One of the questions I get asked most often is: “Where should we print our photos?”
And honestly? I love this question—because where you print really does matter, and I want your images to look as beautiful on your walls as they do in your gallery.

Whether you’re building a gallery wall, stuffing envelopes with holiday cards, or designing a keepsake photo book, here are my top recommended professional print labs, starting with my very own.

Worth noting: no affiliate links here, just a roundup of print shops I recommend since this is a question I get so often! 😊

1. My Exclusive Rachel Louise Photography Print Lab

(Available only to RLP clients – can be accessed via your private online gallery. Details here or send me a message if you’d like additional support)

My professional print lab is built right into your online gallery and gives you access to high-end, archival-quality print materials you won’t find at consumer print shops. You can print just about anything in your gallery:

• Large framed and matted wall prints
• Canvas prints
• Metal prints
• Acrylic prints
• Archival-quality heirloom photo books with a hard cover or lay-flat linen cover
• Holiday ornaments
• Holiday cards with the option of foil detailing
• Calendars
• Custom glass, linen, or wood storage boxes to store your print packs
• And so much more

One of the biggest perks?

You’re not limited to only the images you downloaded using your session’s download credits. You can print any image in your gallery, which means more creativity, more variety, and more ways to enjoy your memories.

Everything is printed on luxury-grade materials, with select items even using archival ink – these products are designed to last decades without fading. If your goal is to honor your images with heirloom-quality pieces, this is the gold-standard option.

2. Minted (Bonus: 20% off for you and 10% back to Montessori School of Iowa City!)

Promo code: FUNDRAISEMSIC

Minted is one of my top consumer-facing print lab recommendations because the design options are diverse, the print quality is beautiful, and the card stock options are tactile and lovely. In short: their cards, stationery, and framed prints are consistently beautiful.

Even better? I’m partnering with the Montessori School of Iowa City (a wonderful nonprofit school located right here our Eastern Iowa community) to offer:

• 20% off every purchase
• 10% of every sale donated back to MSIC

If you love gorgeous design and love supporting local education, this is a great choice – be sure to use the promo code FUNDRAISEMSIC at checkout.

See designs and product options on Minted’s website here: minted.com

3. Printique (Professional-grade quality – my personal favorite)

Printique, a small-batch print lab based in Brooklyn, NY, produces some of the most stunning prints I have ever seen. Their color accuracy and sharpness are unreal — especially on large-scale prints.

If you want framed wall art that looks like it belongs in a gallery, Printique is your place.

Pro tip: if you’re ordering larger-scale images that you plan to frame for a gallery wall, I highly recommend selecting “Metallic” for your finish (this option is available on several products in the “Photo Prints” tab on their website, link to one of the metallic print options here). This is a personal favorite trick I’ve used on a large-scale black and white family photo gallery in my own home and it’s a show-stopper.

See designs and product options on Printique’s website here: printique.com

5. Chatbooks

Chatbooks is a great choice if you want simple, cute, easy-to-make photo books. Their monthly book subscription is perfect for busy parents (ahem, all of us), and the print quality is solid for everyday albums.

See designs and product options on Chatbooks’ website here: chatbooks.com

6. Shutterfly

Shutterfly is a budget-friendly option with tons of cute gift items. While the print quality isn’t comparable to the professional labs above, they do a nice job with fun keepsakes, holiday gifts, and quick-turnaround projects.

See designs and product options on Shutterfly’s website here: shutterfly.com

Why It Really Matters Where You Print Your Photos

You invested in professional photography – the light, the composition, the colors, the emotion, the image quality captured and maintained through professional editing – all of that was created intentionally.

But the moment those images are sent to a low-end, low-quality printer (think: pharmacy/drugstore printers), that intentionality and quality disappears.

Here’s why:

1. Print Quality = What Your Photos Actually Look Like

Professional labs use:

• Archival-quality papers
• High-end inks
• Calibrated printers
• Accurate color processing

Pharmacy printers use:

• Budget paper
• Compressed files
• Uncalibrated, mass-production machines

The result?
Printing professionally vs printing at a drugstore is like:
➡️ Watching your favorite movie in HD
vs.
➡️ Watching it on a TV from 1992

Yes, you can still technically see the picture… but the sharpness, color, detail, and richness of the image? Gone.

2. The Tactile Feel (Yes, High-Quality Prints Feel Different)

There’s something special about holding a high-quality print in your hands and the difference is instantly noticeable. Professional labs offer papers with velvety matte finishes, silky smooth surfaces, and richly textured linens that feel luxurious and substantial.

Thicker. Softer. More tangible. More intentional.

Superstore prints on the other hand often feel thin, glossy in a sticky way, and flimsy.

The tactile experience matters because your photos aren’t just images, they’re keepsakes. And keepsakes should feel every bit as special as the memories they hold.

3. Longevity (AKA: whether your prints fade in 1 year or 30)

Professional prints are designed to last decades without yellowing, peeling, or fading.

So if you’re putting photos on your walls, in albums, or in keepsakes meant to be passed on through the generations then choosing a great print lab is worth it every time.

Final Thoughts

Your images deserve to be printed beautifully with the same care, artistry, and emotion that went into creating them. You paid your photographer for high-quality images, so taking the extra step to print professionally ensures you get to enjoy that quality first-hand. Whether you choose my exclusive print lab for heirloom-quality pieces or one of the wonderful print labs on this list, you’ll be supporting craftsmanship that honors your memories.

If you ever have questions on what to print, how big to go, or how to build a gallery wall, I’m always here to help!