Charmshots editorial ·
Look at the edges
Check the top of the head, elbows, wrists, knees and feet. An awkward edge can draw attention even when the expression is good. Cropping tighter or wider may solve it without retouching anything.
Compare two versions
- Keep the untouched wide frame.
- Make a deliberate chest-up or waist-up crop.
- Compare with a wider environmental version.
- Preview both at phone size.
A hand cut exactly at the wrist may look accidental. Including the hand or moving the crop clearly above it often makes the composition feel more settled.
Leave room for platform previews
Different layouts can crop the same file differently. Keep important details away from the outer edge and inspect the actual upload preview. Do not stretch the photo to fill a shape; use a crop that preserves your proportions and the picture's intended focus.