Photo How To

Is image cropping just a technical fix, or a creative tool that can completely transform your photography? According to pro Ejaz Khan, the latter is the correct answer, and he demonstrates why and how in the 10 minute tutorial below.

Khan grew up immersed in filmmaking and developed a love for storytelling that fueled his passion for photography. The goal of his popular how-to videos is to "help you capture stunning photos effortlessly by simplifying complex techniques into actionable steps." The task of creative cropping isn't exactly complex, but it's one sure way to leave viewers craving more.

Today's episode is all about this using this practical skill to enhance images with an artistic flair. Khan explains the concept like this: "I'll show you how image cropping is more than just trimming edges, and how it enables you to unlock the full emotion, power, and presence within the frame." He promises that by following his advice you'll be able to quickly turn a decent image into one that’s "unforgettable."

Put another way, with the techniques you'll learn in the next 10 minutes, "your cropped images don't just look better, they feel better too." Bottom line: If you've ever looked at one of your images and thought something was missing, there's a good chance that a lack of thoughtful cropping is the key element you overlooked.

Khan's straightforward tips are illustrated by a selection of photos that can be greatly improved with different types of crops, and they're appropriate for a broad range of genres from landscapes, portraits, and action shots, to nature and wildlife imagery. With a bit of practice, these compelling  styles will quickly become second nature whether you're "cropping in the camera" or during post processing.

Khan demonstrates how even small changes to the frame can elicit a big emotional response from viewers, and why it's helpful to leave space in your crop for flexibility of mood. In other situations the goal is creating photos with a sense of power, and one way to do that is getting in tight which will accentuate a key subject and eliminate distracting elements in the background or surrounding areas. Other times, the goal may be enhancing depth, clarity, and texture.

The overall takeaway is this: "Don't just frame what you see, use image cropping to shape what your audience feels." Once you're done watching, heady over to Khan's instructional YouTube channel where there are many more tips and tricks for improving your skills.

And don't miss our recent tutorial with one of our favorite instructors who demonstrates why an understanding of color theory and practical ways to use it is also essential for creating photographs with maximum impact.