#12. Shoot to Frame Size

Here's a typical shot taken with a phone in a 16 x 9 aspect ratio (it's oblong). If I later need to crop this photo to use it in portrait orientation (tall instead of wide) for a publication, I'm out of luck. I need to think about what size and shape photo I need before I shoot. Sometimes it's best to shoot both tall and wide if you aren't sure what the end use is.

​Shoot to frame. All that means is to figure out in advance what the final image size (aspect ratio) needs to be and make sure your image fits. For example, most DSLRs shoot in a 2:3 aspect ratio (frames are 2 inches tall and 3 inches wide. It's how you get a 4" x 6" image ). Some phones shoot in a 16:9 aspect ratio with newer phones going to 18:9. If you are posting to places like Instagram, it only accepts 1:1 aspect ratios (square). If you try to pack an 18:9 photo into a 1:1 format, things can go terribly wrong.  You can still shoot with an 18:9 (or any 

other ratio) camera to post on Instagram, but you need to zoom out or back away from the subject so that  you can crop the photo accordingly. Or, on more recent cameras and phones you can easily change the aspect ratio so that what you preview in the viewfinder or on the screen before you shoot what the final shot looks like.
If you have made it to the next level and are working with other creatives like editors, producers, art directors, or for print, make sure you coordinate with them on the aspect ratio.  They may be concerned about layout, column size, or trying to meet the obligations of an advertiser. This includes knowing what orientation is needed. Do you want to shoot in Landscape (picture is wider) or Portrait orientation (image is taller than it is wide.)

This image was originally shot in portrait orientation ( 3:2 aspect ratio taller than wide) but with enough room left over to crop square

Here's the final 1:1 image crop (square) suitable for Instagram. Notice it still tells the story of this food preparation even after cropping the former foreground out. Knowing in advance what the final crop needs to be will save a lot of headaches, especially if you are being paid and have to go re-shoot on your dime.