In my previous posts about framing options and boxframes I mentioned a “wall collection” of photographs. Also knows as picture galleries or feature walls, wall collections are clusters of images grouped together to create a focal point of interest.

It can be a gallery of identically sized images or a mix of items of various shapes and sizes, a symmetrical arrangement or a grouping of small scale photos around a bold piece. Your creativity is unlimited! The trick is to use similarly coloured frames or mouldings. It works with canvases too.

Interior designers love wall collections and frequently share them in Ideal Home, Living etc., Inside Out and other publications. I have prepared several tear sheets from interior design magazines to boost your imagination but you are welcome to look through your own magazines for inspiration.

Box frames are a contemporary alternative to traditional framed images. A finished framed and satin-sealed print sits level with a top of the deep frame profile giving an image a box effect. Mouldings in three different colours are available: black, wenge (dark brown) and beech (light wood).

I’ve prepared some examples to help you visualise the box effect produced by this way of image presentation.

In black:

In beech (light wood):

In wenge (dark brown):

Boxframes look great in free-standing arrangements and wall collections:

They are also ideal to showcase designer vintage and graphic layouts.

To get the most out of your portrait session have your prints professionally framed! You can just buy a print and go to a local framer or for larger items use Galina Walls Photography framing options.

Frame mouldings are available in four popular colours: black, silver, wenge (dark brown) and beech (light wood). Finest quality off-white and white mounts are used to display images to their best advantage. Archival prints by a top UK professional lab are heat-sealed to a backing board and framed by qualified craftsmen.

Square and custom sizes are available. A discounted rate for multiple products (feature walls/collections) apply. Please enquire!

Multi-aperture frames (multiframes) allow you to display several images in a variety of layouts in the same frame. I know how difficult it is to picture how an image would look like in a frame so I have prepared a few examples:

Example 1 - three 6″x9″ prints in a single black multi-aperture frame:

Example 2 - two 8″x12″ prints in a single silver multi-aperture frame:

Example 3 - one 10″x14″ print in a 16″x20″ wedge (dark brown) frame:

Example 4 - one 12″x18″ in a 18″x24″ beech (light wood) frame:

Instead of one large framed prints a number of smaller prints can be arranged into a wall collection that serves as a visual focus.

Example 5 - feature wall/wall collection of framed prints

Kate and Guenter is another couple whose pre-wedding shoot turned into a location family portrait session - can’t help it with their two adorable children around!

Kate arranged us to meet on the playground as a safe and activity-rich environment for kids. It was good for photography too. Here are some photos from their shoot:

Some in black and white:

Happy!

Those ropes are made for action shots:

John and I travelled from Birmingham to Ponteland in Northumberland to photograph Deborah and Justin’s wedding at Horton Grange Hotel. It was a great opportunity to visit John’s mum and dad as well!

I loved Deborah’s hat and shoes!

Applying dramatic make-up:

Flowergirls are getting ready too:

Justin tries Deborah’s wedding gift - a new watch:

Justin and the boys outside before it started raining:

Deborah coming down the stairs before the ceremony:

The bridal party is ready for action:

The ceremony:

At the drinks reception:

Deborah with her flowergirls:

As it was raining outside we had a brief photosession with the bride and groom indoors at Horton Grange just before their speeches:

The speeches:

Cutting (slaughtering) the cake:

The rain turned into a light drizzle around 7pm and we braved the outdoors to explore the picturesque grounds of Horton Grange Hotel:

Guests waiting for Deborah and Justin’s first dance:

OK, in the spirit of catching up I am going to publish some previously unposted album layouts

Here are some pages from Chris and David’s 8″x12″ magazine-style album. Steel grey accent colour with a vintage overlay borrowed from a Tudor textile were used to compliment an old English setting of this couple’s wedding - a medieval church and quaint Tudor streets of Lavenham, richly decorated bedrooms and exposed oak beams of the Swan Inn:

Here are some photos from my last pre-wedding shoot with Deborah and Justin who are getting married in May this year - urban setting, cold weather, great couple.

I loved Deborah’s telephone box red bag!

Outside an office building:

The red wall sequence - just messing around:

On a staircase of the Eldon Square shopping mall:

I am working on two magazine-style albums at the moment (trying to come up with something interesting) but meanwhile here are some layouts for a 12″x12″ Jorgensen multi-image matted album that I completed and sent to Victoria and Stuart for approval.

We travelled back to Northumberland to photograph Kristin and Paul’s wedding at Horton Grange near Ponteland. It’s an elegant country house with plenty of grounds for children to play (if you are adventurous enough to invite lots of kids to your wedding, as Kristin and Paul were).

The rings:

Boy’s top hats:

Paul and his best man (vintage approach to suit the venue):

Kristin coming down the stairs before the ceremony:

Paul waiting for her in the ceremony room:

At the drinks reception:

Did I mention how good were the grounds and the restaurant terrace kids?

The cake:

Table settings:

Kristin’s bouquet:

Speeches:

After the meal we went outside for some private bride and groom photos. Some in colour:

Vintage:

Children were so entertaining!

Getting a go at the bouquet:

Makeup lessons:

The last shot of the day:

Sian and Kevin’s pre-wedding photosession took place in Tynemouth, a small coastal town near Newcastle where they plan to get married in January. As theirs would be an afternoon winter wedding we timed the engagement shoot to show the outdoor location to its best advantage!

We met outside Tynemouth Priory:

I loved the colours and the notice at the bottom of the hill:

On the beach nearby:

The varied masses of boulders, stones and pebbles shaped by the sea made such a great environmental setting!

Sian and Kevin on the pier:

On the way to the car park we took a break at the Salutation Inn: