Best Aspect Ratio for Headshots (Prints)

[@AdventuresInOhioandBeyond]

So much information, I came because of the high volume headshots video and I'm slowly watching them all. Great information.

[@MattSpaugh]

I thought I saw a jump in the view counts - ha. Thanks so much. I have so many more ideas for content to produce but only so many hours in a day. I do have a couple of light reviews coming soon - stay tuned!

[@AdventuresInOhioandBeyond]

@@MattSpaugh I feel the pain, 2 boys and a regular full time job, but I do photography on the side, and youtube just for giggles. I love the content.

[@redrob2230]

I kinda fell into a school photo day. Your at least last 2 videos have really been lifesavers. It’s things I haven’t thought of. Also they are unique topics of photography that I haven’t seen much of. Your high volume video is now my standard. Thank you.

[@MattSpaugh]

So glad the hear that my content was of help to you. Thanks for watching!

[@hectorfarah523]

Thank you Matt! Awesome information!

[@MattSpaugh]

I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@BrianKRoss101]

Absolute gold, thank you!

[@MattSpaugh]

I'm glad you found it helpful. It seems like a no-brainer but there's actually a lot to consider! Thanks for watching.

[@BrianKRoss101]

@@MattSpaugh Having a lot to consider is exactly why this is gold. I have experience photographing products, not people, so I've been wafting back and forth on crop and aspect ratio. Sharing your logic and experience helps me make a decision on this. What you are creating on KZbin is no doubt helping folks that need it!

[@MattSpaugh]

@@BrianKRoss101 Thanks Brian, that means a lot!

[@morganflanigan9911]

Oh my word thank you!! I had a school photo shoot fall into my lap and have been searching on how to deliver photos that will work in both the yearbook and prints! I asked the office to provide me with the dimensions they would need for the yearbook which they told me is 7x9picas. Ummmmmm...okay. That isn't going to work for cropping haha. We will deliver 8x10 ratios and hope for the best

[@MattSpaugh]

Glad you found something helpful - thanks for watching!

[@Qbulls23]

Great video

[@MattSpaugh]

Thanks for watching - glad you like it.

[@LongTimeTTFan]

Thanks a lot. This is the first video I've come across on this interesting topic. I like your choice of 2x3 ratio. Sometimes, I also do squares 1x1. That way, I'm able to capture the entire upper body of the subject just in case. I also like your recommendation to always shoot wide. Thanks again for the very helpful video.

[@MattSpaugh]

For me, flexibility in the edit is the key. If I can reduce the amount of work along the way, all the better. Thanks for watching.

[@holaemili]

Nice, thanks!

[@MattSpaugh]

Glad you liked it, thanks for watching.

[@Qbulls23]

Great information again

[@MattSpaugh]

I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@bethb3462]

Well done, Matt!

[@MattSpaugh]

Thanks!

[@jaiharrison2570]

Hey Matt one of the best videos on KZbin. I did have a question, what printing platform do you use for printing ID’s?

[@MattSpaugh]

Thanks for the encouraging words Jai! I run my ID cards through Miller's Professional Imaging. Their prices are good and their turnaround is SUPER fast. I can't stand their interface for uploading but its workable once you figure it out. Their customer service is really good - thankfully. I usually create a custom template but they have a range of standard designs. Hope that helps, thanks for watching. www.millerslab.com

[@jaiharrison2570]

Thank you for replying back to my comment. I appreciate it.

[@CortoMuanza]

Hey Matt. Your videos are packed with solid information and I’m learning so much from them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge & experience.

[@MattSpaugh]

Thanks for watching Corto! This has been an interesting journey for me. I actually started my channel on a dare but have found that I really enjoy creating content - comments like yours are very encouraging. Have a great day!

[@TracyHoexter]

Another great video! Do you always shoot vertical for volume? Any thoughts on shooting horizontally for corporate headshots in volume? Thanks!

[@MattSpaugh]

I've shot horizontal for environmental headshots where I need to show location for context, but for straight-up headshots that will be cropped mid-chest, I always shoot vertical. Bear in mind, this video is specifically about shooting for situations where people will be ordering prints - and you need to create one cropped image that will work for all the different sizes. In that case 8x10 vertical is the safest way to go. Thanks for watching!

[@douggoss1]

Great video, very informative, thanks! One question, I plan on supplying the client with three files: two full sized images cropped to 8x10, one color and one B&W. The third is where I am struggling. That will be a smaller imaged sized for ID badges but I can't find what the dimensions should be for those anywhere. Any suggestions? Thanks again!

[@MattSpaugh]

It depends on who is doing the ID badges. If they have a layout already, you'll need to match that. I create the design for my badges and then do all the production as well so, in my case the photo on the ID is still proportionate to 8x10. FWIW, when I send the school their files (for the yearbook), I send 4x5 images (at 360dpi) that are cropped pretty tight. Those are the same images I use for the ID cards. Hope that helps, thanks for watching.

[@lloydpdx]

I don’t do volume portraits, but this was still helpful, and enjoyable in its simplicity and effective use of the aspect ratio motion graphics. Thank you! Do you find that planning for 8x10 also leaves enough width for circular crops - LinkedIn, I think, for example?

[@MattSpaugh]

Definitely. having that extra headroom comes in handy for almost any format. Thanks for watching, glad you like the video.

[@SDW2000]

Would this technique be the same if shooting horizontal headshots?

[@MattSpaugh]

Not exactly. The 8x0 cropping for a vertical shot is done that way so that as the image is printed at different sizes (and therefore ratios) the sides are what will get cropped out. On a horizontal shot, the top and bottom are what will be cropped out which could be problematic. I hope that helps - thanks for watching!

[@mysteriousman3000]

8x10 = 4x5 for all you lightroom editors out there