Framing the World One Post at a Time
From Jobsite Pride to Industry-Wide Connections
By Sean D. Shields
By Day, Ben Courtney is a 20-Year single-family framer who loves what he does. By night, he’s a husband and a father who loves his family. And when he’s got a free moment, he’s a champion of the framing industry. Over seven years ago, Ben started a Facebook group called Frame the World that today has over 36,000 members, most of whom are professional framers like himself.
Framing Today reached out to Ben and asked him a few questions about his journey as a framer, his motivations for starting his online group, and what value he thinks it brings to fellow framers like himself.
Ben, what was your personal path to becoming a framer?
I got started in framing back in high school. I had taken a shop class in seventh grade and immediately loved building and working with my hands. By my sophomore year, I enrolled in a vocational program where I began learning carpentry more seriously. I really enjoyed the challenge of it, the satisfaction of taking something from an idea in your head and turning it into something real.
After that, I found my first framing job the old-fashioned way. I called the first number I saw in the paper looking for framers. I worked in framing for about four to five years before moving from Virginia to Michigan. At the time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with working outside through the winter, so I took a job in a factory. But after a few years, I realized I wasn’t happy. I missed the work and the creativity, the problem-solving, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with framing.
So, I went back to it, and that’s when it really stuck. Now, I have over 20 years of experience in the trade, and I’m getting ready to take the next step by starting my own framing business.
Why did you start posting about framing online?
I started posting about framing online because I was proud of the work I was doing and wanted to share it. That’s just how my generation does it; we put things online! I got involved in different framing and construction groups early on and really enjoyed posting pictures of my work and what I was learning along the way.
At one point, I was invited to help moderate an online group. But what I kept seeing, and what I didn’t like, was how often people would tear each other down. In this trade, we can be blunt, but that doesn’t mean we’re always right. It’s hard to elevate the people around you if the focus is on criticizing instead of supporting.
That’s really what led me to create Frame the World (FTW). I started FTW on YouTube, asking framers if I could share their videos to highlight the work being done across the industry. But over time, the negativity in the comments with some of the online groups got to be too much, but YouTube only allowed me to post so I found it too limiting. So, I shifted to Facebook, where I could build something different, something that could help build a positive and collaborative community.
The goal was to create a space where framers could take pride in their work without being torn down. I recognize that different regions do things differently, and that doesn’t make anyone wrong. We moderate the group to keep it respectful and focused on lifting each other up. At the end of the day, we should be proud of what we do. We’re all part of the same trade, and we should treat each other with the respect that comes along with that.
Honestly, I’ve got almost as many pictures of framing on my phone as I do of my kids, which my wife likes to tease me about, but it just shows how much I care about this work.
How does sharing pictures and posts on Frame the World work?
On Frame the World, sharing content is very intentional. We’ve built a group of moderators who actively monitor and manage everything that gets posted. Early on, I invited guys who were already posting a lot, who took pride in their work, and who wanted to help improve the perception of framers. There’s a lot of misconceptions out there about what we do, and our goal is to change that one post at a time.
Anyone can submit a post, but everything is reviewed by one of the moderators before it goes live. If a moderator approves it, they’ll post it and kick things off with a positive first comment. That sets the tone. From there, the goal is for the comments to be encouraging, helpful, and to spark conversation. We want to build each other up, while also challenging one another to get better.
We’re very clear about the kind of environment we want. If someone’s just there to bring negativity, this isn’t the place for them. The whole idea is to create a space where framers can share, learn, and take pride in their work together.
What motivates most framers to post on FTW?
Most framers post on Frame the World because they’re proud of what they’ve built. The most common post is simple: someone takes a picture of their work and says, “Look at this.” And behind every one of those posts is a lot of blood, sweat, and skill.
"We want to build each other up, while also challenging one another to get better.”
Sharing that with other framers, people who truly understand what goes into the work, means a lot. It’s not about fishing for compliments, but there is value in showing off what you’ve accomplished. Even something as simple as a like or a positive comment goes a long way.
That recognition helps build a sense of community and mutual respect. It reminds everyone of the level of craftsmanship in the trade and creates appreciation for what framers can achieve when they take pride in their work.
In addition, there are often 20 different ways to do the same thing, and everyone has their own tips and tricks. That’s another reason the group has become so valuable; FTW has become a go-to resource for framers looking for advice or a better way to tackle a task. You’ll see a lot of posts that start with, “Hey guys, can you help me out?” Those conversations are where real learning happens.
Concluding Thoughts
Getting involved in communities like Frame the World and the National Framers Council isn’t just about scrolling through photos and adding another group to your feed, it’s about investing in your craft and your future. Every post, comment, and conversation is an opportunity to learn something new, see a different approach, or refine the way you do your work. Framing may look different from region to region, but the shared goal is the same: to build better, safer, and more efficient structures.
By engaging with other framers across the country, you gain exposure to a wider range of techniques, tools, and problem-solving strategies that you might never encounter on your own jobsite. You begin to see not just one way to frame, but dozens of proven methods that can make you faster, more precise, and more confident in your work. At the same time, you have the opportunity to contribute your own experience to the conversation, helping raise the bar for the entire trade.
In the end, these communities strengthen more than individual skills, they strengthen the framing profession itself, one shared idea at a time.
FRAME THE WORLD HAS SEVERAL POSTING GUIDELINES that provide clarity to its members on what they can post and how they should reply to posts. They establish a clear framework that encourages a positive and supportive environment. Here are a few examples:
Name calling and belittling others will not be tolerated! You will get one 24-hour mute warning. If it happens again a lifetime ban will be issued.
We don’t allow for sale or trade posts; we are more about craftsmanship and not making money, or soliciting sales.
This includes "How much should I charge" posts, wages, bids, anything money related. We are not here to offer advice on how much you should charge to complete a project, all wages should be discussed privately with the potential employer, bids are way too complex to be handled in a comment section most of the time. It just never ends well when money is involved so to avoid this we do not allow it. We are not allowing internet sales, or time management posts, we are not a business promotion group we are craftsmen sharing work and techniques.
We're all in this together to create a welcoming environment. Let's treat everyone with respect. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
Give more than you take. Self-promotion, spam and irrelevant links aren't allowed.
Being part of this group requires mutual trust. Authentic, expressive discussions make groups great, but may also be sensitive and private. What's shared in the group should stay in the group.