-Up)

The easiest of all is a tight crop on the face. I love these kinds of images and they are great for social media, as they are punchy and striking even when viewed small. Crop shots can cut into the subject’s hairline, but never the chin. This type of shot also enables you to place one of your subject’s eyes according to the rule of thirds, helping to create a strong composition.

A smiling young woman with long, wavy hair in a blurred outdoor setting.

Bust Shot

Coming out a little is a slightly more traditional and formal portrait cropping idea – the bust shot. These cut into the subject’s torso but include the full head and hair. It’s a wonderfully versatile framing, and one that works beautifully for printed portraits as well as online use. Personally, this is one of my favourite crops as it includes enough clothing to show the subject’s personal style but keeps it close and intimate – as if you were having a conversation with them (which, I almost certainly was!)

A portrait of a young woman with long, curly hair and a warm smile.

Three-Quarter Length

Three-quarter length portraits crop into the subject’s mid-thigh area. They include the subject’s head and hair, torso and hands. This time I asked Cimmie to look to the right to create a slightly more candid feel, as if it wasn’t quite so posed – and you can see how that small direction changes the whole mood of the image. Interestingly, I have heard it said that the most popular shot you can sell from a wedding is a three-quarter length crop of the bride and groom. Who knew?!

A woman with long hair poses against a neutral background.

Full-Length

The final image is full length and, here, the background has become less blurred and is now adding context and narrative. When shooting full-length portraits, aim to have an equal or greater amount of image space between the top of the subject’s head and the top edge of the frame as there is below their feet. For me, I love a full-length crop but I usually like the camera angle to be low to the ground, raising the subject in stature. This might not be stylistically everyone’s cup of tea, but it works for me and has a certain feel to it – very much like a Netflix poster or magazine cover.

A woman in a beige jumpsuit poses confidently outdoors.

Cropping Mistakes in Portraits – What To Avoid

Those are four ‘safe’ portrait cropping ideas, though of course there is no such thing as a ‘wrong’ crop: if you like weird and wonderful crops then that is simply your style and you should embrace it.

But what about the places to avoid cropping through? There are a handful of places that work less well in portraits that occur again and again, and they’re all worth knowing before you get to the edit.

Unless you have a very good reason – and I genuinely can’t think of one – never crop into your subject’s chin. It just looks and feels wrong. Another one to avoid is slicing off just your subject’s feet. It’s so close to being a full-length portrait that it seems odd: why not simply include the feet too? Thirdly, crop above or below your subject’s joints, never through them. A frame cutting into an ankle, knee or elbow doesn’t work. And lastly, watch out for body elements near the edge of the frame. Either crop confidently, or not at all. A sliver of a head or foot sliced off looks accidental.

For me, the best portrait cropping ideas all share one thing in common – they look deliberate. Don’t make the viewer wonder if you meant it. Crop it, or don’t.

If you’re interested in what to look for on a location, head straight to this article, which also features Cimmie.