Perfectly Framed - From Lens to Living Room

In photography, “framing” isn’t just about what goes around a picture - it’s about how the image is composed, cropped, and ultimately displayed. Whether it’s capturing the shot in-camera, adjusting it for different print sizes, or selecting the perfect physical frame, framing plays a crucial role in creating stunning artwork.

Let’s break it down!

Framing at the Moment of Capture

Have you ever tried to print an 8x10 of a favorite photo, only to find that important details - like the top of your dog’s head - get cropped out? Frustrating, right? That’s why I think about framing before I ever click the shutter. Every single time.

Each time I take a photo, I consider my options:

📷 Tight headshot - Focusing just on your dog’s adorable face. 📷 Head and shoulders - A classic portrait. 📷 Full-body shot - Showcasing their entire stance and personality. 📷 Wide landscape - I capture your pup in their surroundings for a more environmental feel.

In every scenario, I’m already thinking about how the image might be printed and displayed. Since I want to avoid any “Oops, I cropped out an ear!” moments, I always shoot wide.

That tight headshot? It’s not quite so tight in-camera.

That classic portrait? I leave some wiggle room.

That wide landscape? I might be a football field away, making sure there’s space to adjust the crop later.

Some clients come in with a clear vision of how they’ll display their images, but many don’t - and that’s totally okay! Whether you want an 8x10 for your desk or a large statement piece over your living room couch, my shooting style ensures your image will fit any format beautifully.

Let me illustrate…

Whelp, I’ve been shooting loose for so long that I couldn’t easily find a suitable example of what happens when you shoot too tight. So, yay for me! 🥳 But boo, because I can’t show you the issue directly. 🙃 Instead, I’ll use this marked-up image of my ridiculously cute puppy, Churro, to explain. This is exactly how I captured him – uncropped - with a black border added because, well, that’s how I roll. 😉

Now, let’s take a closer look:

• The red vertical lines represent an 8x10 crop. If I want to print this as an 8x10, the image has to be trimmed to fit, meaning less space on the sides. But, Churro still fits beautifully within the frame when cropped. Nice.

• The dashed red horizontal line, combined with the red vertical lines, shows an alternative in-camera framing option. If I had composed the shot this way and then printed it as an 8x10, here’s what would have happened…

• The yellow vertical lines show the 8x10 crop result of that (red-lined) in-camera framing. Clearly too tight; it would chop off the sides of the chair, which I didn’t want.

See the problem? If I had shot this image exactly as I wanted it to appear in-camera, without leaving extra space, I’d have lost key details when cropping for print. In this case, part of the chair. But now imagine that same issue with dog heads - suddenly, you’re missing ear tips or chin whiskers! Unacceptable.

That’s why I always shoot wide. It gives me flexibility to adjust for different print sizes without sacrificing the composition. So while it may seem like there’s a little too much room in the original image, trust me - it’s very intentional!

Okay, onto the next part of framing…

Framing in the Editing Process

After the session, I continue the framing process in post-processing. On every single image. Because I shoot loose, I can (must!) crop each image to create the best possible composition – eliminating distractions and making sure the image is as compelling as possible.

Confession: I have a strong personal preference for horizontal (landscape) images - I just love the balance and storytelling they offer! But because I plan ahead, I can easily crop to vertical (portrait) orientation when needed. Shooting wide allows me to adjust, ensuring that every image is as strong as it can be. Let’s take a look.

In this example, the adorable Nebula (with her mom and leash removed) is shown in the full frame exactly as I captured it in-camera.

Since we had already selected some environmental images of her, I wanted to bring her in closer for this final print, creating a more intimate connection with the viewer. Her upright stance naturally lent itself to a vertical composition, so I cropped accordingly to enhance the impact of the image.

Neat, huh? This is a perfect example of how framing isn’t just about how you shoot - it continues in post-processing. By shooting wide, I gave myself the flexibility to refine the final composition while ensuring the image remained well-balanced and print-ready. I hope you agree that the tight vertical framing works better on this one!

The Final Touch: Choosing the Perfect Frame

Once your favorite images are selected, it’s time for the finishing touch - the actual frame! I’m a firm believer that photos deserve to be printed and displayed, not just stored on a screen.

Whether your style is sleek and modern or rustic and cozy, I offer a variety of frames and finishes, plus tabletop art for those smaller spaces. Imagine your dog’s portrait perfectly framed on your wall, bringing joy every time you walk by.

You betcha I want this image above my couch, but there’s no wall above my couch! 😭😂

Let’s Frame Your Pooch!

If you’re ready to turn your dog’s portrait into a stunning piece of art, let’s chat! I’d love to help you create something you’ll treasure for years to come. 🐾✨

LET'S CHAT!

Ginger Wick Photography is an award winning dog photographer specializing in creating beautiful custom artwork of dogs & their people. Based in Parker, CO serving the Denver area.