One of the luxuries I love being able to offer my clients is the ability to hand over tangible products with every session. There's something about being able to hold a photograph that allows you to connect to it in a way screens can't. I have hand picked my professional labs and done my research to find ones that match my brand and are made of the very best materials. So, now you've got your professional photos proudly hung on the wall or displayed in an album with no fear of fading or damage. You know that these babies are sticking around! But what about all your personal photos? The one you snap away with on your iPhone and camera? What about the hard drives overflowing with "baby's first birthday" or that trip to the beach last summer? Wouldn't you want those photos to hold up just as much as your professional ones? Of course you do! But the hard part with consumer based print labs (aka - open to the public) is they are not all created equal. There is SO much that goes into the printing process and when it comes to big box stores, it all depends on if the person running the machine knows what they are doing. Before we delve much further into this, just know that this comes from a place of love. I don't want to appear to be "bashing" on photo labs. That's not the point. I want to save you the heartache of having your images fade or print poorly. 

      I get asked where people should print all the time. It comes with the trade. So lucky for you guys, I put as much effort and research into finding my favorite consumer based labs as I have my pro ones. These are labs you can log in and order online, just as you would do to your local pharmacy photo lab. They make it insanely easy to be able to have prints that will last! As a testament to these labs, I have used them handfuls of times and have always been pleased with the quality. Disclaimer; these are in no particular order. You pick the one that has what you need!

1. Persnickety Prints

Persnickety Prints is based out of Orem, Utah. (In fact, they are practically across the street from the Target on Center Street!) These guys are the best for their fast turnaround time, customer service and products! I found them when I was in school at UVU and would often end up working on photo homework well past office hours for the UVU print lab. I could send my file over to print at night and in the morning it would be done and all I'd have to do is pick it up on my way to class. Being a photo nerd I'm obsessed with how they print their images. To put it in layman's term, they use the same techniques used in a dark room. As in you can get your photograph completely submerged in water and with a little drying time, have your photo return to it's original state, good as new! They have a wide list of photo products and sizes and are constantly outdoing themselves. As far as getting your prints back, they have a pick up option in addition to their shipping option. If you live close, I recommend popping over and picking them up! They have the cutest storefront! 

2. Pro Digital Photos

These guys are based out of Pleasant Grove, Utah. (Are you sensing a theme here? Shop local!) Veronica is the owner and is the nicest, most knowledgeable person you will meet! Similar to Persnickety Prints - Pro Digital is unmatched for their customer service, fast turn around time and list of products! They carry unique mediums and ways to display your images! I always drool over their canvas prints! They do all their printing in house and have the cutest little storefront! (I love visiting the shop around Christmas when they have their decorations up with this year's theme!) Pro Digital is so good at catering to their clients - especially brides! They have an in house designer that you can sit down with and map out your dream wedding suite! Their prints and products are all made with fantastic quality materials and will last! You can order online and have it shipped to you or you can pick it up in store. (between you and me, you should totally pick it up in person! You'll see all the samples they have displayed around the store and get to know the ladies who work there!)

3. Mpix

This is the one recommendation that does not have a store front, or is a small business. It's good to have one of these guys in your back pocket for emergencies. Mpix does an amazing job at printing and staying true to the color of your photograph. What's nice about these guys is they serve nationwide and usually have sales every now and then. Just like with the others, they have an excellent assortment of products. What's nice about having these three recommendations is that no two offer exactly the same thing. I like using Mpix for photobooks or more heftier projects as opposed to Shutterfly. What you get in options however, you lack in customer service. For an online store, it's great - never had a complaint, but you don't get that human interaction as you do with Persnickety's and Pro Digital.  

So there you have it, my three "go-to" places to print your personal pictures. I can guarantee that any prints or products you get from any of these three will hold up and will last. Take a look at their websites and browse around. They all have so much to offer you in the way of getting your pictures off of the computer! If you've got a photo lab you love and want me to review it, leave a comment and I'll do a follow up post!