Where to Print Professional Photos in Melbourne (And Where to Avoid)
- Alana Taylor
- 11 hours ago
- 4 min read
Your images have been professionally captured, carefully edited, and colour-balanced — but the final result doesn’t end when you receive your digital files.
Where you choose to print your images plays a huge role in how they’ll actually look and last over time.
One of the most common disappointments photographers see happens after delivery, when images are printed through low-quality labs and come back looking darker, duller, or completely different to what was seen on screen. This isn’t because anything is wrong with your images — it’s almost always due to the printing process.
This guide explains Where to Print Professional Photos in Melbourne, why professional printing matters, and which printing options to avoid if you want your images to look the way they were intended.
Why Printing Professional Photos Is Different
Professional photography files are edited on calibrated monitors using colour-managed workflows. This means skin tones, whites, and soft neutrals are adjusted very precisely to look beautiful in print — not just on a screen.
Many consumer print labs use automated systems designed for speed and volume, not accuracy. These systems often:
Automatically “enhance” images
Increase contrast or saturation
Darken prints to compensate for paper brightness
Ignore professional colour profiles
The result is prints that can look muddy, overly warm, overly cool, or simply not right.
Professional print labs work very differently. They use calibrated printers, archival inks, high-quality paper stocks, and manual colour management to produce prints that closely match the original edit.
Screen vs Print: Why Your Images Don’t Look the Same
Screens are backlit, meaning images appear brighter and more vibrant on phones, tablets, and computers than they do on paper. When an image is printed, that backlight disappears — which is why prints can appear darker if they’re not handled correctly.
Professional labs account for this difference during the printing process. Budget labs often don’t, which is why prints from non-professional sources frequently look darker or flatter than expected.
This difference is especially noticeable in:
Newborn and baby skin tones
Soft neutral edits
White backgrounds
Pastel colours
Where to Avoid Printing Your Images
While convenient and inexpensive, chain stores and consumer online printers are not recommended for professional photography images.
This includes:
Kmart
BIG W
Officeworks
Online services such as Snapfish and similar mass-market printers
These providers typically use automated colour correction, lower-grade paper, and fast-turnaround systems designed for everyday snapshots — not professionally edited images.
Common issues clients see from these labs include:
Images printing much darker than expected
Yellow, green, or grey colour casts
Loss of fine detail
Inconsistent results between orders
Once an image has been printed poorly, the only solution is to reprint it correctly.
Where to Print Professional Photos in Melbourne - The Importance of Archival-Quality Printing
Professional print labs use archival papers and inks designed to last for decades without fading, yellowing, or breaking down. This is especially important for images you plan to display, gift, or pass down over time.
Cheap prints may look acceptable initially but can fade or discolour within just a few years — particularly when exposed to light.
If your images matter to you (and they should), archival-quality printing is a worthwhile investment.
Print Through a Professional Lab: MyProPhoto
If you’d like to organise printing yourself while still using a professional lab, I recommend
MyProPhoto, an Australian professional print lab experienced in handling high-resolution photography files.
MyProPhoto offers:
Accurate colour reproduction
Professional-grade papers and finishes
Consistent, reliable results
Archival-quality printing
When ordering, you can use the following details so they know your images are from Alana Taylor Photography:
MyProPhoto Account Number:
31546
Visit ProPhoto Website to get Started: https://myprophoto.com.au/
This option allows you to print independently while still ensuring your images are produced using professional standards.
Printing Through Alana Taylor Photography
Many clients choose to print directly through me, which ensures full quality control from editing through to final print. When you order prints or products through Alana Taylor Photography, your images are produced using professional labs I trust and use regularly.
This removes the guesswork and ensures your images are printed exactly as they were designed to be seen.
Common Printing Mistakes to Avoid
Printing images saved from social media
Using screenshots instead of original files
Allowing automatic “enhancement” or colour correction
Printing on low-quality paper
Enlarging images beyond recommended sizes
Following professional print guidelines helps protect the quality of your images and ensures they last for years to come.
Final Thoughts on Printing Your Images
Your photos are more than digital files — they’re memories. Choosing the right place to print them ensures those memories are preserved beautifully and enjoyed for generations.
If you’re unsure about your options for Printing professional photos in Melbourne, or you’d like advice on sizes, finishes, or products, I’m always happy to help guide you.
Photography Services at Alana Taylor Photography
At Alana Taylor Photography, I specialise in newborn photography in Melbourne’s South-East, along with maternity, baby birthday cake smash sessions, and family portraits from my purpose-built studio in Clyde. Every newborn session is photographed with a calm, baby-led approach and professionally edited with print quality in mind — so your images look just as beautiful on your walls as they do on screen.
Explore my Newborn and Baby Photography Services
