Why You Should Print Your Photos From a Professional Printing Lab

October 16, 2024

a woman in a white wedding dress and a white veil is holding the hands of a man in a blue suit and an officant is standing behind them. There is a also a woman in a pink dress and another man in a grey suit standing in the background. The background also has a greenhouse.

So you just got back your photo gallery from your beautiful wedding and you love them which means that now you’re ready to print and display them! But maybe you’re worried that when you print your photos they won’t look quite the same as they do on the screen which is completely understandable. 

I know that you’ve invested a ton of time and money into your wedding photography, and your prints should reflect that. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between getting your wedding photos printed at a professional printing lab vs a nonprofessional (or consumer) printing lab. Where you print your photos will impact their final quality.  

As a wedding photographer, I recognize firsthand how much time is spent on your wedding gallery from start to finish and I know that you want your prints to remain true to the photo gallery you see on your screen. That’s why I always recommend using a professional printing lab. 

In this article, you’ll learn about the differences between getting your wedding photos printed at a professional printing lab vs a consumer printing lab, why it is important to print your wedding photos from a professional printing lab, and I have also included examples of what is and isn’t a professional printing lab. 

Let’s dive in… 

woman in a wedding dress holding a boquet of flowers touching a man in a suit with a colorful boutineer on the shoulder both the woman and the man are looking at each other and smiling. There are trees in the background and white columns.

What are the differences between a professional printing lab vs a consumer printing lab? 

This is a common question that I’m asked by my clients so let’s talk about what the differences are. 

The main difference between a professional and a consumer printing lab is the materials they use. A professional photo lab will use higher-quality ink, chemicals, and printers for your photos. Since consumer photo labs use lower-quality materials this can lead to your photos fading or becoming discolored over time. 

While consumer printing labs can be great for photos from your phone or a small point-and-shoot camera they are not designed to print high-quality photos. 

Here’s an example I love to use – let’s say that you want to make an investment in a new appliance for your home. You know that if you invest in a new high-end appliance that has a higher price tag you will be making an investment in something that is going to perform reliably and last you for many years to come. While a budget version of the appliance can be suitable for now it’s not the same as investing in expert craftsmanship, quality, and materials that the other product offers. 

Another difference between the two is that a consumer printing lab is most likely relying on an automated process which can lead to issues with how your images are cropped, and colored, or a lack of precision. You also will tend to have fewer sizing options. 

Remember, even though the price for your prints will be higher from a professional printing lab you are also paying for the quality and expertise of the printing lab. Your wedding photos were taken on a professional camera and edited by a professional – to me it just makes sense to take the next and final step and make sure your photos are printed to the highest quality possible with the best materials and care. 

a boquet of pink, orange, and yellow flowers next to a pair of wedding shoes on top of an orange sofa with a wedding veil in the background
a white wedding dress hanging on a hanger against a large bay window and underneath is an orange couch, a boquet of flowers, and white wedding shoes

Why is it important to print your wedding photos from a professional printing lab? 

As you saw above there are some big differences between a professional and consumer printing lab. In my opinion, if you choose to use a professional printing lab you’re making an investment in quality. While you may save some money by using a consumer printing lab you’ll notice the difference between the gallery you see on your phone/computer and the quality of the photos you end up receiving.

Some other reasons to print your wedding photos at a professional printing lab are: 

Longevity 

Professionally printed photos will stand the test of time. You won’t have to worry about your images deteriorating over the years because a professional printing lab uses high-quality paper alongside many other high-quality materials. 

Coloring  

If you use a consumer printing lab you might get photos back where there isn’t cohesion across the images. For example, you might notice a difference in brightness, contrast, vibrance, etc. Some of your photos might be too dark, and others too bright. 

On the other hand with a professional printing lab, this won’t be an issue because they will be dedicating time to making sure that contrast, brightness, and vibrance are balanced throughout your gallery. They will also be monitoring the quality of your prints throughout the entire process versus using an automated system. 

Customizable options 

Another great reason to choose to get your prints from a professional printing lab is that you’re going to have a multitude of customizable options. Perhaps you want all of your images to have a matte finish or a glossy finish – you can have it! Or you want to have large, custom pieces – totally possible! You’ll be able to have your prints exactly how you always envisioned them being. 

Attention to detail 

With a professional printing lab, you’ll be working alongside a business that pays attention to all the details in your image. This level of care and attention will ensure that you not only get beautiful prints but that each image will look its absolute best – exactly how they are supposed to! 

a man in a blue suit looking at a woman in a wedding dress while both are holding eachotehr and smiling. The woman is holding a boquet of flowers and her wedding veil is windswept behind her. They are surrounded by a field and green trees.

What Is and What Isn’t a Professional Printing Lab?

Let’s clear up any confusion between what is and isn’t a professional printing lab.

Here are some examples of professional printing labs: 

  1. Millers Lab 

Quick note – Millers Lab is what many photographers use on their online gallery stores but just so you know Millers Lab isn’t available for consumers to access. 

  1. MPIXPRO (also owned by Millers Lab)
  2. Nations Photo Lab 

If you’re doing a search for other professional printing labs make sure that when you’re searching you’re looking to see if they mention using high-quality materials in their business, that they have a variety of customizable options, and also I’d encourage you to look at their reviews to see if others have had a positive experience with them. 

Also, you can check out your local brick-and-mortar camera stores in the area where you live and see if they offer professional prints. 

Bonus tip for you if you’re in Lancaster, PA – check out Perfect Image for your wedding prints – they’re a great option! 

And here are some examples of consumer photo printing labs which include: 

  1. Walgreens Photo
  2. Walmart Photo 
  3. CVS Photo 
  4. Shutterfly
  5. MPIX (the consumer version of MPIXPRO)

These consumer printing labs are accessible for your everyday printing needs but again they won’t provide you with high-quality images and will use an automated system to print your photos. 

A woman in a white dress with a white veil looking at a boquet of orange, yellow, and pink flowers in her hands.
A man in a blue suit with glasses looking at and touching a woman in a white dress wearing a white wedding veil who is also holding a boquet of yellow, pink, white, and orange flowers

Final Thoughts: Why You Should Print Your Photos From a Professional Printing Lab

Hopefully, this helps you understand the difference between a professional printing lab and a non-professional printing lab so that you can make the best decision that feels right for you for your wedding prints. 

As a wedding photographer, I absolutely would recommend getting your wedding photos printed at a professional printing lab so that you can ensure that you are getting the highest quality and beautiful, long-lasting prints. 

And if you are looking for a photographer to shoot your wedding, check out my wedding day services here or get in touch with me here to chat through what you and your partner are looking for on your big day!


Check out these posts next:

How to View Wedding Photos in the Best Way 

Wedding Day Mistakes & How My Couples Rolled with Them