Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

OK. A little market research here, that I am hoping my UHH friends can help me with.

I sell my images at art festivals. A very popular size is an 8x10 image matted with an 11x14 double 4-ply white museum solid mat. I sell these for $45. I also sell these print in a frame, but so as not to influence your answers, I won't say for how much.

So here is my question. Assuming you bought one of the unframed prints, what would you reasonably expect to budget to frame the image to your satisfaction?

Where would you most likely go to accomplish the framing?

Thanks to all in advance for your imput.

:)

Dan L Loc: Wisconsin

I thought people just took pictures of your picture with their camera phone. I do not know what would be good price, though I'm sure it's not enough considering the cost of equipment, time, and materials.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Probably in the $60-$75 range for just the frame. There is a custom frame shop here I would use. Good framing is not cheap.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

You've hit upon one of my weak spots. I do not personally know anyone who has had more custom framing done than I, except for, perhaps, my mother. The only thing that has put the skids to it is lack of wall space. I don't think I am your average customer; but I am an experienced one.

In recent years, with the expense of raising and educating children, I searched exhaustively for the best value I could find. I have found good value at pictureframes.com. I have bought several frames from them and have been pleased with all of them. Their selection is extensive, prices are more than reasonable, and the quality as good as any custom frame shop I have ever used. And, I don't know if it is a change in my location or a change in the times, but custom frame shops have been difficult for me to find for many years.

If I were to frame a standard size like the 11 x 14 you specified, I would order the frame from pictureframes.com and do my own mounting. If, for whatever reason, I didn't want to do the mounting myself, I would take the frame and picture to Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby will mount your picture in a frame that you provide for a very nominal fee.

As to the cost, there are so many variables. But, absolute rock bottom price for a frame that size would be $25. Then add a small cost for the hardware and backing. Glass? Regular glass is the cheapest way to go and the cheapest way to get that is to go to a dollar store, buy a cheap print in a cheap frame and throw away everything but the glass. Non-glare glass will cost more. And museum quality glass a WHOLE LOT more. If the image will allow and you prefer an ornate frame with wide moulding, the price of the frame itself could easily triple.

Most people gasp and grab their chests when confronted with the cost of quality framing. I know my husband does.

Does this input help you at all? I'm not sure what you are really trying to determine. What the market will bear? A reasonable mark-up? Or maybe why your potential customers are constantly complaining about the cost of the framed picture and work hard at trying to get you to come down on price?

EDIT: While I was typing my response, I see that CaptainC responded. His wife is so lucky to have a man who understands!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Why distract the viewer from the photograph? Frameless hangers let the picture tell it's story without someone else's framing attracting attention. 4 X 6 and 8 1/2 x 11 are without frames. The 13 X 19 are slim-line that hardly show at all. Frames are carpenter's attempts to discredit the actual artist. How many times have you viewed a beautiful photograph that was surrounded by some hideous frame? Threre oughta be a law .... :lol: :lol: :lol:

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Sometimes a necklace draws attention to a lady's flawless alabaster skin and cleavage; sometimes it draws attention to her splotchy wrinkles and sagginess.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

I don't care what you hang around Phyllis Diller's neck it ain't gonna sparkle!!!

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

I am afraid my response would be not much use to you as do not live in Rio Vista, CA.
I frame my own photographs, in hardwood, usually A3, but an 8x10 would probably cost me, materials, £15.00.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Michael's Hobby once quoted $642.00 to frame a 20X30 mounted print for me. :-(

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Location matters a lot. Availability of quality framers and/or materials varies considerably across the country.

http://www.pmai.org/ppfa/ (Professional Picture Framers of America --- They're part of the Photo Marketing Association International) can link you to tons of resources!

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Thanks to those who have responded.

Let me clarify what I am trying to find out. I'm trying to determine the "just right" price for my framed 11x14 images. I know my production costs, and what the price needs to be in order to achieve certain margins. What I don't know is what the average customer might typically expect to pay for the framed piece. One factor is what they assume they will finally pay if they buy my print at $45 and go frame it themselves, as opposed to buying the image already framed. I want to sell at a particular margin, but I need to also set the price at a point that is perceived as being fair, and "justified" in the mind of the customer. ("If I buy this at $45, it will cost me $X to get it framed, or I can buy it from Jim for $X amount and avoid the hassel of having to go frame it myself" his price is worth the convenience to avoid the hassel, so I'll buy his. ). I want my price to be at a point that will get me the maximum margin, but not so high that people feel they are way over-priced compared with what they think they will pay to frame it themselves. What is the sweet spot?

So, I'm wondering what my UHH friends think. Having bought a piece for $45, what would a typical customer be thinking they are going to be paying to go frame it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I used to know a photographer who occasionally brought her prints to be framed. She would go either to a local framer or Michaels. She always got a 1/2" black metal frame. I think she called it a gallery frame. It wasn't very expensive, but I can't give you an exact price. I know it was under $50 just a few years ago. Framing material can vary a great deal in price, aside from labor.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Jim, When I sell pics in a frame, or give them as gifts, they are usually 8x10''s. but to avoid a lot of work and expense I usually get the frames at Costco. They have two styles in 11x14 and are quite attractive with a double mat for 8x10 or no mat for 11x14, but if I do the 11x14, I usually leave a 1/2"-1" border of paper for a mat-like look. The frames are only about $15 in a two pack.
That said, If it was an attractive double mat frame(and if I recall, you use UV glass), I would pay $50 for the framing easily!
I have a lot of pre-framed art, and others that I've had framed, and they usually cost more than that for a pretty simple metal frame with double mat. Jim, good luck with that! ;-)
SS

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

If your talking abot just a frame on the picture, I would suggest another $45. If it is a frame that really compements the photo and shoes it off the way it should be then I would add $100 for the framing with no problem. I have paid over $600 for custom framing on pictures. They were odd sizes and and equal to 40x 60.

Photocraig

At the inexpensive end, framing an 8x10 at Hobby Lobby, where frames are "1/2 price everyday" would be about $15-$20 with art already matted., On the custom end framing an 8x10 is about $100+.

So, as a fair goer, I'd add those numbers to my purchase decision before I bought. A matted photo definitely "shows" better and is more protected that a loose print.

Slipping a pre-matted 11x14 "art piece" into a stock frame is well within the handy capabilities of most homeowners.