There is nothing like a frame, nothing in this world. It really finishes off a photo, turning a mere snapshot from your trusty digital camera into art for the hall. I love to mount photo walls for people, interspersing treasured family images with more current ones, connecting the group with a series of frames—usually a collection of silver or black finishes rounded-up at city outlets.
I find black-and-white images make the most provocative photo groupings and I will share a favorite source for reprinting your modern colored shots into more moody monochromatic finishes. If you prefer color, then do all color shots. I don’t think it mixes with black and white so well. Of course, you can have various groupings in different rooms, as I do in my own home.
The steps to doing your own wall include the following:
1. Selection of images: Weed through the family archives and pick images for your grouping that celebrate your family, i.e. parents’ wedding portrait, your brother’s Bar Mitzvah, you sitting on Santa’s lap, a few great school memories.
2. Size your images: Often, older shots need to be enlarged to a 5x7 or 8x10, or even touched-up. My favorite source for reprinting, enlarging or even changing finishes is
Oscar Photo Lab, 790 Brannan Street (near the San Francisco Design Center). They do a very professional finish and a quick turn around. Just take in the original photo and tell them the size you want. I use mostly 5x7 because they are easy to juxtapose with other sizes, such as 4x6 and 8x10.
3. Select matting and frames: I’m a fan of custom frame shops like Walter Adams for original works of art (paintings, etchings, prints) but there is no need to spend the money for most photos when there are good ready-made sources in San Francisco. Here are my faves.
Photograph
2298 Chestnut Street (at Scott)
I was thrilled when this store opened a couple of years ago. I have since used them for many clients to purchase ready-made wood frames with high quality finishes, similar to what you would find in a custom framing shop. They also have the matting, and salespeople on hand to give you advice on the best shade for your image. Often, older, more yellowed photos should be paired with ivory matting, rather than crisp white. You can mix the matting and should. Like the frame, it should be based on the quality of the image.
Cheap Pete’s
4249 Geary Blvd.
Another great source for ready-made, they have cast-away frames from the custom section, which they will size and back for your images. You also can pick up a variety of clean black and metal frames in the aisles that live up to the store’s name: they are cheap! You can buy some in bulk here and then fill in with more interesting frames that you harvest at various thrift shops or antique collectives.
Past Perfect
2224 Union St./ 2246 Lombard St.
This antique and modern furniture collective is an amazing resource for all things vintage and cool. I like to pick up cheap framed prints here and use the frames for walls. It’s fun to toss them into the mix, especially if you pluck a giltwood or faux bamboo frame from the treasure trove of goodies here.
4. Hanging and hardware
Unless you are really talented at measuring and leveling your art, it’s a good idea to hire a professional hanger, like Mark Paron (415.279.7066), a local artist who moonlights as a hanger and is one of the best around. He charges per hour, as does most hangers. You can also source names from retailers like Photograph or from the Museum of Modern Art’s rental gallery at Fort Mason. Professional hangers bring their own hardware. If you want to do it yourself, Frederickson’s Hardware, 3029 Fillmore Street has a good supply of picture hangers and levelers. You need to make sure you are measuring carefully so that the frames are hung evenly and securely. I like to tack down the bottom middle section of the frame to keep it from constantly shifting. You can do this with Velcro or a small nail.
