Charmshots editorial ·
Shoot wider than the final crop
Keep some space above the hair and beside the shoulders. Avoid placing important details at the edge, especially when the image may be displayed as a circle or a tall card.
Compare practical previews
- Make a square crop.
- Test a taller crop if relevant.
- Check the face at thumbnail size.
- Keep the original for future layouts.
A landscape photograph with the subject at one far edge may work beautifully as a banner but poorly as an avatar. The problem is fit, not necessarily photo quality.
Keep the face readable
Too much empty sky can make an otherwise strong portrait disappear in a small card. Too little headroom can make every automated crop feel cramped. Choose the version that preserves both recognition and flexibility, without stretching or reshaping the image to fit.