Jillaine,
This is an excellent question, and your example gave me a number of different items to discuss.
1. I think we can get rid of the 'photo frame' on the right hand side of the page entirely, and use primarily the photo tab, with selected images embedded in the profile narrative.
Even without embedding photos in the narrrative, the profile page still has visual interest from the background (if used) and the primary photo (if chosen) that appears next to the Profile Name. In the example John Spencer profile, the coat of arms, and the picture of St. George's chuch would be great embedded in the narrative, to add visual interest. (the coat of arms at the top of the narrative, and the church in the paragraph where it is discussed.) An additional benefit is that it gives the profile authors control over how the images are presented and how they support the text.
As an aside I had always thought it was odd when there is only one photo (and it is set as primary) that there was a small image up top and the exact same one right there on the right.
2. I would (if possible) give the 'Questions and comments frame' a maximum relative width so that the bio narrative always has at least 50% of the screen real estate. It just looks off having the 'meat and potatoes' of the profile squeezed out by the comments.
3. On the edit page, where the reminder of how to add links is, we could add 'how to embed images' (Example: [[image:sproul-69.jpg|200px|David Sproul Sr.]]) to encourage users to use this feature to add visual elements that give the profile a finished look and aesthetic that provides the appeal that Chris talked about for the family members that browse.
4. On the photos page, add a reminder that .pdf documents can be uploaded, and are usually a better choice for book excerpts, rather than images of individual pages.
It would be a lot of work initially to select and embed existing photos in the narratives, but personally I think many of the profiles would 'shine that much brighter' for the effort.
