As a photographer I get a lot of inquiries and sometimes surprise when pricing of prints are concerned.
Why would you pay $25 for an 8×10 when you can go to your local Wal-Mart and print the “same image” for $1.50? Well, if you’re not worried about quality absolutely use the cheaper print.
I used quotes on same image because what you are getting at Walmart or Shutterfly isn’t actually the image your photographer created for you. It has likely been subjected to editing of someone who has no idea what white balance, exposure or aperture even mean.
Best case they just let the machine do the work and PRESTO. You got yourself an 8×10 glossy. Devoid of depth and skin tones. Maybe the lab tech felt the image was a little off so they added some of this and some of that and now you have orange skin or are overexposed. Am I saying this to diss these people? Not at all.
I am saying this to remind you that YOU hired and PAID someone to created beautiful images…then you sent their hard work to someone else to be printed and to profit off of. Kinda crummy when you think of it that way huh? Maybe you got lucky and the prints aren’t that bad….did you really spend $200, $300 for a session to print images that “aren’t that bad?”?
Still don’t believe me….maybe you have just never held or seen a professional print before…it is ok. Until about 10 years ago neither had I. Let me tell you. Just the weight of the paper is different. Don’t believe me…come on over to the studio. I will let you fondle my prints. Lol
Ok so now that I have said allllll that. To the point lady!
Let’s put big box labs to the test!



