How to Frame a Photo

In photography, one of the most important elements is how the photographer frames the photo. If you are starting your career in photography and don’t know where to start honing your skills, framing is the place to start. The way a photographer frames a photo can determine their style and storytelling. Even if you aren’t a beginner in photography, if you are looking for a new skill or something new to add to your portfolio, revisiting how to frame a photo and learning new techniques may be what you need! 

What is Framing?

Framing is the way that photographers compose a picture. It is how they decide what should be in the picture, what to leave out, and where elements within the photo are placed. The use of framing is essential to photography because it is what the photographer does when taking a photo to achieve their vision and get their viewer’s attention. 

Different ways to frame a photo

There is not one way to frame a photo. Photographers will use different techniques when taking photos with varying subjects and settings. Here are some different techniques to try when framing a photo:

• Framing Using Texture - Different textures like bubbles, ripples, and grain can be used with elements that do not have a similar texture to create contrast and draw the eye’s attention to the subject of the picture. 

• Framing with Color - You can use colors to help frame a picture similar to framing with texture. This works best with photos you plan on doing in black and white or composed mostly of elements with muted colors. Adding a pop of color to these photos can help draw attention to the main subject of the photo. You can also use contrasting colors to frame your photo if you do not want the black and white coloring. 

• Frame Within a Frame - Using the frame within a frame technique means using elements within the frame of your photo to emphasize the subject. This could be like using a window or a door frame in the photo to create a box, or frame, around what is behind it or within it. This helps to emphasize the subject that is being framed and bring the viewers' attention to it. 

• Framing Using the Depth of Field - Depth of field in photography means how far away the subject appears sharp or in focus. This can typically be described as having elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background. Placing elements in the foreground or background and deciding where the subject is going to be in relation to these other elements can help to achieve your desired look or emphasize your subject. 

• Framing with Different Shapes - Create shapes with your elements, be it having cut-up fruit create triangles or placing round lights within the photo. Different shapes in a photo can create something interesting for the eye. 

Steps to Elevate How You Frame a Photo

Every photographer has their own style and process for getting the shot that they want but regardless of your experience, here are some simple steps that can help you elevate the pictures you take. 

1. Pick Your Subject - What is the main focus of your photo? It could be more than just one thing; however, it is important to make sure there is a specific element to the photo that is the most important. The subject will become the core part of the photo that viewers are drawn to. This will give your photo more clarity and can help you tell the story or your perspective through the still photo. 

2. Place Your Subject in the Photo - The subject of a photo does not always have to be in the center of the photo. Another great place to place the subject of your photo is one of the thirds. The rule of thirds is a photography practice where photographers use gridlines to split their frame into three vertical and horizontal thirds and place their subject on one of those lines. Using this rule can help make the photo more interesting and give a change of perspective to the common center positioning. Also consider the distance between your subject and the camera lens; whether you want the subject to be very close or farther in the distance can change the composition of the photograph. 

3. Consider Guiding the Eyes - See if there are lines created by elements in the foreground or background of the photo that could draw the audience’s attention to your subject. This could be the horizon, roads, bodies of water, or anything that could be in the photo naturally or placed that creates lines that lead to the subject of the photo. Leading lines are a powerful tool in emphasizing your subject in a photo and can give your photo more depth. 

4. Take Multiple Shots and Make Slight Changes - Once you have your picture framed, don’t be afraid to take multiple photos. With that, feel free to change some things if the first way you framed your photo wasn’t exactly what you wanted. Move one element from the background to the foreground, change the lighting, add another element, or take away one– there are so many things you can do with a photo, and there is no right or wrong answer, so try different things and take multiple shots. In doing so, you could end up with more than one picture that you like. 

Things to Consider

As you are framing your pictures, make sure you consider these four factors that can take a plain photograph to the next level. 

• Lighting - Keep an eye on how the light interacts with your subject and what is in the frame of the photo. You want to make sure that the lighting is adding to the photo and not taking away from it. Make sure there is light on your subject that doesn’t wash it out but draws attention to it. Also make sure that if you are doing something special with the lighting, it doesn’t become a distraction if it is not the focus. 

• Shadows - With light, shadows can play a big part in a photo. Knowing how to utilize them could add immense depth to your photo. Make sure if you are making shadows, do so purposefully so that they do not take away from your subject. This is especially crucial when you are outside when things like shadows from trees or clouds can change and even ruin the picture you frame. 

• Changing Perspective - If you feel stuck taking the same or similar photos all the time, change the perspective of your camera. Maybe you have been approaching taking this photo straight on, from an audience member’s perspective, but what if you tried to take the picture from a high angle, from a low one, or even from the side? Simply placing your camera in a different place in the room can change what it sees and give a new perspective on the shot. 

• Tell a story - Storytelling is the key to making your photography interesting. Every photo tells or shows something so make that something meaningful. Storytelling can be done by using specific elements, lighting, color, placement, and the perspective of the camera. It creates emotion and helps people connect with your work on a deeper level. 

There are so many ways that you can frame a photo and even more techniques for you to try. Once you start working on your framing, the possibilities are endless! Whether you are just starting your career in photography or not, continuing to work on a skill as critical as framing a photo will elevate your photography to the next level. 

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