To Chop or Not

Chopping arms, legs and heads in the wrong places gives your photos a distracting unprofessional look. Your photos look like snapshots if cropped incorrectly.

These photos represent some of my early photography. These photos were shot with my Point and Shoot camera.  I’m pointing this out because not everyone has or wants expensive camera gear, but still wants to take great photos.

Let's review some example photos to give you some ideas for improving your photography:

Chopped at the horse and horse trainer's knees and the trainer's left arm creates a distraction and snapshot quality photo:

 Photo snapped to include legs and arm creates a much more professional and pleasing image. I also included a view of the rain soaked road they are walking down for added interest.

Don’t chop off part of a head, hands, feet or legs unless done with well thought out planning.

Chopped off legs and the background on the right side of the photo give this photo a snapshot quality: 

Cropping out the right and bottom of the photo tightens up the emphasis on the little girl enjoying splashing the water:

Tightening up the cropping even more on the side of the photo draws the viewer's attention to the child's face and the splashing water. From the look on her face she is certainly enjoying herself!

Take a step back, move closer, zoom in or out to prevent cutting off an arm, leg or feet in the wrong place. Shoot more into your photo than you plan on using - you can crop your photos in post editing for the look you want to achieve.

Right arm and hand and feet are cut off in a distracting way:

Backing up to include arm and feet makes for a professional quality photo:

We are striving for stylish professional photos. 

Another example of chopped arm and hand:

Moving in closer to tighten up on her face is much more pleasing, less distracting and much more professional looking:

Zooming in to take this shot would be better:

Zooming in closer gives a better view of the baby's sweet face:

Practice taking lots of portraits of family and friends - practice makes perfect and there's nothing more rewarding than sharing photos of family and friends. You'll have a lifetime of treasures in your photography.

Good to great photos come from practice, reading, looking at other photographer’s work and more practice. Oh! And practice and reading ….. 

100 Ways to Take Better Portrait Photographs

Your Baby in Pictures: The New Parents' Guide to Photographing Your Baby's First Year

The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images