Framing photographic prints is an art in itself, and can be a minefield for a photographer. There are a myriad of considerations and decisions to make when framing photographs – size & colour of mount, mounting style (hinging or dry mounting), choice of frame moulding (material, colour, size), choice of glass – and it is very easy to make simple mistakes and frame prints in a style for which there is no market demand, and waste a lot of money. There is an unfortunate conflict of interest between framers and artists – framers want to sell as much mountboard, frame moulding and glass as possible to maximise profit, and I often see prints framed with far too much mountboard, which overwhelms and understates the impact of the photograph.
I will teach you the various accepted best practices for mounting and framing both colour and black & white prints to museum standards, and give you an introduction to print conservation so you understand how to maintain the integrity of the prints you frame. I will then share examples of each framing style for you to examine and consider.
The objective of this course is for you to see one of your photographs framed to museum standards in a style that complements and enhances the visual impact of the artwork. The right frame should elevate a photograph by being ‘secondary’, allowing the viewer to first focus on the photographic print as the collectable object, drawing attention to its subject and detail.
I will examine your own prints and then make recommendations for how best to frame your work. Because of the volume of prints that I frame every year, I will likely be able to quote to frame your prints at a more competitive rate than you can achieve on your own locally, so please discuss your framing requirements and I would be happy to help. Alternatively, if you are abroad or wish to work with a local framer, I can provide you with a formal framing specification which includes the product codes for all of the materials I recommend and their sizes. I use a specialist art courier called Aardvark Art Services and can typically deliver a framed print to any UK address for £100-125 + VAT. International deliveries are quoted and sent by FedEx for a 3-5 day delivery service worldwide.