When you crop in portrait

[Derrel]

You can do whatever you want. You are the artist.

We oughtta' put Schwetty's Rule to music!!! There actually are a number of guidelines, which are just that, guidelines, relating to portraiture. There are basics that will make your images look good, such as allowing enough top space above the top of the head to present the face within the frame and not cause awkward visual tension. Also, the line of gaze (gosh, there's one of those doggone ART concepts showing up again!) of the subject, if going off to the side, needs to have more room to "look into" than the side of the head that is opposite from the eyes...if the eyeballs are centered within a typical aspect ratio vertical frame, they will appear to be far, far too low within the frame...etc.,etc..

The idea that a beginner, with no understanding of the elements and principles of art can "do whatever he wants" because "he is the artist" is preposterous. Sorry...but that's like telling a rookie race car driver that he can take a corner, "Any way he wants to, because you're the driver." Uh...sorry, but no, that's not right. It's a recipe for disaster.