Framing
Far from being expensive luxuries, digital frames are now must-haves. We take a look at the latest models, find out what they’re capable of and how they might help boost your revenues
The idea of having an interactive digital image frame sat on the mantelpiece displaying a selection of favourite photographs is one that is growing in appeal for many people. Digital photo frames are fast becoming a great resale item to add value to a professional photographer’s photo packages.
Professional photographers tapping into this growing market can offer digital photo frames as an additional extra to the usual array of traditional albums or framed images. Be it a wedding shoot, a family portrait session or something more personal such as a series of images as a gift, a digital photo frame can be a deal clincher, adding perceived extra value to a package.
There are now many manufacturers producing digital frames, but whatever the brand, it is best to think of the frame simply as a dedicated electronic photo album; always displaying the images of your client’s choice on a device that is easy to use and a delight to have running in the home.
How can digital photo frames work for you?
Okay, so you have a successful studio photography business and are thinking that digital photo frames might add something to your business. What should you look out for and what would be the best way to handle such an addition to the more traditional aspects of your photography product?
Rob Austen, director of Digital Frames Direct, a UK, Internet-based company retailing and wholesaling Living Images digital frames, already has many photographers on his books. He says there are some simple points you need to consider, such as the size of stock and pricing: “A professional photographer would normally hold a very small stock of frames or just have a sample of each to demonstrate the product. We understand it isn’t practical to tie up capital in digital photo frames so we are happy to sell small quantities or even single units if required.
“Our photographers frequently upload wedding photos to display at a reception for example and would look to sell a package of a digital photo frame plus their images – together. They would typically promote the frame wherever they can or just use it for demonstration or display as it can be left on its own and will play images on a loop. “We try to encourage our photographers not to try to match Internet prices and to maximise their sales price as much as possible on the basis that the Living Images products are a trusted and quality brand.”
Many photographers are already using the frames and recognise the additional clout it can bring to a sale. Award-winning wedding photographer Kevin Wilson told Pro that while he hasn’t used digital frames yet, he is getting more and more enquiries. “With more and more professional photographers using this type of technology, and increasingly supplying clients with a CD of low-resolution images from their wedding, for instance, I’m already investigating to see if I can incorporate them into my existing pricing structures.”
Social photographer Philip Nash is, by his own admission, an “early adopter” of new technology and
has been selling digital photo frames, as he puts it, to “give his products an edge”. “I sell the digital photo frames as part of my overall photo package; I also use them as promotional items for higher spending clients where I can afford to throw them in to seal a deal and they are great at shows or for promotions,” he explains.
Nash also recognises that holding a big stock is not always practical: “You don’t want to hold lots in stock because prices drop as the technology becomes more accepted and more popular; the prices drop quickly and it’s tough to make a margin.” He uses the digital photo frames he sells as both a dealmaker and as the carrot to get the deal going in the first place at the start of the sale: “Couples spending a lot of money on their wedding will get a frame at half price for example, but those clients that see the frames for the first time are always blown away by them. “Interestingly, from the client’s perspective, the thing these digital frames say about my business is important: it shows it is modern, up to date and it gives me that edge.”
The price of digital photo frames will undoubtedly continue to fall over time, and the quality and specification will certainly increase, meaning the trend to have them for sale as part of your photographic packages will become more and more compelling.
On test
Let’s have a closer inspection of some of the latest digital photo frames on the market. While each offers, more or less, the same specification (and similarly, model names that hardly roll of the tongue!), some provide more bang for your buck in terms of screen resolution, funky transitions or Wi-Fi connectivity. Other frames are more stylised, meaning they’ll blend in with more styles of decor, and, as a result, could sell better.
Kodak EasyShare EX1011 £200
The EX1011 is a 10.4in, 800x480-pixel resolution widescreen (16:9) photo frame with MP3 audio compatibility and more significantly, Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing it to stream images from a connected computer on a wireless network.
The whole ensemble is light and comes with a built-in stand, memory card slots for CF Type I/II, SD/MMc, xD and Sony Memory Stick. A cute remote provides control on the hoof, while 128MB of built-in memory means you can run slide shows without linking to a network or inserting a memory card.
As soon as the frame is plugged in and switched on, the show starts with either your own images, or a preloaded example set if none of your own are loaded up. Presented images are displayed using the set transitions (a disappointingly limited set of wipes and overlaps) at set time intervals, from three seconds to an hour. But, it is the quality of the screen that hits you most with images displayed with plenty of punch and colour. So, while the audio quality is tinny, pictures are certainly shown at their best.
The supplied Mac and Windows EasyShare software is simple to use too, providing basic editing along with a direct link to Kodak’s EasyShare website that offers extras such as photo book creation.
A couple of quibbles included problems setting up the Wi-Fi connection. The frame sees the network quickly and connects once the WEP encryption screen has been dealt with but various firewall steps need to be undertaken, such as ensuring the correct ports are open. This took ages to do even with the online guide.
Apart from the Wi-Fi frustrations, the EX1011 is a cracker, but it is expensive at a penny under £200. However, those on a tighter budget might like the EX811, essentially the same machine but with a smaller, eight-inch screen but it is not available until May.
SPECIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Image file formats: JPEG
Video formats: MOV, AVI, MPEG 1 and 4
Audio formats: MP3
Dimensions (wxhxd): 330x241x41mm
Display size:
254mm (diagonal)
Display resolution: 800x480 pixels
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Display type: aSi TFT active matrix, with KODAK Light Management Film
Display brightness: 350cd/m2
Wireless compatibility: 802.11 b/g
Contrast ratio: 300:1
Internal memory: 128MB
Memory cards supported: SD, MMc, xD, CF, MD
Living Images DPF10K £120
The DPF10K is a 10.4in, 600x480-pixel resolution photo frame with MP3 audio compatibility, an attractive frame surrounding and a great low reflection screen.
This slimline model has a set of controls down the right side hidden behind the screen backed up by a neat and simple to use remote control. There’s a detachable two-position stand, but disappointingly there’s no wall mounting.
Under the back plate are recessed slots for CF, SD/MMc, SM, Sony Memory Stick and xD cards, mains power input and an AV out socket for directing the slide show to a TV for example. Video compatibility includes MPEG 1, 2 and 4.
The 4:3-ratio frame feels well made and looks nice too with the screen colours seemingly slightly more muted alongside the Kodak. The screen resolution is also noticeably lower than the EX1011, but at normal viewing distances, the images presented look excellently sharp and clear.
Transitions are comprehensive and controllable via the simple to use set-up menu system, however, the slide duration settings are limited to just four choices, three seconds being the default mode. Main preferences are only available when a memory card is not present and there’s no brightness control.
Living Images digital frames come in four screen sizes, each with a choice of finishes. A customised mounting card for the 8in and 10.4in are available if the dates of a wedding or the name of the happy couple need to be included.
SPECIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Image file formats: JPEG
Video formats: MPEG 1, 2, 4
Audio formats: MP3
Dimensions (wxhxd): 314x257x40mm
Display size: 254mm (diagonal)
Display area: 211.2x158.4
Display resolution:
640x480 pixels
Aspect ratio: 4:3 aspect ratio
Display type: Bright TFT Active
Matrix LCD
Display brightness:
350cd/m2
Wireless compatibility: None
Contrast ratio: 300:1
Internal memory: None
Memory cards supported: SD, MMc, MS, XD, CF, SM
Digital Era Star-E Digital Photo Frame £110
The Star-E has a black display and looks plush. It features a 640x480-pixel active matrix colour display, and brightness and contrast are the highest of the displays looked at here.
Images look bright and punchy even if the pixel density means that close up the pictures look a tad grainy. Just like the Living Images display, at ‘normal’ viewing distance (arm’s length or farther) pictures look great, particularly bright and colourful.
While this is also the least expensive display on test, it still offers audio and video playback, along with JPEG still image slide shows. It has built-in stereo speakers, and while sound quality could not be described as rich, it’s okay for low volume ambient music.
Connectivity includes AV-out for displaying on a larger screened TV (it comes with AV leads as well) and it has USB 2.0 compatibility and 128MB of internal memory. Menus are simple and can quickly get you to the right settings with a nice range of transition effects, but only a modest three slide-show speeds (fast, normal and slow).
External controls, which run across the top, are simple to use and clearly labelled. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the small supplied remote control, which was a bit hit and miss to use, with repeated presses of a button required before anything would happen on the screen’s display.
SPECIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Image file formats: JPEG
Video formats: MOV, AVI
Audio formats: MP3
Dimensions (wxhxd): 330x241x41mm
Display size: 8in
Display area: 6.5x5.0in
Display resolution: 640x480 pixels
Aspect ratio: 4:3
Display type: TFT active matrix colour LCD
Display brightness: 380cd/m2
Wireless compatibility: None
Contrast ratio: 350:1
Internal memory: 128MB
Memory cards supported: SD, MMc, MS, xD, CF
Philips 9FF2M4 £200
The latest Philips frame, the 9FF2M4, is a contemporary finished nine-inch screen framed with a selection of three interchangeable coloured borders: red, black and silver. Or you can leave it as is with its white border with a clear surround. It’s attractive but the screen size is noticeably smaller than the 10.4in screens we’ve seen here.It comes with an upright support that swivels nicely round to allow upright or landscape presentation; the Philips has an orientation sensor so it can switch the image round to suit the way the frame is set up. Clever!
The menu system is controlled via two buttons and small joystick on the right rear (from the front) of the sturdily built frame. Set-up is very straightforward, with a comprehensive set of controls and a menu system similar to that found on the Kodak. Images can be stored on the internal memory that has a capacity for up to 150 images according to Philips; the exact capacity is not noted on the specification, so the number depends on file size.
USB connectivity means it can be connected to your PC for easy loading of images. Alternatively, you can load images on a memory card, slot it home in the frame’s recessed slots on the back of the frame (where the AC lead is also connected) and there are two built-in card readers that accept: CF, Memory Stick (and Pro) SD/MMc and xD Picture Cards.
On the display side of things, there’s no AV output for slide shows on your TV and while the screen is a high-resolution 800x480 affair, peculiarly, a viewing area of only 680x480-pixels is available! The screen brightness and contrast ratio are both on a par with the other frames tested, plus the brightness is adjustable from within the menus. You can also build a slide show from multiple images across a variety of memory cards – if more than one type is slotted home – or from the internal memory.
Interestingly, despite the higher price the Philips lacks an audio playback system (incidentally, it accepts JPEG image files up to 12-megapixels in size but there’s no video playback) and lacks a remote control, so you have to set it up on the frame and it also lacks a video play mode.
But as a bonus, the Philips has a built-in rechargeable battery that can give up to a rather paltry hour of playback without being plugged
into the mains. The orientation sensor is very cool and there is a much more sophisticated range of wipes and fades on show, making slide shows look very professional indeed. You also get PhotoEffect Wizard to apply zooms, crops, rotations and even changing images to black & white or sepia within the photo frame.
SPECIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
Image file formats: JPEG
Video formats: None
Audio formats: None
Dimensions (wxhxd): 259x198.1x109mm
Display size: 9in
Display area: 170x114mm
Display resolution: 800x480 pixels
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Display type: Colour TFT Active Matrix LCD
Display brightness: 300cd/m2 max
Wireless compatibility: None
Contrast ratio: 300:1
Internal memory: Up to 150 shots.
Memory cards supported: SD, MMc, MS, xD, CF
Case Study Digital Photo Frames At A Glance
