Aspect ratio sounds like a technical footnote, a pair of numbers describing a photo's width and height. In practice, it is one of the quickest ways to change how an image feels. The right shape can make a landscape feel vast, a portrait feel intimate or a pattern feel bold. Many photographers never touch the default setting, so this guide explains what is aspect ratio, which recommended photo aspect ratios suit which subjects, and how to change it.
What is aspect ratio in photography?
Aspect ratio in practice
TAMRON 17-28mm F2.8 (Model A046) | Focal length: 17mm | Exposure: F7.1 | Shutter Speed: 0.4sec | ISO: 100
Aspect ratio describes the relationship between a photo's width and its height, written as width:height – for example, 3:2 or 16:9. It tells you the shape of the frame, not how many pixels it contains or how large it will print. A tiny thumbnail and a wall-sized print can share exactly the same aspect ratio.
Most full-frame and APS-C interchangeable-lens cameras default to 3:2.
