Square or rectangle, decide first
The shape is the first real decision. A tight square crop flatters one or two faces, which is why it suits portraits and pets, and the shop carries square sizes for exactly that. A 2 by 3 inch rectangle keeps the proportions of a phone photo, so groups and wide scenes stay whole. Picking the shape before the photo saves you from cramming a lineup into a square that cuts the ends off.
Crop tight, then check it small
Custom work lives or dies on the crop. Trim to the subject, drop the distracting background, and leave a little clean space if a name or date is going on. Then shrink the image on your phone until it is about the size of the finished magnet. If the faces still read at that size, it will print well. If the subject melts into the background, crop harder or choose another frame.
Think about where it will hang
A magnet headed for a busy kitchen door competes with notes, lists, and other magnets, so a bold close crop wins. One bound for a quiet office cabinet or a locker can carry a softer, more detailed image. Matte prints stay calm under direct light, while a glossier surface lifts color in a dim corner. Knowing the wall before you order keeps the photo from disappearing into a cluttered fridge.
Order a set, plus a few spares
Most people order custom photo magnets in small sets rather than singles, built around one person or one stretch of time. Six covers a gift; nine fills a grid or splits between two homes. If the set is aimed at a particular relative rather than an occasion, the personalized photo magnets page helps you build around them. Add a couple of spares, because the first person who sees them on a fridge usually asks for their own.
