A recent trend in head shots is to shoot in landscape orientation (horizontal) rather than in portrait orientation (vertical). To get a head shot that fills the frame in landscape orientation, you have to cut off the top of the head or the chin. Traditionally, this was not done with head shots, but photographers like Peter Hurley often do it now. When I take head shots, I don't worry too much about the framing. I usually take some in landscape, some in portrait, with my focus being on getting the main part of the face and the expression. In a recent head shot session I did with a local actor, I found that some of my favorite shots of him did indeed cut off the top of his head. I think it allows a sense of intimacy, of not being restricted by borders or rules, but my mother doesn't like it. On seeing some photos of mine, she recently commented, "I don't like to see the heads cut off." I can see hr point, too. Any thoughts? (I included one shot in the traditional portrait orientation for comparison.)