Question on cropping

I've seen more than a few portraits and glamour photos lately where the top 2 or 3 inches of the head is cropped off. I personally can't stand that, I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about that. Am I all wet in my dislike of that trend?

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Every photographer has their style and, whatever it is, some will like it and some people won't. Just because you don't like a particular look, it doesn't make the look "wrong".

Besides, if we all shot things the same way this would be a very boring hobby / business, as we all shoot cookie cutter clones of each others work.

You have every right to dislike that look, and not to shoot that way yourself. However, others have a right to shoot any way they want. This is supposed to be an artistic medium after all, and art is subjective.

LOL, I asked the same question just a few threads down the page

maybe go there for a bunch more responses

Dave

Davenn wrote in post #17102924
LOL, I asked the same question just a few threads down the page

maybe go there for a bunch more responses

Dave

HAH.... I absolutely missed that. I guess I better enjoy my photography now before I go totally blind.

It's supposed to make the portrait more intimate by accentuating the eyes and filling more of the frame. Peter Hurley has been doing this for years.

groundloop wrote in post #17101367
I've seen more than a few portraits and glamour photos lately where the top 2 or 3 inches of the head is cropped off. I personally can't stand that, I'm wondering what everyone else thinks about that. Am I all wet in my dislike of that trend?

You need to read up on headshots for different purposes. You're going to hate my work, lol

sandpiper wrote in post #17102204
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Every photographer has their style and, whatever it is, some will like it and some people won't. Just because you don't like a particular look, it doesn't make the look "wrong".

Besides, if we all shot things the same way this would be a very boring hobby / business, as we all shoot cookie cutter clones of each others work.

You have every right to dislike that look, and not to shoot that way yourself. However, others have a right to shoot any way they want. This is supposed to be an artistic medium after all, and art is subjective.

Sometimes it's a requirement, sometimes it is not. Sometimes the client asks for it.

I'm a specialist actor headshot photographer.

SuffolkGal wrote in post #17110088
Sometimes it's a requirement, sometimes it is not. Sometimes the client asks for it.

I'm a specialist actor headshot photographer.

yup, as I discovered in my thread on the subject .... there are no steadfast rules haha
and some pics suit it and some dont


Dave

If you feel the top of the head is an important detail, keep it in your photo. If you feel the face is the important detail, chop a couple inches off the top of the head to emphasize the face.

A solid rule of thumb: Crop close in headshots, but don't crop out the hair. You want to show as much of the face as possible, but if all you have is forehead, they'll look like an alien.

You'll hate my work too
And most of Peter Hurley's work...

I know it's a style and not for everyone but I really like it for my work. It brings the focus on the face and the person. That's why I do it.

Cropped head shots give an immediacy and candid feel to portraits. I can't think of a major portrait photographer who hasn't employed it at some point.

Sometimes "the right crop" makes or breaks an image, whether it's ahead shot or an action shot, or even a landscape. It can place the accent on a point that otherwise might be missed.

it's not for every shot, of course. and more often you can do it in camera better than after. Then again. sometimes the right crop does not emerge until you crop it ...

I'd have no problem cropping part of the head as long as it's done well, and serves the purpose of the shot itself. Some do it well, and some don't -- it's all part of the individual vision.