Don't Print Your Photos at the Big Box Stores

Check out the fantastic texture options you can get from a professional photo lab. While I was shooting these images, my son said, “It looks like a painting!”

Professional Photo Lab Printing Ensures Superior Image Quality Using Archival Methods for Long-Lasting Images

Imagine that your photographer has just sent you your online gallery. As you scroll, you see photo after photo of moments that you want to savor and cherish for years to come.

Some professional photographers send galleries sans print shops, but most offer printing options through a store in their gallery. 

If they do, take advantage of the option and resist the urge to print them at stores like Walgreens or Walmart. Yes, the prices will be higher than a big-box-store/walk-in printer, but the image quality and longevity are worth the investment. 

Know That Where You Print is Important

After a quick web search, you'll find tons of companies that will print your digital photos for you. As the cliché goes, they're coming out of your ears. However, simply because they are willing to do so doesn't make them the best option.

Let's break it down.

A professional print lab is a business whose sole job is to print photos and other photography merchandise for its clients without printing errors or defects. These labs offer a wide array of options regarding size and paper quality. Highly trained artisans work behind the scenes to print your photos on archival materials. Because these labs have such a high level of quality control, if they spot a defect, they fix the issue — even if that means a reprint.

Consumer printers, however, like those found at Walgreens Photo or Walmart Photo Center, don't specialize in printing photos. Typically, their clients are already in the store shopping for non-photography-related items—like diapers or detergent—so they're killing two birds with one stone. Yes, their prices are cheaper than those of professional print labs, but this comes at the expense of quality. 

After all, you're printing these photos to pass down to future generations, right? You want something that will last. 

Is the Quality Really that Poor at a Cheap Print Lab?

Short answer: Yes. More often than not, consumer photo printing services render color inaccurately, and they use poor-quality paper and products, affecting your items' longevity. 

Color Language: Why it Matters When Selecting a Printer

More than likely, you've just paid a professional photographer hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for a photo session. Using their skills behind the camera and during the editing process, the photographer has sent you that gallery we talked about -- the one that's filled with beautiful images, each color-corrected and crafted to fit the photographer's signature style. 

Ask yourself this: Does it make sense to pay a professional to perfect the color of an image to turn around and have the color ruined by a commercial printer? Not in my opinion.

But here's why it happens (and I will oversimplify since I've written this article for potential clients rather than professional photographers):

All digital devices that take and create a printed photograph use a "color language" representing a specific color gamut. Each type of device has its own camera, computer monitor, printer, and even the kind of paper you select to print your photo on renders color in a certain way.

To get the best results, professional photographers calibrate their devices and use the color language of their preferred printer to receive the expected results.

When you circumvent the chosen professional lab and use a consumer printer, the color languages might not match because, as I've mentioned, photo printers have their own language, too. And if the printer that prints your photographs is a lab that doesn't speak your photographer's language, then there will be some miscommunication. For example, blues will still be blueish but might skew to aqua or purple. Your skin might look gray or darker/lighter than it should. Often, images will look desaturated or oversaturated. 

Check out this article by Rachel Nielsen from Click Magazine. It really has a great visual on the differences between professional and commercial print labs.

While one of these things might not be a huge deal to you, the cumulative effect can cause a significant variance in image quality.

Now, Let's Talk Paper

We'll use Walgreens Photo as an example. For their in-store customers, they print photos on DNP Premium Digital Paper, which is .24mm thick and only has a glossy finish in print sizes 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 4x5.3, 4x4, and 8x8. Online ordering gives clients more variety, but only a little.

Let's contrast that with the print lab where I send my photos.  

Two of the paper supplies have been open since the 1500s and were used by artists currently hanging in the Louvre. Seriously. Both practice sustainable reforestation practices, donate to the global water crisis, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The lab offers eight paper varieties, the thickest of which is .6mm, and depending on the paper, you can order three finishes: matte, semi-gloss, and satin. Prints range in size from 4x6 to 40x60. Their manufacturers make most of their paper from 100% cotton, but some varieties have a bit of bamboo thrown in the mix. 

Let's Sum it Up

To summarize, there are several reasons why you should print through your photographer's online store rather than a consumer print lab:

1. Quality: Professional print labs typically use higher-quality materials and equipment, resulting in superior print quality compared to consumer labs. This can significantly affect the final appearance of the prints, with better color accuracy, sharpness, and longevity.

2. Color accuracy: Professional labs regularly calibrate their equipment to ensure accurate color reproduction, meaning that the colors in the final prints will closely match what was captured by the camera, providing a more faithful representation of the original image.

3. Paper selection: Professional labs offer a more comprehensive range of paper types and finishes, allowing you to choose the perfect option to complement your images. Whether you prefer glossy, matte, or fine art paper, professional labs can accommodate your preferences and enhance the overall presentation of the prints.

4. Customization options: Professional labs typically offer customization options, such as different sizes, framing options, and mounting choices, allowing you to create prints that suit your specific needs and preferences, whether you're looking for a large canvas print to display in their living room or a series of smaller prints for a gallery wall.

5. Expertise and guidance: Professional labs often have experienced staff who can provide expert advice and guidance throughout printing. 

6. Longevity and durability: Prints from professional labs often use archival-quality materials and processes, ensuring they will remain vibrant and fade-resistant for years. 

While consumer print labs may offer convenience and lower prices, professional print labs provide superior quality, customization options, and expertise that can elevate the outcome of your prints.

As a professional photographer, it's not lost on me that some clients assume photographers only want them to buy from their shop because it increases their profits. A portion of that is accurate. I do make more money when you purchase prints through my online store. But like many photographers who use a hybrid model (prints and digitals), it's more important to me that my clients get the best results possible. I want you to love your prints and pass them down to your children and your children's children. 

As photographers, we are a small part of securing your legacy and want to ensure it's captured accurately.