Why Bespoke Local Framing Is Still the Best Option
There comes a point where framing stops being about simply protecting a print and becomes part of the artwork itself.
At The Very Fine Art Gallery, we often talk about framing because it has such a huge impact on how a photograph feels once it reaches the wall. The same print can look completely different depending on the choices made around it.
For many pieces, IKEA frames, Amazon frames, and even professional online framing services can produce excellent results.
But when you want complete creative control, nothing quite compares to working with a skilled local framer.
If you'd like to see the process in action, you can watch our full local framing video on YouTube.
Why Choose a Local Framer?
The biggest advantage is simple: choice.
When buying ready-made frames online, the options are usually limited to a small selection of finishes:
- Black
- White
- Light wood
- Dark wood
- Grey
These work perfectly well for many interiors and photographs.
But sometimes a photograph deserves something more considered.
When you sit down with a local framer, every element becomes part of the conversation.
You can see samples in front of you.
You can hold materials against the artwork.
You can compare combinations side by side.
And often, ideas emerge that you would never have considered online.
The Frame Matters More Than People Think
For this piece, we worked with our local framers, Frame of Mind.
Rather than choosing a standard frame colour, we selected a weathered green moulding that picked up tones already present within the photograph.
The frame didn't simply surround the image.
It became part of it.
The result feels far more integrated and intentional than a standard off-the-shelf option.
This is one of the biggest differences with bespoke framing.
Instead of making the artwork fit the frame, you create the frame around the artwork.
Double Matting
Another advantage of working with a local framer is access to a much wider range of mat boards.
In this case, we chose a double matt.
A double matt adds depth, creates separation between the image and frame, and helps guide the viewer's eye towards the artwork itself.
It also allows colour to become part of the overall presentation.
Subtle choices can make a remarkable difference.
A well-chosen matt can make colours feel richer, create greater visual balance, and give the finished piece a more gallery-like presence.
Choosing the Right Glass
Glazing is another area where local framers excel.
Online framing services often offer a small number of glazing options.
A local framer can explain the differences in person and show samples side by side.
For this project, we selected a glazing option that gave us the clarity we wanted while reducing unwanted reflections.
This may sound like a small detail, but it dramatically affects how the artwork is experienced every day.
Good glass almost disappears.
The photograph becomes the focus.
Seeing Everything Together
Perhaps the biggest advantage of all is being able to see the entire presentation before making a final decision.
Frame corner samples.
Matt colours.
Glass options.
Artwork.
Everything can be placed together and viewed as a complete piece.
This simply isn't possible when ordering from a website.
You are making decisions based on real materials rather than small digital previews.
For collectors, interior designers, or anyone investing in a larger statement piece, that confidence is incredibly valuable.
Is It Worth The Extra Cost?
In many cases, yes.
DIY framing remains an excellent option for many pieces.
Professional online framing offers fantastic convenience and quality.
But for artworks that will become long-term focal points within a home, local bespoke framing often delivers a level of refinement that is difficult to achieve any other way.
The frame, matt, glass, proportions, and colours all work together to create something unique.
Something designed specifically for that artwork and that space.
Final Thought
A great frame should never compete with the artwork.
It should quietly elevate it.
Working with a skilled local framer allows every decision to be considered carefully and intentionally.
For this particular piece, the combination of the weathered green frame, double matt, and carefully chosen glazing created a result that felt perfectly suited to both the photograph and the room it was designed for.
Sometimes framing is simply presentation.
Sometimes it becomes part of the art itself.
If you'd like to watch the full framing process, see the video below.
Then explore our collections and discover the photograph you'd like to live with every day.