<p>As you've discovered, you can get the full cropped version of the image with <code>author.getPhotoUrl('original')</code>, but Craft doesn't keep a copy of the original un-cropped version of the image around.</p>

<p>And <a href="https://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/17075/how-can-i-access-the-raw-profile-photo-for-any-given-user#comment23612_17075">Lindsey is more than 60% correct</a>... user photos are <a href="https://craftcms.com/3/changelog#build2915" rel="nofollow">1st class Asset citizens</a> in Craft 3, making this less awkward.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-01T03:42:19.880Z
2016-10-01T03:42:19.880Z
Brad Bell
<p>I am using the profile photo on users' posts (author image) and I would like to provide a link to download a larger image. I am currently able to get the "full" size of the cropped image like this:</p>

<pre><code>&lt;img src="{{ entry.author.getPhotoUrl('original') }}" alt="{{ entry.title }}"&gt;
</code></pre>

<p>Is there a way to get to the image that <em>looks</em> like is stored here:</p>

<pre><code>/craft/storage/userphotos/*
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-30T23:27:21.090Z
I don't believe so. You might be able to do something creative with a plugin, but I'm not entirely certain that would work either. User Profile images are a special case, since they're not regular Assets. if I remember correctly, I _believe_ that those might get transitioned to regular Assets in Craft 3. (I say that with about 60% confidence.)
Lindsey D
<users><user-profile><author>
How can I access the raw profile photo for any given user?
# How can I access the raw profile photo for any given user?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-30)

I am using the profile photo on users' posts (author image) and I would like to provide a link to download a larger image. I am currently able to get the "full" size of the cropped image like this:


Is there a way to get to the image that looks like is stored here:
/craft/storage/userphotos/*

**Tags:** users, user-profile, author

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't believe so. You might be able to do something creative with a plugin, but I'm not entirely certain that would work either. User Profile images are a special case, since they're not regular Assets. if I remember correctly, I _believe_ that those might get transitioned to regular Assets in Craft 3. (I say that with about 60% confidence.)  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-01. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

As you've discovered, you can get the full cropped version of the image with `author.getPhotoUrl('original')`, but Craft doesn't keep a copy of the original un-cropped version of the image around.

And [Lindsey is more than 60% correct](https://craftcms.stackexchange.com/questions/17075/how-can-i-access-the-raw-profile-photo-for-any-given-user#comment23612_17075)... user photos are [1st class Asset citizens](https://craftcms.com/3/changelog#build2915) in Craft 3, making this less awkward.


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