The challenge of being a photographer in this day and age is staying current, both in regard to trend and technology. With online portfolios via websites and social media being the most prevailing source of exposure, having appropriately sized images that showcase your work in its full capacity is a mark of a true professional. It is up to you to abide by the unwritten rules of everchanging technology or fade to the dust simply due to the constraints of file sizes.

[REWIND: CURRENT 2016 SOCIAL MEDIA IMAGE SIZE CHEAT SHEET INFOGRAPHIC]

Alamy, a stock photo & vector database, has provided a comprehensive guide to file sizes, breaking down exactly what size will give you the optimal resolution for specific usage. Knowing the appropriate file sizes and terminology for various platforms will help you avoid a slew of potential issues:

  • File sizes that are too large – could potentially slow down your website and prevent viewers from continued browsing.
  • File sizes that are too small – will appear pixelated and don’t show your work in its optimal resolution. This often happens on social media platforms. Take a look at the most current Social Media Size Cheat Sheet here & make sure your Facebook photos are being uploaded in HD.
  • DPI – The resolution of a print image measured by the amount of dots that will be included in every inch that is printed. The more dots, the higher the quality.
  • PPI – The resolution of a digital image measured by the amount of pixels that will be included in every inch. The more pixels, the higher the quality.

[REWIND: YOUR PHOTOS ARE NOT UPLOADING TO FACEBOOK IN HD BY DEFAULT | HERE’S THE FIX]

Understanding the limitations and consequences of incorrect file sizing will inevitably improve the standard and quality of your content. Having this asset on hand can help make the difference between your work being published in a magazine or overlooked. It also makes maneuvering through the digital landscape of sizing that much easier.

Infographic: File data-lazy-sizes

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