What size crop maximizes editing flexibility?

<p>What's the best crop to use when editing photos BEFORE someone chooses what size print they want?<br />I'm using 8x10 and leaving a little more on the edges.<br />This is for school sports photos on the web.<br />I'm thinking that 4x6, 5x7, 11x14, etc. could easily be edited from an 8x10, correct?<br />Your thoughts?</p>

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<p>I would think that you could get into problems that way.<br>

I always keep the full-size image and crop from it. Many images (of mine) don't lend themselves to crops that aren't 3:2 aspect ratio, or close. 8x10, for instance, is nearly square and I would lose a lot of image in a landscape.</p>

<p>If my client is choosing the print size, they see the <strong>full frame</strong>.<br>

So if shot from DSLR they "see" a 7.5 x 5 Aspect Preview. If shooting 645 they “see” 12 x 9 Aspect ratio . . . etc</p>

<p>However, if I am offering <strong>a particular print size</strong> - then they see that print size.<br>

For example for sports photos of kids - which I do a lot - I offer 7x 5 AND 14 X10 Prints - so they view 7x5 Aspect Previews.<br>

On occasion I specifically shoot Kids’ Sports for 7x3 in this case they “see” the 7x3 preview.<br>

It is cumbersome for me to allow the cropping to be dictated by the retail client - Mum or Dad for their Kids’ Sports photos, so that is why my business is set up as I described.</p>

<p>WW</p>

 

<p>i upload for viewing most of my image in the camera's native size, 4x6. Sometimes I'll put in some square cropped files, because that is really the best composition. I'm shooting all sports by the way. <br>

I use Zenfolio for business, and customers can see/try other crops when ordering. <br>

for pictures of rowing, I'll often crop a few to 4x8 or 4x12 aspect to illustrate a better composition.</p>

<p>First I've learned to shoot slightly wider vs. shooting at the exact composition. Next I use Lightroom and sync all images to a 5X7 ratio (its in the middle of a 2X3 and 4X5). Then manually crop each image tighter/straighten and any basic color correction. Once I receive an order I can pull up the raw file and readjust the crop to the correct ratio. If I find an image that I have no room to crop to something as tight as an 8X10 I don't even show the image. I don't want to limit my customers to one size I offer wallets, 4X6, 5X7, 8X10, 11X14 on up. I do however have a warning that prints such as 10X20 or 16X16 aren't for every image.</p>