Signing an 8 X 10 photo?

I have someone who is purchasing one of my whale photos and stated she wanted an 8 X 10. Later, she e-mailed me and asked if I could "make it a little smaller, so it can be signed and dated".

Having never printed a photo before (I will be going to a local print shop), how do I go about doing this? I will not be framing the photo for her. Many thanks in advance.

- Luke

A mat normally covers a quarter inch all around, so an 8x10 print will be reduced to 7.5"x9.5". This may have something to do with her wanting it made smaller. I have made prints the picture slightly reduce, to 7.6"x9.6" plus a border, so that the mat would not crop the picture. But when signing a regular sized print, I simply sign the print far enough in from the edge to leave ample room for the mat.

Maybe she wants you to leave a border for your signature and date. Perhaps you should ask her to explain exactly what she wants.

The majority of my clients insist that the signature be seen, so I sign in the lower right hand corner of the print itself using a silver or gold fine point pen. Hopefully she lives near you so you can sign the original print.

I contacted her and asked if a white border around the photo with a signature and date would suffice and she said that would be great. And fortunately she does live close, so if something goes awry it will be an easy fix.

Thanks for the advice.

- Luke