Do you crop differently than 2:3?

The 2:3 ratio out of the camera basically only works for 4x6 prints.

When you PP images for distribution to a client on disk, do you actually select some photos for 8x10, 11x14, etc, and crop accordingly? I don't. The few solo weddings I do are just delivered in 2:3 format. Sometimes I'll crop a horizontal pic and turn it into a vertical but it's still at a 2:3 ratio.

The reason I ask is because I recently saw some printed 8x10's at a relatives house. The foreheads were really chopped off (more than usual) and I asked her if they were supposed to look like this. She said the printing kiosk (Costco?) cropped them for her and she didn't have a chance to do it properly (or misread the onscreen instructions).

great thread, i'm interested to hear what others do too.
i essentially do the exact same thing as you RT..
and i always tell my clients to let me know what they potentially want as 8x10's etc, because i might be able to get them a better crop and they never take me up on it. so i know that some of their walls have images like the one you described hanging up on them.

I think it better to deliver negatives without cropping because I never know what size they are going to order. When I happen to think about it, I try to be a little roomy around the edges when cropping an image in the camera before taking it although I don't always remember to. When I've cropped images prior to delivery in the past, I've had it happen more than once that the size they want me to order does not work well with the crop I used.

Unless otherwise specified/requested, 2:3 here as well.

3:2 here - and we only offer a limited range of 3:2 format prints (6x4, 9x6, 12x8, 18x12, 24x16) which we print in-house. Exception is if someone wants a large wall print or canvas, when we'll crop to suit.

Rob

I always do 2x3. When someone wants to order an 8x10, I may need to go back and recrop against the RAW so that all the important bits fit in. Ever since going digital, I like to shoot a little wide so I can be precise about cropping afterwards so I almost always have a little more room. Offering 8x12 prints help to minimize the need to do this, though.

Very true Robert, but most of those quickie kiosk machines/labs only offer up to 8x10. I wonder how many clients have mutilated their pics during the crop process at these places? (Well, I don't really care... all the more reason to buy them from you.)

P.S. It's a 4x6 world

P.S.S. the 8x10 needs to die

jerrybsmith wrote in post #10386714
I try to be a little roomy around the edges when cropping an image in the camera before taking it although I don't always remember to.

Same here. But there are times when I screw up and it's tempting to just crop that sucker to 1:1 just to get rid of a stray foot or hand.

Maybe delivering all square pics would increase a photographer's print sales. I can picture people standing in front of a kiosk for days trying to convert them.

2:3 always, if they want something else they can order prints from me, and my online gallery has a crop preview. Why would I add hours more PP when the gain is so small?

2:3 here unless it's a specialty crop I want to present (like 1:2 or 1:3) and then I will make sure to note that clearly.

I am clear with my clients that best results are from images in the 2:3 ratio and if they choose to print 5x7 or 8x10 etc then strange cropping can occur so they need to preview it first (my online gallery offers this option).

I actively encourage 8x12 over the 8x10s and have a couple of samples to show clients. They get it once they see it.

never, unless it's for my own use.

I do mostly 2:3, 4:5 or 1:1 crops.
Very very rarely a panorama 2.35:1, but always in a 16:9 aspect ratio (with black bars), so you get that extra movie-look and feel

3:2

And I strongly push 3:2 print formats (or close to it) like 8x12, 11x17, 16x24 instead of 8x10, 11x14, and 16x20. In fact, I my print prices for non 3:2 formats are higher as it takes an extra step to print it.

picturecrazy wrote in post #10399965
In fact, I my print prices for non 3:2 formats are higher as it takes an extra step to print it.

+1 here