Where to Print Photos (Are Professional Sites Worth the Money?)

I was once the kid with posters plastered onto my walls (sorry mom, for using duct tape). Then I was the teenager with a hundred pictures of friends and family collected in collages all over my bedroom. Now, I’ve definitely scaled it back, but I still love including printed pictures in frames around my home. 

Pictures are more than just a flat image. They’re a snapshot in time, filled with memories and emotions. 

Many people have told me that they want to print pictures, but they don't know where to go. Professional printing websites can be pricey, but the quality of convenience stores can be questionable.

So where do you start??

Here are my best tips on deciding where to print your pictures:

Level 1: Low Price, Low/Good Quality, Easy Access

If you're printing pictures from your phone or anything under size 8x10, the quickest and easiest options are Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and other convenience stores. Heads up, these places do not typically print on professional paper or with the best printers, so the quality will be lower than the other options and colors may be distorted. The perk of the Level 1 options are that they often provide same-day printing!

Note: I have used CVS for large 16x20 vintage art prints, and it turns out alright, but I definitely notice that the picture isn't as sharp

Level 2: Low Price, Good Quality, Harder Access

I've been pleasantly surprised by the quality for the price of prints at Costco! Unfortunately this option has a membership barrier AND they recently got rid of the in-store photo centers and moved to online only, but if you already have a Costco membership, printing here is well worth it! When I printed a 16x20 photo, the quality was much better than at CVS, but still not as great as the Level 3 options below. In general, I'd stick to no bigger than 11x14 here, and make sure your resolution is high enough to accommodate bigger pictures! 

Level 3: High Price, Best Quality, Easy-ish Access

Professional printing websites (e.g. Nations Photo Lab and Shutterfly) and small businesses (local or through your photographer) are the best option for the highest quality prints! These places use professional printers and high quality photo paper to produce prints with the best colors and quality. I prefer to use professional printers when I'm printing large (11x14 or higher) photos from a photographer. The con about the Level 3 options are that they are pricey, and because they're online (unless you go through a local business) you have to wait for shipping.

One more tip: Our photographer suggested printing on glossy paper for a sharp, crisp look. I use glossy finish on larger pictures, but I prefer matte for smaller pictures, otherwise I find the glare overtakes the tiny picture. 

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All of this to say, these are just guidelines shared from my experience. Print your pictures anywhere and anyway you want. I just hope you get the dang pictures on your walls! I know you’ll love being surrounded by your memories captured in frames.