Talking to Photography Club about Framing

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Karen

Karen

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
May 14, 2006
Posts
182
Loc
North Carolina
Business
Karen's Custom Frames, LLC
I have been asked to speak at my local photographers club (which I am a member of, I have done this in the past but there are a lot of new members) on the best way to display or frame photographic images for art shows or just to sell. I already have an idea of the things I would like to talk about but would love to hear opinions on this subject.

Here are some of the things I will touch on for framing:
• Choose a frame and mats that will enhance the image that you captured.
• If you can’t afford to have it custom framed that’s okay, just don’t go and buy the cheapest frame and mats for the image. If you don’t care enough to frame the image to its best potential then it gives the customers the impression that it’s not worth buying.
• Frame the image with the idea that it will be hanging in your own home (if it doesn’t sell then you have a beautiful image to have in your home or give it as a gift for birthdays, Christmas, etc.)

Here are some things I will talk about for display:
• Mat the image to a standard size so that if the customer doesn’t have it custom framed they can easily find a frame to fit it.
• Use acid free mats and backing if possible and place in clear plastic bags for display. This will keep the customer from having to have the image re-matted and it will help keep fingerprints and dirt off the mat while people look at them.

I will also be doing a step by step demo on the process of framing a picture, and I will be talking about glass options, mounting photographs, etc.

I would love to hear opinions and any other suggestions on this subject to see if I have missed anything while I still have time to redo my outline. I love it when we can educated our customers on picture framing!!
Thanks in advance for any info, help, opinions or suggestions you can give.
Karen
 
I too am interested in this. I just recently joined a photograph club. They have someone that is going to talk on this subject in a few months. Only problem is I know that she doesn't have the best reputation.

I spoke with the club president and he invited me to speak after her :nuts:
I don't want to step on her toes, but at the same time I don't want to lose the opportunity.
 
I'm going to be giving a similar talk to an art group this month.
I will be suggesting that they pick a frame style and neutral mats to enhance work.
I feel that when artists display for gallery shows they should have a cohesive look. It's a little different than framing for someone's home.
 
I would also suggest that the best place to sign the photo is not necessarily on the mat... especially if it is not a professionally cut mat. Anyone who buys the image may want to reframe it and replace the exisitng mat. Either sign the actual photograph or sign the back of the photo ... or include a bio/COA (Cert. of Authenticity) type of document to include with the photo and sign it.
 
Good reminder Dave. I hate signed mats and not only photographers do this!
 
When I have given the presentations on framing, I elaborate on these points:

+ the four types of framing
1. framing for competition - following the competition's rules and guidelines
2. framing for galleries - following the galleries rules and guidelines
3. framing for sale - keeping costs down
4. framing for your home - no holes barred

+ using quality materials
not the used store/garage sale frames

+ screws vs d-rings vs other types of hanging devices
what are allowed
why you would use a particular type of device

+ be proud of you work


addition:
Good point Dave! This should apply to all artists!
all which is usually followed by some lively questions and discussions and can be done in one hour.
 
Thanks everyone!! You've already helped me with some of the things that had slipped my mind. Can't wait to find out what else I've missed. We all educate our customers everyday but now that it's time for me to write it all down for my outline my mind has gone blank!!
 
I've been quite active in a photo club for a few years. I'll offer the insight I've acquired during that time as it relates to them.

Karen said:
I have been asked to speak at my local photographers club ...on the best way to display or frame photographic images for art shows or just to sell.
Click to expand...

"Best" is subjective. Instead I would discuss "all" the ways to....

Also selling images and framing for show is two different animals. Many art shows are requiring white mat/black frame. Framing for sell will require an element of economy and custom framing will/can drive up the retail cost beyond what is practical.
Karen said:
• If you can’t afford to have it custom framed that’s okay, just don’t go and buy the cheapest frame and mats for the image.
Click to expand...

Tell them the options. Describe the difference and their proper application. Dirt cheap framing isn't always "bad" it just serves a specific purpose.

Karen said:
If you don’t care enough to frame the image to its best potential then it gives the customers the impression that it’s not worth buying.
Click to expand...

I question the accuracy of that. Most of the photography that I've taken in to frame was usually matted very cheaply lacking any quality at all....still it was sold/purchased.


Karen said:
• Frame the image with the idea that it will be hanging in your own home...
Click to expand...

Again this is one theory but does present some challenges. It ignores the requirements of many art shows and ignores any economy that retail art sales must observe. I am a framer/photographer and do not follow the above advice.

Karen said:
• Mat the image to a standard size so that if the customer doesn’t have it custom framed they can easily find a frame to fit it.
Click to expand...

I agree completely! Many of them will not think of this and will be helpful advice.

Karen said:
• Use acid free mats and backing if possible and place in clear plastic bags for display.
Click to expand...

Good stuff! Don't forget to tell them exactly where to purchase these items.

Karen said:
I would love to hear opinions and any other suggestions on this subject...
Click to expand...

For the most part these people will not be custom framing customers. They will be resistant to high-archival this and that. They can mostly reprint images anytime they want and many modern printers are incredibly colorfast.

Remind them that they can easily swap out the images. To many digital photographers are cropping all kinds of weird ratios. If they will crop to a specific size or two, then they can swap the images out and not even have to remat them.

Remind them to let images dry for a while before framing or taking to the framer.

Beat into them that photographs tend to stick to glass forever!

Many of them buy metal because they can fit themselves. I'd walk them through how to fit a metal frame easily.

I have enjoyed bringing up topics that I don't have the answers. I think it's good to get them thinking about ethics in limited edition prints and price points.

You may also wish to give them some heads up as to how they can start selling their images and what to expect from galleries as far as commissions and pricing integrity is concerned.

Good luck.
 
Thanks JayH, you have made some good points for me to use!
 
With photographers, one point I always bring up is cropping and aspect rations.

They should know the aspect ration of their camera, ie: 3/2 ( full frame like 35mm) or 4/3 (most compact digital cameras) and also know how their photos will be cropped if they make a 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 or 16 x 20 etc.

I'm constantly working with photographers (some professional) who don't understand that an 8 x 10 will crop different than a 4 x 6

Doug
 
Thanks for the links to the threads!!! There is a lot of good info in them!!! I tried to search for this topic but must have done something wrong. :)
 
Teach them to hinge the photo so there is not 10' of tape on an 11x14 photo.
 
I would also remind them that just because something is white does not mean it is archival. So therefore, no white duct tape, "artist" tape, masking tape - no self-adhesive tape of any kind. No clay coated FC.

Why bother buying the best printing paper and the best inks and then using masking tape and clay coated FC. Drives me CRAZY when they do this.
 
I can't remember exactly who was asking but I believe it was somebody doing research for FACTS (again I'm not sure) asked if anybody has ever seen anything damaged from regular FC. I don't believe anybody offered any evidence of anything ever being damaged from regular FC. It seems like there were a few "yea maybe possibly but not sure" type proclamations but no clear evidence.

Although not technically archival, it's still a perfectly reasonable backing. Now cardboard on the other hand......
 
I did this about 6 months ago. Didn't do a whole lot of prep, but what I did was worthless...had to ad-lib the whole thing. I made too many assumptions about the level the club had achieved as far as display of their art was concerned. My bad. It wasn't poorly received, but I could have done better with a bit of prior knowledge.
Stick to basics. A simple explanation of the difference in materials may suffice.
My experience was that there were some that were tuned in, some that had good questions, and some that are stuck in their own head...not unlike our customers.
 
Wow, I'm glad I decided to start on this outline early!! Everyone has had great opinions and suggestions!! Thanks!!
 
I'm going to second the suggestion that you spend some (lots of?) time on the materials themselves. I know too many togs who could not tell you the difference between a hinge, a photo corner, and masking tape. In between mat, glazing, and mounting I could burn a 2 hour presentation.

There are so many options out there, and I doubt that many photographers even understand what they don't know about the materials available.
 
Talkint to photo club.

As DVueau2 stated, the cropping of photographs is terrible. This has always been a pet peeve of mine about standard photography sizes.

The 35mm format at approx. 1 x 1.5 is very close to the golden rectangle which is approx. 1 x 1.62. The most beautiful shaped rectangle. If they shoot at 1x 1.5 and print it to say an 8 x 10 ( a 1 x 1.25 proportion), they will loose 2 inches of their photo. Worse yet with an 11 x 14 which is close to 1 x 1.3. (they will loose 2-1/2 inches) A 16 by 20 is worse yet at 1 x 1.2 ( they will lose 4 inches) These proportions are far from the 1 x 1.62

I would explain that all of the standard croppings for photos are a far cry from the original 1 x 1.5 format of their camera.

I would further explain that the standard photo sizes, mat sizes and frame sizes have nothing to do with being visually correct but rather are just effeicient divisions of full sheets ie: 30 x 40, 32 x 40, 22 x 28, etc.

It would be better for them to print full frame and mat them with the proper mat proportions to make their photos look the best. Then get frames made to fit the mats. Be dammned with what is easiest and most cost efffective.

I would show them samples of an 8x10 matted in an 11x14 mat, and 11x14 matted in a 16 x 20, etc. so they can see just how terriible the proportions look.

Then show them how perfect an 8 x 12 looks matted for example with about a 2-1/2 inch border on the top and sides and a 2 -3/4 inch weighted bottom.

Reinforce the importance of matting and framing with the proper proportions to enchance both the look and saleability of their art.

Also talk about double reverse bevel mats vs the standard neon white stripes that you get with regular bevels. Show lotsa examples.
 
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