Why Professional Framing Matters: How to Protect Your Heirloom Portraits

You’ve invested in the photography. Now let’s talk about what happens to the photos.

I had a meeting with clients this morning to design their heirloom portrait composite, and one of the things I found myself saying (again) is that I really don't care where you print your photos.

Seriously.

Print through me. Print through an online website (for the love of God do not take your heirloom digital images to a pharmacy…) Frame through me. Frame through a store. I am not going to lose sleep over you doing more of the work yourself. Some of y’all are DIYers and I love that for you.

Bottom line, my goal is super simple: I want your images off your phone and into your hands and your home.

I want your kids to grow up seeing pictures of themselves hanging on the walls. I want them flipping through albums and seeing what they looked like when they were tiny. I want these photographs to become part of your family's everyday life instead of living forever in a camera roll that nobody ever looks through.

But because I care about that, I also want you to understand why I put so much thought into the products I offer.

You have already invested in professional photography. You've invested your time, your money, your trust, and all of the things that go into creating these images.

So once you've made that investment, it makes sense to think about what happens to those photographs after the session.

And that's where the frame comes in.

A frame is more than just something pretty around your picture.

When you buy a frame off the shelf at a big-box store, you're mostly thinking about how it looks.

And that's totally fine if you're framing something temporarily or just looking for an inexpensive way to get a picture on the wall.

But when we're talking about an heirloom portrait that you have intentionally invested in, I think it's worth understanding what is actually happening inside that frame.

A professionally constructed frame is basically a series of layers, and each layer has a job.

Here's what those layers look like:

Frame/Moulding → Acrylic → Mat → Artwork → Mount Board → Foam Board → Backing

And the ex-teacher in me is ready to deliver a lesson. Let's break it down.

1. The frame

This is the part you see first, obviously. 😂

My Signature Frames are made with solid wood mouldings. But while the frame itself is important for the overall look and durability, the pretty wood around your photograph isn't actually what protects your image.

That's where the layers inside the frame come in.

2. The acrylic

The acrylic is the protective layer between your photograph and the outside world.

And not all acrylic is created equal.

Different types of acrylic filter different amounts of UV light, and the quality of the acrylic determines how much protection it provides from the light that can contribute to fading over time.

That's one of the reasons I don't simply grab a frame off the shelf and put your photograph inside it.

3. The archival mat

The mat does two really important things.

First, it creates space between your artwork and the acrylic. You don't want your photograph pressed directly against the front of the frame.

Second, the material matters because the mat is in direct contact with your artwork.

My mats are archival and acid-free, which means they are designed to remain stable over time rather than introducing acids that can contribute to discoloration and those brown "burn" marks you sometimes see around old photographs.

You can also choose between 4-ply and 8-ply mat board. The 8-ply is thicker and gives the finished portrait a more substantial, museum-style presentation.

4. The artwork

This is the part you're actually here for. ❤️

My fine art prints are printed on 100% cotton fine art paper that are acid & lignin-free. Now, without going into full blown science teacher mode, just know that this is a good thing and it will keep your heirloom portrait looking stunning for years to come.

But here's the important part:

The print can't do all of the work by itself.

Even a beautiful fine art print needs protection from light, moisture, dust, and the other things that can affect artwork over the years.

That's why the layers surrounding it matter so much.

5. The mount board

Behind the print is the mount board, which provides support and helps keep the artwork stable.

You don't want your print shifting around inside the frame or becoming distorted over time. A properly constructed frame gives the artwork a stable place to live. Using archival materials in the mount board is also a protective measure to prevent discoloration over time.

6. The foam board

Behind that is the foam board, which provides additional structure and support while serving as the back of the frame. It also adds another layer of protection to help preserve your portraits over time.

7. The backing

And finally, there's the backing.

Some frames use a paper backing, which helps keep dust and debris from getting inside the frame and gives the back a nice finished appearance.

For a higher level of protection, a Tyvek paper backing is an even better option. It's more resistant to tearing and provides additional protection against dust, moisture, and doesn’t attract pests.

And that matters more than you might think if you plan on keeping this portrait for decades — especially if the frame ever has to be moved.

So what happens when you buy a frame off the shelf?

Again, I'm not here to tell you that you can't buy a frame from a store.

You absolutely can.

But it's worth knowing what you're getting.

A ready-made frame may have cardboard or another inexpensive material directly behind your photograph. If that material isn't archival, it can introduce acids that contribute to yellowing and deterioration over time.

You may have no mat at all, which means your photograph is sitting directly against the glass.

And the glass may offer little or no UV protection.

There may also be little to no protective backing on the back of the frame.

None of this means your photograph is going to turn yellow next Tuesday.

It simply means that if you're investing in a photograph because you want it to become an heirloom, the way you frame it matters.

And this is why I offer different framing options.

I work with professional labs that offer different levels of framing and conservation materials.

There isn't one "right" frame for everyone, and I'm never going to tell you that you have to purchase your frame through me.

But there is a difference between good, better, and best when it comes to the materials being used.

And just like anything else, the more archival and conservation-focused the materials are, the more that is reflected in the price.

I want you to know why you're paying more.

Not because I put a pretty frame around your picture and decided it should cost more.

You're paying for the materials inside the frame, too.

Because you've already made the investment.

This is probably the biggest reason I talk about this so much.

You have already invested in professional photography.

You chose your photographer. You planned the session. You spent an hour (or three 😂) getting everyone dressed and out the door. You trusted me to create these photographs for your family.

So when it comes time to print them, I don't want you to feel like you have to spend a fortune.

But I do want you to understand what you're paying for.

Because if you've invested in a beautiful heirloom portrait, it seems a little silly to spend all of that money creating the artwork and then stick it behind a piece of cardboard in a $20 frame.

The frame is part of the artwork.

It's what allows you to put that photograph on your wall and enjoy it for years without having to worry about whether you've protected the investment you've already made.

And ultimately, that's what I care about.

Not whether you bought the frame from me.

Not whether you printed your photos through me.

I just want you to print the dang pictures.

Put them on your walls. Put them in an album. Give them to your kids.

Because someday, your children aren't going to care where you bought the frame. They're just going to be glad you printed the pictures.

AND, not to get too sentimental because this is already a long post, but I read somewhere that said we take the pictures NOW for US.. but it is for THEM LATER… and oooooof, that tugs on my mama heart strings HARD.

If you have any specific questions about printing or framing, please reach out!