There are a few reasons why a photographer will shoot or crop a portrait very tightly:
1) Cut off distractions in the foreground or background. Sometimes the subject themselves might be wearing a distraction like text or logos on clothing, a shirt with an ugly colour or loud pattern, etc.
2) Dramatic effect. A tightly composed portrait emphasizes the person’s eyes and facial expression. An otherwise routine portrait can be made more attention-getting by cropping tightly.
3) Graphic effect. A tightly composed portrait can sometimes produce interesting lines or shape.
4) Control how the viewer looks at the picture. In a closely cropped portrait, a viewer’s gaze can’t wander around the image.
5) Some publications want tight crops for banners, page headers and front pages because of the previous four reasons. Plus, a tightly cropped portrait with strong eye contact gives the viewer the illusionary feeling that the person in the photo is acknowledging and perhaps even welcoming the viewer.
Tightly Composed Portraits
Tightly composed portraits are usually not suitable for executive portraits which tend to favour a more conservative approach. But business portraits might include tightly composed photos depending on the subject and their business marketing.
If you shoot a horizontal business portrait, it’s easy to make a tight crop after the pictures are done if the subject later requests it. You could also include some tight crops in the portrait proofs to show the customer what’s possible.
Editorial publications frequently use tightly composed portraits which is why I have so many.
In no particular order:
