gift portrait

A neighbor did me some favors and I would like to give them a portrait I took of one of their kids when they were about 12. Neighbor kids used to hang around my garage when they were bored and one day I shot an 8x10 negative of this one. I think the father will really like the picture, which he has never seen.

I was planning to just do a standard dry mount in an 11x14 white mat, but then I thought maybe they would hate that kind of mat. But I also don't want to give them an unmounted print, or one in corners. What would you do? I suppose (this just occurred to me as I type) if I just give it to them dry mounted on the the back mat they can do whatever they want from there. It'll probably just end up in a closet anyway.

I just shipped two prints to a cousin and his wife for christmas, mounted on a backer only. I don't know their preference for displaying photos so I've left it to them to decide.

I stopped giving photographic gifts a long time ago. Sometimes they put the recipient in a pickle - display or not-to-display, etc. Doesn't always have anythign to do with the content or quality, just with decorating style, etc, etc.

But if I would do it again it would be for portraits rather than other subjects, and I'd mount on backer board and let the recipient take it from their... or offer to help with any additional mounting/framing may be desired.

Your gift sounds like a very thoughtful gift that should be sincerely appreciated.

How about with corners on a board but with a window cover mat. It would be ready for framing or removed for an album or whatever they might want to do with it. I know he mentioned he doesn't like corners but that would give them the most options.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

I think that people appreciate a matted photograph much more. The photographer should have the "eye" to choose an appropriate mat.

Agreed. I'd mat it, but maybe not frame it. Mats are at the very least relatively affordable and easily disposable, were the family not to want it.

I never put anything under glass anymore (reflections) unless it's required to show it somewhere. It all gets dry mounted. But I find that nearly everyone prefers their stuff under glass/plexi. Just a suggestion.

Perhaps you could use one of those cardboard folders or frames. Not as nice as matting, but if they don't display it, the folder will store well, and it would make a nice presentation. It's not so expensive that they'd feel bad about having the photo properly framed if they want to display it, and not so awful that they couldn't display it as-is if they can't afford framing.

Something along the line of these:
Dead Link Removed
http://www.photo-folders.com/uptown...rame-for-8x10-or-10x8-picture-pack-of-25.html

Give them the mounted and matted print and let them frame it.

I agree that people are a bit funny about photography, and art in general. Some people don't have a lick of sense about nor any appreciation of art. Sad, but true. I remember handing a cousin a beautiful black and white portrait of her daughter. She glanced at it for about 0.005 of a second, set it down and walked off without a word. I brought it home with me and she never once mentioned it.

I think matted print looks more special.

I usually dry mount it to a museum board (2 ply) sized about 2 to 3" larger than the edge of the print. Then temporary tack that to a backer board. Then put an over mat then put it in to a sleeve.

Another way I do it is with "photo corners." Then photograph easily comes off. I never do it with B&W prints I spent time in darkroom. But if the photograph was machine printed, I do it this way. If they get damaged or wrinkled, I can easily reprint them.

If the recipient doesn't like what I did, he/she can easily remove the mounted photograph and do whatever else. I usually have enough scrap board around in smaller sizes, so the cost is non-issue for me.

I usually cut boards to standard size. That way, the recipient can easily find ready-made frames. If special size is necessary, I usually do the whole thing and frame that myself. It has to be a special present to a good friend.

Rick A said:

I just shipped two prints to a cousin and his wife for christmas, mounted on a backer only. I don't know their preference for displaying photos so I've left it to them to decide.

Click to expand...

This is what I'm thinking. I think I'll tell him that if he doesn't like the mounted version, I can give him an unmounted copy to do as he pleases with, or I can put it in a white mat (all I have). I think having it dry mounted to a back board makes it look more professional, but if I use a front mat he might hate it or feel obligated to hang it. (wouldn't matter-I never go to their house so I'll never know) This gives him the option of choosing the mat window or throwing it in the closet. I wouldn't be giving him a frame for the same reason. Make sense? I don't do enough of this to trust my sensibilties to choose a good mat/frame for someone else

oh yeah, it also has one of their dogs in the pic who is long gone now...

Truzi said:

Perhaps you could use one of those cardboard folders or frames. Not as nice as matting, but if they don't display it, the folder will store well, and it would make a nice presentation. It's not so expensive that they'd feel bad about having the photo properly framed if they want to display it, and not so awful that they couldn't display it as-is if they can't afford framing.

Something along the line of these:
Dead Link Removed
http://www.photo-folders.com/uptown...rame-for-8x10-or-10x8-picture-pack-of-25.html

Click to expand...

The're usually called "slip mounts" Truzi, that's what I give friends photographs in, and if they wish they can have them framed later.