I firmly believe that a crop can make or break a photo.
I will not even edit photos for someone unless I know what size they will be printing them in.
I'm always telling everyone, "Make sure you order the size that corresponds with the size I include in the description of the photo!" It makes me shudder to think of the time wasted should someone mess this up! (:
Here's a glimpse of the process when I crop a photo...
This is the original.
Gwyneth has started posing just recently & this is one of my favs.
(along with her Shirly-Temple-dimple-pose, but I have yet to capture that one)
I usually start with a basic crop. Here I just got rid of all the distractions in the background and "zoomed in" on her a bit.
After seeing it this way I thought maybe it would be better with a tight crop to show off that adorable expression that I love so much...
And I do love how I can see every detail...the pouty lips, chubby fingers, pink bows & curly piggies
.But the quality of the photo just isn't good enough to crop this tight. I was shooting at pretty high ISO and didn't nail my exposure, so I got a lot of grain...(which shows up even more after sharpening and resizing for web)Yuckers!
That's better!
I also love how the "ruts" in Mom & Dad's old road kinda frame her now.
I like how this shows off a little more of her dress.
An $80 Ralph Lauren that I scored on ebay, new with tags, for $.99-Oh ya!
And finally a couple artsy, tilted ones...
I love to crop off the hems of dresses at an angle like
this. I just think it looks so girly and flirty!
(Plus, it's an easy way to get rid of that nasty scab on her knee!)
Now I just need to choose a fav!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
8 comments:
To CROP! For sure!
I have been trying to be better about waiting untill the editing is done...saving the base and going from there... but for me, the crop is what makes or breaks it.
How we possibly have ten versions of one picture.. and can't decide on any of them... ? Then multiply that times three kids and a few shots of each!
Is it justifiable to print them ALL, in a book.....probably not! (it wouldn't be a 200 page book, but a 1,000 page book!)
Some grandparent somewhere would inevitably not "get it" and say isn't this the same picture? And we would have to try and explain!
But they each tell their own story..... And they look like completely different pics, to us.
ok.. I like #6 and the last one... I like the road too and how it frames the shot too. She is adorable!
Sorry about the rambling.....
These are the kinds of things that you have been offered $$$ to teach...and you think you don't know anything - you are funny!
Numbers 3,8,&9 are my favorites!
These are so cute!
Have I mentioned lately that I WANT A GIRL!?
Okay, I'll get off my girl rampage for a while now.
yeah, number six and the last one are my favs. I hate that how sometimes you want to have that cute face close up, but you just can't. :(
If you're concerned about the grain, number 6 would be my pick, but honestly.....I like number 4 the best. I'm extremely partial to images offset to the right. I don't know why..... I especially prefer this one offset to the right because she's looking left. If she's cropped and heavy on the left, it makes me feel like she's "looking out of the picture" and therefore off balance. Please don't take my opinion too seriously, it's just an opinion. :) If you're worried about the grain there are a few things that could reduce it. Now, I'm NO ONE to be telling you of all people how to edit something, I realize. I keep telling Lyle that I'll pay you $200 for a few hours of PS tutorial..... :)
I stole a copy of the image to show you what I would do. I've emailed it to Lyle because I don't have your email addy. Hope I haven't taken too much liberty in snagging a copy of the image to show you what I mean about reducing the appearance of the grain. I'm sure you already know about all this stuff anyway. BUT just in case you don't..... It's a free plug in from AutoFX. They have some awesome plugins, but start saving!!!!!
Anyway, hope you don't me messing with it. Don't be afraid to tell me to "butt out" if you prefer I not do that. I'm not easily offended. :)
Thanks guys! I love feedback!
Let's see...I think my favs are 6&9
Megan, bring it on! I can handle it! I also love composing my shots with the subject on the right. It's actually quite tiresome to look through all the kids' photos because almost every shot is composed that way. I've been trying really hard the last 6 months or so to break out of that rut..but I think this is a photo that's just begging to be cropped that way. I've not played with noiseware very much, but have seen what it can do. (The noise on this is much more horrible due to over-sharpening for web, but I was just too lazy to redo it) Lyle is out building our storage unit right now, so I can't get to his e-mail, but I'm just dying to see what you've done! Maybe I'll post it tomorrow for everyone to see?
I like #6 - to the right with the trail to the left and her looking left is definitely the right crop.
these pictures look like crop! = )
i like the close up, and the one with the road to the left...
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