Using paper to frame images ( tutor pointers to next assignment )

I used a new printer for assignment two and asked my tutor to check the quality of the prints I sent in..

'Good to see the prints and they are of good quality. Consider also your paper quality, have you considered mat v gloss v satin or even the amazing array of art papers? For some of your projects these may prove successful. You have used the paper to frame the images well, consider being more experimental with this and see how it works. Look at exhibitions and magazines to see how other photographers use this to present their work'.

Reading this I was a little puzzled about how you could be experimental re using paper to frame images so queried this. Sam, my tutor came back very quickly clarifying things : 

'Re framing, I mean the image can be placed within the paper so it can have a natural frame provided by the paper. For example you can have a horizontal image across a vertical page, the addition of the white space can be visually quite calming and often it allows the viewer almost a pause in looking, so they really look at the image. Almost like a visual silence. Hope that makes some sort of sense! It is hard to write about such a visual thing. If you go to a variety of exhibitions you will see this used.

Also note the size of the presentation at an exhibition, think about the intimacy of the work, is is small so you have to be close and involved or is it large and all encompassing? '

This is really helpful as I can see that some of my Assignment prints could have been  presented in a slightly different way and that it may pay to use different kinds of paper rather than stick with the smooth pearl that I have been using recently..Another aspect to look for when I view exhibitions.