Why I Still Hand-Mat My Prints
Why I Still Hand-Mat My Prints
In a world where almost everything can be ordered with a click and delivered in a box, it’s easy to forget that many things are still made by hand.
Photography often feels that way.
Most people see the finished photograph hanging on a wall, but they rarely see the work that happens after the image is made. For me, that process remains an important part of creating a finished piece of art.
When a print arrives from the lab, I don’t simply place it in a package and send it on its way. The first thing I do is carefully inspect the print, checking the detail, color, and overall quality. After spending time capturing and editing an image, I want to be certain the final print reflects the vision I had when I pressed the shutter.
From there, the print is prepared for presentation.
Each matted print is assembled by hand in my studio. The photograph is carefully positioned within the mat, secured, and mounted so it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Before the piece is finished, I sign the mat, stamp the rear of the print, and add a title and image information stamp to the back of the mat. It’s a small detail that most people never see, but I enjoy knowing that every print carries a record of its origin and a connection to the photograph’s story.
It’s a process that takes time, but I believe presentation matters.
A well-made mat does more than protect a photograph. It creates a visual space around the image, drawing the viewer’s eye into the scene. Whether it’s a quiet Long Island shoreline, an old lighthouse, a weathered barn, or a roadside relic, the mat becomes part of how the photograph is experienced.
There’s also something satisfying about seeing a photograph reach its final form.
A digital image on a computer screen is only one step in the journey. Holding a finished print in your hands is different. The photograph becomes something tangible—something that can be displayed, shared, and enjoyed every day.
Perhaps that’s why I still hand-mat my prints.
It’s my way of staying connected to the entire creative process, from the moment the photograph is captured to the moment it is ready to hang on someone’s wall.
Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of seeing my work displayed in homes, offices, and at local exhibitions. Knowing that a photograph will become part of someone’s space makes these finishing touches feel even more meaningful.
In the end, photography isn’t only about making images.
It’s about creating something lasting.
— Rod Richardson