How to frame an old family photo
A framed old photo finally earns its place on the wall, as long as the original is not sacrificed. Here is how to choose between the original and a reprint, pick a frame and mount, and bring several generations together in one frame.
Should you frame the original or a reprint?
A reprint, in most cases: on a wall a photo gets light every day, and old prints are sensitive to it. The original is one of a kind and is better protected in a box, flat and dry.
A reprint of a restored photo has another advantage: it shows the picture as it once was, sharper and without the marks of time. To store the original properly, read how to store old photos.
If you frame the original anyway, what precautions help?
Hang it away from direct sunlight and radiators, and keep it from touching the glass. Common practice is to use a mount and acid-free mounting materials, and to keep tape and glue off the print itself.
Scan it before framing, just in case: a good scan lets you restore or reprint it later. See scanning photos with your phone if you have no scanner.
Which frame size should you choose?
Choose by wall space and number of photos: 20×25 cm (close to 8×10 inches) for a portrait on a shelf, 28×35 cm for a landing or hallway, 40×50 cm for a living room or a collage. The size you can use also depends on the restored photo's pixels.
The Studio warns you if a photo is too small for the size; the figures are in which print size to choose.
| Frame | Price | Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Small frame 20×25 cm | €35 | up to 4 |
| Classic frame 28×35 cm | €55 | up to 6 |
| Large frame 40×50 cm | €79 | up to 9 |
Black, white or wood: which frame colour?
There is no rule, but some pairings often work: wood warms a sepia portrait, black gives a black and white photo some structure, white blends into a light room. Every Souvenotte frame has a white mount.
The mount gives the photo breathing space and draws the eye, especially for a small old portrait. In the Studio, the preview shows the result with the frame colour you picked.
Can you put several photos in one frame?
Yes: up to 4 photos in the small frame, 6 in the classic and 9 in the large. It is a lovely way to tell a family's story: four generations side by side, or the wedding photos of parents and grandparents together.
For a collage that hangs together, give every photo the same look (natural, soft, sepia or black and white). More ideas, for Mother's Day or a big birthday, are in a photo gift for grandparents.
How do you add a name or a date?
With the Studio caption: up to 60 characters, in a handwritten or rounded font. A first name, a place and a year are often enough: 'Nan and Grandad, Margate, 1953'.
If you are unsure of the date, a cautious 'about 1950' is better than an error passed down to the grandchildren. For clues, how to date an old photo can help.
Frame or canvas?
The 30×40 cm canvas (€59, up to 9 photos) hangs without glass, so there is no glare; a frame looks more traditional with its mount. Both are made by a partner print studio in Europe.
Delivery is €4.90 tracked standard (free from €39) or €12.90 express. Personalised goods carry no 14-day cancellation right, but a product that arrives damaged is reprinted or refunded.
Frequently asked questions
How is the frame delivered?
With your photo and its white mount, in a tracked plain parcel, within 6 to 10 days standard or 4 to 7 days express, production included.
What if the frame arrives broken?
Report it from your orders page with photos within 14 days: it is reprinted free of charge or refunded.
Do I also get the HD file?
Yes, the watermark-free HD version of the printed photos is included in the frame price.