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06/16/2006 11:18:04 AM · #1 |
Well, I just paid $74 to get a photo framed by a professional framing shop. It was only an 8X12 print.. but ouch, I didn't realize it was going to cost that much. The original frame set up I picked out was $109, I had to cut the cost back a little and pick something cheaper.
Anyways, does anybody know of a less expensive way to frame your photos and still get good quality framing? I have a few shots I want to frame, but I don't have a few hundred dollars to do it. |
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06/16/2006 11:30:09 AM · #2 |
| Kinda makes ya wanna charge more for the pictures you print for others, huh?!? :-) |
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06/16/2006 11:33:26 AM · #3 |
Ouch framing $74 for a 8x12........... here in NYC I just got a huge panorama frames for $75
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06/16/2006 11:36:01 AM · #4 |
| Craft shops like Michaels and Joann usually have custom framing and frequently have 50% off coupons. Sign up for their mailing lists and wait until it's a good time. |
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06/16/2006 11:37:26 AM · #5 |
Mpix.com
Finest printing available, and great prices on framing. Expect to pay a bit more for shipping for framed products.
Only three types of frames, but hey, can't beat $24 for an 8x12.
They will also matte your pictures, and then you can probably frame them once they arrive.
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06/16/2006 11:37:47 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by dwterry:
Kinda makes ya wanna charge more for the pictures you print for others, huh?!? :-) |
That's DEFINITELY something that makes me chuckle. Here we see so many people selling prints for like $10.00-20.00, say, and even if the buyer frames it himself it is going to cost at least 20 bucks to frame it... A professional framing job, at LEAST 50 dollars... It makes no sense to me.
R.
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06/16/2006 11:47:13 AM · #7 |
Framing done right is expensive, but worth it if you really value the print. In addition to what others have pointed out (craft stores, etc.) you can do it yourself by purchasing frames and mattes, you just have to make sure you print in the standard sizes for which these things are easily available off the shelf. I was just browsing Target the other day and saw many decent looking frames/mattes for 8x10 and many others. Not sure if the search link will work, but here is a sample of Target's stock:
link
Originally posted by Intelli:
Well, I just paid $74 to get a photo framed by a professional framing shop. It was only an 8X12 print.. but ouch, I didn't realize it was going to cost that much. The original frame set up I picked out was $109, I had to cut the cost back a little and pick something cheaper.
Anyways, does anybody know of a less expensive way to frame your photos and still get good quality framing? I have a few shots I want to frame, but I don't have a few hundred dollars to do it. |
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06/16/2006 11:50:50 AM · #8 |
//www.americanframe.com
They have an awesome variety of frames and matting, for reasonable prices |
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06/16/2006 11:53:19 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by mk:
Craft shops like Michaels and Joann usually have custom framing and frequently have 50% off coupons. Sign up for their mailing lists and wait until it's a good time. |
Our Michaels is a rip-off. Someone locally bought 2 8x12 prints from me and took them to Michaels on the 50% off sale. Nothing fancy, double matted - black gallery style frame... at 1/2 off it was $125 for EACH frame! I think they got screwed.
I haven't been to Costco in a while, but I remember seeing beautiful 11x14 frames nicely matted for 8x10's for $16.99 for 2 frames. |
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06/16/2006 11:56:11 AM · #10 |
I was at an art show once, and spent $600 on two large pictures matted and framed. Everybody thought I was paying a ton for the photo's, but the fact was that the framing was very extravagant. I was surley paying for the framing and not the photo. It is a crazy world when the frame cost 40 times what the art that goes in it costs.
Kindof a goofy idea, but I sometimes have heard of people going to garage sales to buy ugly photos and paintings for a buck or two a piece just to get the frame that holds them. You can find frames at almost every garage sale you go to now adays. |
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06/16/2006 12:12:46 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by boomtap:
Kindof a goofy idea, but I sometimes have heard of people going to garage sales to buy ugly photos and paintings for a buck or two a piece just to get the frame that holds them. You can find frames at almost every garage sale you go to now adays. |
That's a smart Idea. |
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06/16/2006 12:21:45 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by mk:
Craft shops like Michaels and Joann usually have custom framing and frequently have 50% off coupons. Sign up for their mailing lists and wait until it's a good time. |
Exactly!
I had a 60" x 12" panoramic done, UV lexan, mat, etc. and was still over $400, after the coupon!
Good framing is not cheap. |
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06/16/2006 12:31:45 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Intelli:
Well, I just paid $74 to get a photo framed by a professional framing shop. It was only an 8X12 print.. but ouch, I didn't realize it was going to cost that much. The original frame set up I picked out was $109, I had to cut the cost back a little and pick something cheaper.
Anyways, does anybody know of a less expensive way to frame your photos and still get good quality framing? I have a few shots I want to frame, but I don't have a few hundred dollars to do it. |
Actually, that isn't very expensive at all for a professional frame shop to charge. Quality framing will cost you.
I looked at Wal-mart, Michael's and places like that looking for inexpensive frames. Bottom line is that when all is said and done they are not that good and you don't save much money.
An option is to order custom framing online. About the best place for that is American Frame. They are reputable, reliable, fast and provide high quality framing products.
It still may be more money than you want to pay but provides excellent, high quality, low cost frames. You have to assemble them yourself but it is easy. Assembly is where the frame shops make their money. ;)
I paid about $33/frame for gallery quality framing with non-glare acrylic fronts for 18" X 24" sized frames with 3" mattes. It was around $50/frame for similar ones at 22" X 28".
You can get an idea what that framing looks like here:
//www.pbase.com/azleader/bta_showing
I framed only 23 pieces but it still cost about $950. :)
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06/16/2006 12:40:45 PM · #14 |
I have it pretty good...my dad has an old friend who makes frames kind-of as a hobby but also gets paid for doing it...and every frame I have asked him to make I come back to pick it up and pay for it he tells me he can't charge me...so I'm pretty sure I have received over $5,000, maybe more, worth of frames at the cost I should be paying. And I've thought about it and this is his side business...he does this pretty much for fun, so I don't feel all bad when I get them for free even though every time I insist that I pay for at least the cost of the material...but he won't have it. So I owe all my beautiful frames to a man we call "Big John"
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06/16/2006 12:44:21 PM · #15 |
did anybody mention Aaron Brothers?
The do custom framing (not too expensive) and they have a large selection of very decent quality frames in many standard sizes. Twice a year they have 50% off sales (buy one, get the second for 1c), it's a great time to stock up. They are mostly at the West Coast, plus Texas, Maryland, and maybe somewhere else... Check it out
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06/16/2006 12:48:35 PM · #16 |
| I use www.pictureframes.comthey are very fast and have a lot of frames to choose from i frame most of the photos that i do from my studio and there frames are always price right and after you get the hang of it, it will look as pro as anywhere you can go.....just framed 2 bridal pics yesterday 16x24 canvas prints in a gold frame that was 5 in. wide for 121.00 shipping and all! That was even with the canvas clips and overnight shipping |
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06/16/2006 01:22:25 PM · #17 |
If you want inexpensive frames and you're the handyman type, why not make your own? After all, it isn't exactly rocket science. :P
I'm lazy so I buy mine online at AmericanFrame.com. I have made a few though.
Message edited by author 2006-06-16 13:25:43.
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06/16/2006 04:36:32 PM · #18 |
You got a good price at $74. I work in a custom framing shop and you don't get much done at all for less than $75.
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06/16/2006 04:47:53 PM · #19 |
I made friends with a framer who is also a bank customer. He does my stuff on average for $35, which is usually either a plain black stock frame or scraps from a larger job, with double stock matting. Granted, that's cash only, and under the table. No way am I on the books there. ;)
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06/16/2006 04:57:06 PM · #20 |
The Michael's here is quite good (most of the time). I just had two 16 x 24 images triple matted and framed for $242 CDN each at their 50% off sale. The finished size of each is about 30 x 25.
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06/17/2006 01:36:23 AM · #21 |
I spend an average of $80-$120 to mat and frame my 12x18 prints, and that includes my 30% discount. Those sell for $250 and $275 depending on how much I spend to do the framing.
You will know when you have 'arrived' as an artist when your prints sell for more than it costs to custom frame them nicely. I'm not there yet :)
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06/17/2006 02:20:29 AM · #22 |
You can get a good quality hardwood frame with mat, plexiglass, mounting board, and hanging kit for about $50 from AmericanFrame. Of course the price will vary based on the frame style, mat, yada, yada...
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06/17/2006 02:45:53 AM · #23 |
The cheapest way would be to buy a molding machine and mill your own frame stock from rough lumber and cut that into pieces to make the frame sizes you need. You'd have to make a lot of frames to make that worthwhile.
Seriously though, I don't think you were in the least bit overcharged.
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06/17/2006 02:52:46 AM · #24 |
Originally posted by CHIEFVOLS:
I use www.pictureframes.comthey are very fast and have a lot of frames to choose from i frame most of the photos that i do from my studio and there frames are always price right and after you get the hang of it, it will look as pro as anywhere you can go.....just framed 2 bridal pics yesterday 16x24 canvas prints in a gold frame that was 5 in. wide for 121.00 shipping and all! That was even with the canvas clips and overnight shipping |
I second this... I got a frame for a special sized canvas painting I did for $50 including shipping and I was so pleased with it |
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06/17/2006 01:09:14 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
The cheapest way would be to buy a molding machine and mill your own frame stock from rough lumber and cut that into pieces to make the frame sizes you need. You'd have to make a lot of frames to make that worthwhile.
Seriously though, I don't think you were in the least bit overcharged. |
You can make very nice picture frames from inexpensive wood molding stock and a few simple hand tools. Unfinished wood molding stock is available at most hardware stores or lumber yards for 1-2 dollars two per foot. Fancy carved and pre-finished picture frame molding is available from several importers and speciality stores and can cost several dollars per foot. I made my first frames from cheap casement molding using a hacksaw and a wooden miter box. All you really need is something to cut the stock to length at the correct angle.
With a table saw or router you can turn rough lumber into just about any shape of frame stock imaginable.
Table saws can be had fairly cheaply from several suppliersâ€Â¦
4 inch "Mighty-Mite" Table Saw $29.99
An adjustable moulding head cutter for a table saw can be had for less than the price of a single custom framing jobâ€Â¦
Single-bladed molding head cutter
Of course if you're the type that doesn't like to get your hands dirty, or you can't walk and chew gum at the same time, then you may want to pay someone else to do it for you. I just wanted to point out that a DIY'er can frame a photo very inexpensively.
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