Finding Frames

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time doing things around my house—projects both big and small. My deck is in the process of getting new railing, but I also framed a lot of (other people’s) art I just had lying around. Framing is expensive, so I do the YouTube/Instagram influencer trick of getting my frames at Goodwill and either using them as-is (you would be surprised how many frames are just fine the way they are) or repainting/staining them another color. Of course, I switch out matting as needed, too. I don’t know why, but it never occurred to me to try a similar thing for my photography. I think I was hung up on the thriftiness of it, and somehow thought it may devalue the art to someone interested in buying it if the frame wasn’t new and/or custom. In reality it may feel more custom. I hand-select these frames, and usually, there won’t be more than one or two alike.

Ultimately, I know that it’s supposed to be the images that stand out. These photographs aren’t decor yet, they’re still art people are looking at. Simple framing is the best way, and it’s probably going to cost some coin; I just need to accept it. Part of me wants to break some rules and pick non-standard frames and matting and just see what happens. I don’t know…what do you all think?