diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 86702f7..480fa46 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ STRATEGY=auto
 # YEARS_FILTER=10             # Only include images from the last N years (default: 10)
 
 # ── Image Quality ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# MIN_FACE_WIDTH=50           # Minimum face width in pixels (default: 50)
+# MIN_FACE_WIDTH=90           # Minimum face width in pixels (default: 90, guarantees ≥8,100px crop)
 # FACE_MARGIN=0.15            # Padding around face crop as fraction (default: 0.15)
 # ENABLE_FACE_ALIGNMENT=true  # Align face before cropping (default: true)
 # USE_FULL_RESOLUTION=true    # Use full-res images vs thumbnails (default: true)
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 6e247ed..e729763 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def test_config_loads_defaults(monkeypatch):
     assert cfg.API_KEY == "test-key"
     assert cfg.OUTPUT_DIR == "./frigate_train"
     assert cfg.YEARS_FILTER == 10
-    assert cfg.MIN_FACE_WIDTH == 50
+    assert cfg.MIN_FACE_WIDTH == 90
     assert cfg.MIN_FACE_COUNT == 0
     assert cfg.BLUR_THRESHOLD == 100.0
     assert cfg.MIN_CONFIDENCE == 0.7
diff --git a/winnow/config.py b/winnow/config.py
index ad3be2f..30f5776 100644
--- a/winnow/config.py
+++ b/winnow/config.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class _Config:
     YEARS_FILTER: int = 10
 
     # Quality filtering
-    MIN_FACE_WIDTH: int = 50
+    MIN_FACE_WIDTH: int = 90
     BLUR_THRESHOLD: float = 100.0
     MIN_CONFIDENCE: float = 0.7
     MAX_AUTO_IMAGES: int = 80
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class _Config:
         self.API_KEY = os.getenv("API_KEY")
         self.OUTPUT_DIR = os.getenv("OUTPUT_DIR", "./frigate_train")
         self.YEARS_FILTER = int(os.getenv("YEARS_FILTER", "10"))
-        self.MIN_FACE_WIDTH = int(os.getenv("MIN_FACE_WIDTH", "50"))
+        self.MIN_FACE_WIDTH = int(os.getenv("MIN_FACE_WIDTH", "90"))
         self.MIN_FACE_COUNT = int(os.getenv("MIN_FACE_COUNT", "0"))
         self.BLUR_THRESHOLD = float(os.getenv("BLUR_THRESHOLD", "100.0"))
         self.MIN_CONFIDENCE = float(os.getenv("MIN_CONFIDENCE", "0.7"))