We received this question from a reader…

I am a photo enthusiast and not a professional. I have just begun making some prints and selling at local craft shows. I like to offer 8X10 and 5×7 sizes to cover different price ranges. I really struggle with the best way to crop the same photo in two different sizes. Is it best to start with 8×10 and then go down to 5×7 or what? I do some photos of people, but mainly it’s just things of whatever I find colorful and interesting. Can anyone suggest pointers or guidance in this direction? ―Sue Vealey

This is a great question, and something that gets asked quite often, so you’re definitely not alone, Sue!

What you’re referring to is called Aspect Ratio. As an artist, words like these tend to make me cringe. I don’t like complex numbers and I especially don’t like having to do math when I’m creating artwork! But, it’s an extremely important concept every photographer should have an understanding of. Having a good grasp of aspect ratio will prevent you from feeling the need to pull your hair out when the time comes to print your beautiful photographs!

First off, what is Aspect Ratio?

Aspect ratio refers to the relationship between the width and height of a photograph. I could spew out a bunch of numbers but quite frankly, it will only add to the confusion. So let’s keep things simple. Basically, the most important thing to remember is that when you go to print a photograph, the dimensions will change depending on the size of photo you print (i.e. 8×10, 5×7, 4×6, and so on).

Let’s take a look at an example:

Several years ago, I had the opportunity of capturing a group photo of my husband’s entire family. He has five brothers and they’re not often able to get together, so we gathered everyone for a quick photo one afternoon. I set up my tripod and framed the shot. Thinking that I was leaving plenty of space on each side for any necessary cropping, I snapped the photo.

When I went to order prints, I was so disappointed to find out that I hadn’t left enough room after all! As you can see, the original proportions of the photo are quite close to the 4×6 (shown in green). As I cropped in to the 5×7 size (shown in yellow), it got uncomfortably close to chopping off limbs, notably the boy’s feet on the left. The 8×10 crop (shown in red) was dangerously close, in that it actually did chop a few limbs, something you definitely want to avoid.

The solution:

So how do I deal with aspect ratio while out shooting? Easy. I take a step back. Literally. When I’m composing a shot, as soon as I have the photo framed just right, I often physically take a step or two back (if possible) to allow for more breathing room in the frame. If it’s not possible to physically take a step back, and I’m using a zoom lens, I’ll often turn the zoom ring to shoot a smidge wider, allowing for more wiggle room when printing.

So Sue, to answer your question specifically, I usually try to add breathing room around the entire perimeter of my photo. That way, when I go to print any of these sizes, I have plenty of space to work with.

This is something that takes a bit of practice. If you’re just starting out, don’t get overly frustrated if it takes a while to grasp. You’ll get better as you continue to practice.