Why I’m Always Printing My Photos, and You Should Too
These days we consume most of our own photography, and that of others, on screens. At home, we’re scrolling social media, clicking through websites, or rummaging through our digital galleries. Out in the field (at least, when shooting digital), we’re seeing previews of our images on high-resolution screens in real time. After saving these images to our drives, editing, posting, delivering to clients, or whatever we need to do with the photos we take, what do we have left? Gigabytes or Terabytes of digital line items, some that may never see the light of day?
In this blog post, I’ll cover:
Why I’m printing my photos and how it’s helping my photography
What I’m using to print at home & on the go
Where I’m getting lab prints done
Why I’m Printing My Photos & How It’s Helping Me Grow
For context, I started printing my photos consistently, in earnest, around Spring 2023. I’d just come back from a three-week trip in Japan, and I was extremely motivated to edit and print my favorite photos. At the time, it was just to have some artwork for my apartment and to share some moments with family & friends. However, the more I printed my work, the more I saw room for improvement. I found things I could’ve compositionally done better or cropped better. I went back and changed the color grading on some the photos. I noticed there were some blemishes or sensor dust that I could quickly clean up in Lightroom. Every single print helped me review, dissect, and iterate on my work more than any computer screen session could have. Most of all, however, I felt an immense sense of satisfaction holding a physical copy of my work. I’ve reflected more on my printing experience thus far, and boiled it down to a few benefits:
It’ll Make You a Better Photographer. Printing exposes little mistakes you might not notice on a screen: things like weird color casts, overly sharp edges, or shadows that are just a bit too dark. When you see your work in print, you’ll start paying more attention to the details, which will make you a more precise editor. Over time, you’ll develop a better sense of composition, exposure, and color balance, leading to stronger photos overall. It’s like training your eye to see things more critically, and that’s a skill that pays off in every shot you take.
It’ll Turn Your Work into a Time Capsule. A printed photo freezes a moment in time, not just of what’s in the frame, but of your growth as a photographer. Years from now, flipping through your prints will give you a tangible record of where you started, how your style evolved, and what inspired you along the way. Unlike digital files that get buried in folders or lost in endless cloud storage, prints physically exist in your space, reminding you of your journey. They become little time capsules of your creativity, capturing not just what you saw, but how you saw it at that moment in your life.
It’ll Makes Your Photos Feel Real. To me, photos just hit different when they’re printed. The way light interacts with the paper, the subtle texture, and the depth of a high-quality print bring your images to life in a way no screen ever could. Holding a print in your hands or seeing it framed on a wall creates a real connection to your work. Plus, experimenting with different papers and finishes can totally change the mood of an image, adding another layer of creativity to your process.
It’ll Help You Connect with Others. Photography is meant to be shared, and prints have a way of sparking real conversations. Whether you’re gifting a print to a friend, selling your work, or just hanging it on your wall, a printed photo invites people to stop and engage with it. Unlike a quick scroll on social media, prints encourage a slower, more thoughtful appreciation of your work. There’s something special about seeing someone react to your photo in person, rather than just dropping a like online.
It’ll Remind You Why You Love Photography. In the age of endless scrolling and instant gratification, it’s easy to forget why you fell in love with photography in the first place. Printing your work slows things down and helps you reconnect with the joy of creating. Seeing your images in physical form, away from screens and algorithms, reminds you that photography isn’t just about likes or followers: it’s about storytelling, emotion, and personal expression. Printing can reignite your passion and keep you inspired to keep shooting.
What I’m Using to Print at Home & While Traveling
I’ve invested in a few small, personal printers that I really enjoy. Although I’d love to invest in a larger professional home printer, I’m currently comfortable ordering from a lab when I need something large. Here’s what I’m currently using.
Canon Selphy CP-1500. Released in 2022, and still sold today, it’s a compact, wireless photo printer designed for high-quality, on-the-go printing. It uses dye-sublimation technology to produce vibrant, long-lasting 4x6-inch prints in about 40-45 seconds. With built-in Wi-Fi, USB, and memory card compatibility, it allows seamless printing from smartphones, cameras, and computers. Ideal for travel, events, and home use, the CP-1500 offers a user-friendly interface, various creative printing options, and durable, waterproof prints that can last up to 100 years. The printer uses special cartridges and paper - both the KP-108 and RP-108 packages are compatible. For extra portability, rechargeable battery packs are available, removing the need for a standard wall adapter.
After seeing some reels online of other photographers using this printer, I was intrigued and picked one up. The more I use it, the more I’m impressed by the print quality. As mentioned before, that dye-sublimation process really does produce incredibly vivid and deep colors. Additionally, the printer can add “finishes” like semi-matte or matte to further elevate the prints, otherwise the prints come out glossy. Personally, I’m a big fan of the semi-matte finish as it’s less reflective than the glossy, but still rich and provides a nice surface texture.
I use this printer in a few different ways:
Producing test prints & analyzing my own work.
Creating personal photo albums.
Making small “gift” prints for family & friends.
Instax Wide LINK. Released in 2021, and still sold today, it’s a relatively compact, wireless instant photo printer that produces larger, high-quality Instax Wide format prints. Designed for smartphone connectivity, it uses Bluetooth to quickly print images from the Instax Link Wide app, which offers editing tools, filters, and text customization. Unlike smaller Instax formats, the Wide prints provide more space for detailed shots, making them perfect for group photos, landscapes, and creative projects. Lightweight and easy to use with its included mini-stand, it’s a great choice for photographers who want larger instant prints.
Although not as portable as the Instax SP-2, which I’ll highlight below, this is still a really fun printer to keep around. I’ll travel with it sometimes or bring it to hangouts with friends, since it’s quick to run off a copy of the same photo for everyone. I also like that the wide prints have a good amount of space for annotating the photo, if desired.
Instax Share SP-2. Released in 2019, and no longer sold new today, it’s a compact and high-speed instant photo printer that creates credit card-sized Instax Mini prints directly from your smartphone or compatible Fujifilm digital camera. Using Wi-Fi connectivity, it prints images in just 10 seconds, delivering sharp, vibrant colors with enhanced detail. The Instax Share app offers creative editing options, filters, and templates for added customization. Ideal for travel, the SP-2 brings the fun of instant photography with the convenience of digital printing.
This has been my absolute favorite Instax printer to use, namely because of the size of the mini prints and the fact that I can print directly from my Fujifilm cameras. I bought a used one on eBay in great condition, with original box and papers. Before printing from a camera, I’ll typically use the in-camera RAW processor to pull the highlights down, bring the shadows up, and maybe 1/3 to 2/3 stops of increased exposure just to make sure the print gets exposed nicely, since they can otherwise run dark. When printing from a smartphone, the app has some auto settings that help make sure the prints come out well, or you can adjust the settings yourself. I try and bring this printer on all of my trips and buy Instax mini cartridges at my destination, to avoid the hassle of hand-screening the undeveloped cartridges in airports.
Where I’m Going for Lab Printing
For labs, I’ve tested out quite a few US-based services over the years and have two that I really like. I’m looking for accurate color reproduction, good paper options, fast and quality shipping & packaging, and great customer service - especially when there are issues like misprints or damage.
Mpix. It’s a US-only online photo printing service that offers high-quality prints and a wide range of customizable products. Known for its professional-grade prints, Mpix provides options for everything from standard photo prints to canvas wraps, framed prints, photo books, and greeting cards. The service is user-friendly, with a simple online interface that lets you upload and edit images easily. With fast processing times and careful attention to detail, Mpix is a popular choice for photographers looking for reliable, premium-quality prints delivered straight to their door. In particular, their giclee photo papers have an incredible finish.
Darkroom.com (formerly Darkroom.Tech). It’s an online photo printing service that caters to professional photographers and businesses, offering high-quality prints, albums, and photo products. Known for its customizable options and premium materials, Darkroom provides everything from fine art prints to wall art, included framed prints. With a focus on efficiency and precision, it allows photographers to easily manage orders, create personalized designs, and ship directly to clients. The service also features web-based client galleries, making it a convenient choice for photographers looking to streamline their workflow while delivering top-tier print products. They offer international shipping as well.
I’m currently in the process of setting up my own print store on Darkroom. Stay tuned!
Wrapping Up
Are you printing your photos often? If not, what’s holding you back? Are there other printers or labs you’d recommend? Let me know via Instagram DM or Email! My inboxes are always open, and I’ll try to respond as quickly as I can.
Thanks for reading! Be well, and see you in the next post.
