Hi. I love the photos and the frames but I have to wonder how black frames would have looked. Did you take one of the pics with you to Hobby Lobby? That might have helped you decide.

However, saying that, do you have more white accents in the room where you are hanging these? If so, the frames will be fine in my opinion.

I agree with Barbara about a matting but even a white can look very effective but ensure the tone of white works with the frame.

Nice advice from Barbara about the matting choices.

I wanted to compliment you about wanting to frame these photos your mother-in-law took so long ago. How nice for her, if possible, to see these have a place in your home.

I like Barbara's matt choices too. You can buy 11 x14 matt with a 5 x 7 opening. I think a black frame/white matt would look nice. Or, the white frame and a black matt. Here is a link for a white one from amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Single-Designer-11x14-mat-Opening/dp/B001THYY8M

here is a company with really nice mats. many of my artist friends buy from them. I don't, only because I cut all my own mats and buy 32x40 sheets.
many 5x7's fit into 8x10 frames. That is how I sell mine
Whatever you do, be sure not to use scotch tape to hold the photo down.
http://www.redimat.com/products/decorative.html

Do the hinging method and use this type of tape
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=125576&Q=&is=REG&A=details
and the black core mats.
http://www.redimat.com/products/decorative_black_core.html

Barbara I like your idea but I'm new to this framing business and I'm not sure what a matt and chisel means? If you know exactly where I can get these items a link would be greatly appreciated.

Unwanted Advice: I did take them to Hobby Lobby with me, but it was overwhelming and I have yet to pick wall colors or exactly where I want to hang them. And yes it would have been nice for my mother - in - law to see them hang but she died from brain cancer shortly after my marriage. She was like a mother to me.

What a wonderful way to honor her. I suggested either a black or gray mat as it will work with whatever your wall color may be. You may also like a black frame with an off white mat. But with black & white photos, I usually like a darker mat and a white or lighter frame. I think the white frame will look good on any color walls. Did you check out Michael's or JoAnn's Fabric they also have frames.

The mat is the "cardboard" that is inside the frame to hold the picture. The "chisel" is the way they cut it, so that you can see the inside edge of it as it surrounds your photo. It adds dimension/depth to the picture. The white frame and mat in the larger size with your smaller pictures looks clean and really nice. Great idea. I like the white frames better. Most craft stores that sell art supplies can cut the mats for you if the ones you showed are not right.

Barbara I did not check out Michael's and JoAnn's yet but will do that right now. I also uploaded one of the pics just to get a better idea.

Thanks for all of the great ideas. I'm so glad I asked the houzz's opinion.

I love the photo and still think your 11 x 14 frame with white matting will look great

P.S. The chiseled edge is also called a beveled edge. The mat may be black on the surface, but beneath it it is white..so when the bevel or chisel on the inside cut is made you have a darker mat with a white edging in the inner cutout for the picture. It is very attractive especially in this type of situation.

Frame and mat options:

The black matt groveraxle shows add a lot of interest to the picture.

If you have your own matting cut, two things--cotton rag white matting, the core won't yellow. Paper mats look dreadful after awhile. Also, if using store bought frames and the opening will not have equal thickness around, have the top and sides of the matting equal and bottom weight it. Much better than skinny sides and thick tops and bottoms. I'd personally go white, the black will be a bit of an eyeball banger and distracting to the photos.

Here's an idea if you want a black frame:
http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/11-x-14-black-flat-profile-wall-frame-852277/

haha, glad you mentioned bottom weighting :) you won't believe the amount of non artists or photographers have no clue what that means. I've had probably 3 people walk back into my booth after buying a matted 16x20 saying why is it 3 inches on the bottom, but 2 inches around the other 3 sides. One guy thought I made up bottom weighted. Told him to Google it and he will see I wasn't making it up :)

Also, since you're new to this, here's two ways to hang it since I see the framing wire in the background.
Buy saw teeth hangers, hammer into the top. Not ideal, but they get the job done.
Best way--eyelet screws. Measure a third of the way down and use an awl to put a small hole into the back of the frame, make sure it's into a thicker part but not too close to the edge and your screw isn't too long--if you have some wax, rub the end of the eyelet screw into it as to not overheat when turning. If you hear it squeak, stop--it'll break off.
Now the wire. Thread it through the eyelet from the inside to the out, wrap it back around and under the wire, back around to the outside and back through the hole and over top of the wire that you just wrapped around the screw, wrap it 4-5 times tightly around the wire and cut off the excess.
When you go to hang it, make sure to allow about 2" of give in the wire when placing your wall hook.
I hope that helps :)

@diyher yes, and when I was framing back in the day, we'd sometimes do it intentionally so that when its hanging on the wall, the bottom matting didn't look shorter--which it can depending on the size of the piece :)

Soloncia - great advice and tips. Many thanks

Don't frame the originals. Get them copied and put the originals away somewhere safe and dark. Use a mat to keep the glass off the prints, and don't hang in direct sun.

yes, to making copies. You could even enlarge them at the same time for framing.