Tailroom

Tailroom is a term used in photography, cinema, and visual media to describe the amount of empty space behind a subject within the frame. It is roughly the counterpart to lead room, which is the space in front of the subject in the direction of their gaze or movement. Tailroom helps balance a composition and prevents the subject from appearing cramped against the edge of the frame. It can also influence perceived motion, narrative tension, and viewer engagement.

In practice, tailroom is chosen with consideration of the subject's orientation, movement, and the intended mood. For a subject looking toward the center of the frame, tailroom may be kept modest to keep the image tight; when a subject is moving away or turning, a wider tailroom can convey openness or a potential step into the frame. In documentary and sports photography, tailroom can cue the viewer to anticipate the next action or to imply momentum.

Some guides use tailroom interchangeably with look room; the terminology is not universally standardized. As with headroom and lead room, the key is to tailor tailroom to the context, aspect ratio, and narrative goal, aiming for a sense of balance rather than overcrowding the frame.