Before we dive in, let’s clarify: this article is about adding frames to images in post-processing, not about framing a shot while taking the photo. Framing within the composition is a whole different subject, one I’ll be exploring in another article soon.

Frames in photography have always intrigued me, not just in the literal sense of a physical border but as a tool in post-processing, perhaps influenced by my few years spent around 15 years ago in the iPhoneography world. While out at Blackdog Beach in Aberdeenshire with my middle child, I took a series of images during our dog walk, applying the same post-processing settings in Lightroom to keep them uniform. Then, on a whim, I decided to add a frame to each image for consistency. But after doing this to a few images, curiosity took over, and I started experimenting, adding different frames to the same image to see how they affected the overall feel.

I know these aren’t the greatest images ever taken, but that wasn’t the main point for me in this personal lesson. It was more about understanding how a simple frame can shift feeling and add (or take away) from the final presentation. The addition of a border is often dismissed as an outdated gimmick, a relic of early digital editing where heavy vignettes and overdone effects ran wild. But in the right context, a frame can be an intentional and subtle tool that enhances rather than distracts.

One of the most obvious reasons to add a frame is for aesthetic appeal. A well-placed border can give an image a more polished, finished look. It can function as a way to subtly hold the composition, making it feel more self-contained, especially when viewed on screens where images tend to blend into their background. It can also help separate an image from the surrounding page when displayed in an online gallery, making it stand out more clearly rather than being swallowed up by a bright or dark webpage.

Another reason, and one I noticed more as I experimented, is how a frame can help direct focus. Different colours, thicknesses, and styles of borders can alter the way an image is perceived. A simple white border might add a clean, minimalist touch, while a black frame can intensify contrast and depth. A subtle off-white can even make a digital image feel more like a fine art print. Playing with these variations showed me that even a minor shift in framing can change the emotional weight of an image.

There’s also a historical element to consider. Traditional darkroom prints often had a natural border created by the enlarger’s film holder, which became a mark of authenticity and a sign of an untouched image. Some photographers embraced the rough black border as a way to show the entire negative had been used, giving a raw, unedited feel. While digital photography doesn’t have this same restriction, adding a border in post can mimic that sense of finality and completion, creating a nod to traditional processes.

Then there’s the idea of storytelling. A frame can provide a visual cue that something exists within a defined space, separating it from the world beyond. This is particularly useful when presenting a series of images. It can unify a set, giving a sense of cohesion even when the individual photos vary. In this way, it’s not just about aesthetics but about reinforcing intent. A consistent frame across a body of work can create a stronger connection between images, guiding the viewer’s experience.

After trying a variety of frames on my images, I found that some suited the mood of the beach scenes more than others. A thin black border added a subtle, clean definition, while a thicker white frame made the images feel more like prints, emphasising their separation from the digital space. I even tried textured, paper-like edges, but they felt out of place with these particular shots. Through all of this, it became clear that frames are not just about making an image look ‘finished’, they’re about reinforcing the mood and intention behind the shot.

This little experiment wasn’t about making the best photos but about testing a creative element in my ongoing journey towards my upcoming projects. Every small exercise, whether it’s experimenting with frames or tweaking a colour grade, feeds into a larger understanding of what I want to achieve. And as I move forward, I’ll keep this in mind, not every photo needs a frame, but when used intentionally, it can be a quiet yet powerful addition to an image’s final presentation.

Here is the same image with many of the different frames I was experimenting with.

Regards

Alex