The Benefits of Using Professional Prints Labs for Your Newborn's Photos


I’m a big fan of using professional print labs for your newborn photos! Let me take you back to the early days of my photography business. I was photographing a lot of friends and family—you know, learning the ropes and building my portfolio. One day, I took a newborn's photos for a dear friend. I was so proud of this session that I wanted to hang one of the pictures in my home studio. I sent the photo to Walgreens to print as an 11x14. I remember picking up the photo only to realize the color and crop were completely messed up. The color background I used was blue. However, the color of the printed photo was green. Then the baby's feet were completely cut off even though I checked the crop before sending. The clarity wasn’t quite there either.

That moment solidified what I had already started to realize: using professional print labs for your family photos is worth it. If you’re investing in family photos, you want them to look incredible not just for a couple of years but for generations. Let’s break down why professional print labs like WHCC, Millers, and Bay Photo blow consumer options like Walgreens, Walmart, Shutterfly, and yes, Costco, out of the water.

Newborn Photography of a Sleeping baby swaddled in white knit blanket with bow headband lying in fabric hammock with star decorations.
A tender moment captured as a sleeping infant peacefully rests against someone in a beige knit sweater. Newborn Photography
A baby in white clothing cuddles with a large brown teddy bear in a framed portrait photograph. Newborn Photography

Superior Paper and Materials

Professional print labs for your newborn's photos use high quality materials designed to last. What does that mean? It’s not just about paper; it’s about the best paper. These labs use high-grade, acid-free papers that resist fading and discoloration over longer periods of time. And when it comes to canvases, their coatings protect against cracking, peeling, and even environmental factors like UV rays.

On the flip side, consumer options often use lower-quality materials. While they might look fine when you first get them, they’re not built to stand the test of time. That’s why you end up with cracked canvases or prints that turn yellow just within a few years.



True-to-Life Color

Here’s where we get a little technical, but stay with me—it’s worth it. As a professional photographer, I obsess over the color of your newborn's skin. Newborn babies tend to have more reddish purple feet. So I use certain programs to fine tune those areas to match the baby's true skin tones. It's subtle changes but these details matter. Professional print labs for your newborn's photos have finely tuned color profiles that ensure your images are printed exactly as I intended them to be.

Consumer labs? Not so much. Their color calibration often falls short, leading to skin tones that look too orange, too green, or just… wrong. As an experienced Salt Lake City newborn photographer, it’s frustrating to spend hours perfecting your photos only to have them come back looking nothing like what you see on your screen.



Attention to Detail

Every photo tells a story, and part of that story is in the highlights and shadows. When I’m editing, I use a histogram to ensure the highlights aren’t blown (a fancy way of saying they’re not too bright) and the blacks aren’t clipped (too dark). These nuances are crucial to creating depth and dimension in your photos. Professional print labs for your newborn photos respect that level of detail.

Cheaper labs? They’ll often sacrifice detail for speed. You might notice that shadows lose depth, highlights lose texture, and the overall image looks flat. It’s the difference between a photo that feels alive and one that falls flat on the wall.


Longevity

When you invest in professional print labs for your newborn baby's photos, you’re investing in a legacy. These prints are designed to last for decades, if not centuries, with proper care. Imagine your great-grandchildren flipping through an album and seeing your images just as vibrant and beautiful as the day they were printed. That’s the kind of longevity professional labs provide.

Contrast that with consumer labs. The materials and inks they use often start to fade within just a few years.


When to Use a Professional Print Lab

So, when should you invest in professional print labs for your baby's photos? Anytime you’re printing something, you want it to last—think wall art, albums, or even small prints for a keepsake box. These aren’t just photos; they’re your memories, your legacy.

When you are booking a newborn session with me, I offer the chance for you to order professional prints straight from your newborn's online gallery. It is a seamless, very easy, process!


Word of Advice

I’ve learned a lot since those early days of my newborn photography business. Now, I guide my clients through the print process to make sure they end up with heirloom-quality pieces they can treasure for years. If you’re working with a newborn photographer, don’t hesitate to ask about their preferred print labs. Trust me, we’re not just being picky—we’re advocating for your memories. You go through a lot of trouble planning and coordinating your photoshoot so it is only fitting to finish it by investing in professional print labs for your baby's portraits.