What to Print Yourself and What to Trust to Your Pet Photographer in Toronto
/Professional photo labs vs online print services: Not sure which pet photography prints are best done professionally and which you can create yourself?
This guide breaks down the difference—so you know exactly what to print through your pet photographer and what works beautifully through an on-line print provider using your digital photos.
Once your session is complete and you receive your high-resolution images, you may feel a mix of excitement and a little overwhelmed.
You love them… but now what?
You want the digitals because they give you freedom—freedom to enjoy them digitally, share with friends and freedom to transform them into meaningful pieces you can see, touch, and live with every day.
These images were created to be enjoyed, not tucked away on a hard drive.
Let’s talk about the best ways to bring them into your everyday life—whether that means turning one into a statement piece for your home or using them for simple, heartfelt gifts.
But not all prints are created equal, and knowing what to print—and how—makes all the difference.
Let’s Start With the Forever Pieces
For the images you truly love—the ones that stop you mid-scroll—professional printing makes all the difference.
As your pet photographer, I work only with Professional Labs, based in Toronto and Italy. These labs use:
Archival-grade materials designed to last for generations
Color-calibrated systems that ensure your images look exactly as intended
Superior finishes, textures, and construction
Careful quality control at every stage
. This ensures:
Accurate, rich color and true-to-life tones
Longevity that won’t fade or yellow over time
Museum-quality finishes and materials
A polished, gallery-worthy result
Consumer labs and discount printers simply cannot replicate this level of quality, especially for large-scale or heirloom pieces.
These are the pieces you should consider ordering professionally:
Wall art, especially museum quality canvases and metal prints and larger framed pieces
Fine Art Albums
Statement pieces for your home
Keepsakes you plan to pass down
These are the images that deserve to be seen at their very best.
The result? Artwork that feels rich, beautifully finished, and designed to last. These are the pieces you’ll live with for years—and appreciate more as time goes on.
Museum-Quality Canvas: Soft, Timeless, and Elegant
If you’re drawn to artwork that feels warm and classic, museum-quality canvas is a beautiful choice.
Professional canvas prints are nothing like the lightweight canvases you’ll find online. They’re created using:
Archival inks that resist fading
Premium canvas with a refined texture
Solid wood stretcher bars that won’t warp
Expert hand-stretching for a clean, polished finish
Canvas works wonderfully for statement portraits and large wall art.
It has a timeless, almost painterly feel that blends effortlessly into any home.
Metal Prints: Modern, Clean, and Striking
If your style leans more contemporary, metal prints offer a sleek, modern way to display your images.
Professionally produced metal prints are created by infusing your image directly into a coated aluminum surface. This process gives you:
Incredible detail and clarity
Deep, luminous color
A clean, frameless presentation
Exceptional durability
These pieces are perfect for modern spaces and make a striking focal point.
Poor-quality metal prints often lack depth and color accuracy, which is why professional production is essential for achieving that clean, gallery-level look.
Fine Art Albums: Your Story, Beautifully Preserved
If there’s one product clients tell me they treasure most over time, it’s their album.
Fine Art albums are heirlooms, designed to be held, shared, and revisited. They’re created using thick, lay-flat pages and archival materials, with covers that feel truly luxurious using linen or leatherette.
This isn’t a book you flip through once and put away. It’s the kind of piece that lives on your coffee table, comes out when guests visit, and becomes more meaningful with every passing year.
Larger Framed Prints, Finished to Perfection
When it comes to larger framed prints, using a professional lab makes a noticeable difference.
Professional printing gives you artwork that feels rich, beautifully finished, and designed to last. These are the pieces you’ll live with for years—and appreciate more as time goes on.
Custom framing ensures your image is printed to the correct scale, mounted properly, and paired with a frame that enhances—not competes with—the photograph.
You’ll have a curated choice of frame styles and finishes, making it easy to select something that complements your décor, whether your home décor is modern, classic, or somewhere in between.
The result is a beautifully finished piece that arrives ready to hang, and is designed to look just as good years from now as it does the day you unwrap it.
Why Professional Printing Is Worth It
Luxury printing isn’t just about how something looks—it’s about how it feels.
The weight of the paper, the richness of the color, the way the piece holds up over time. Professional labs are incredibly consistent, detail-focused, and held to high quality standards.
These pieces aren’t décor trends. They’re investments in your memories.
Online Printing Services: Perfect for Fun Items and Gifting
Your high-resolution images also give you the freedom to create simpler items on your own—and this is where using a consumer printing service shines.
Online printing projects are perfect for:
Pet photo calendars you’ll enjoy all year and they make a perfect gift for friends and family
Holiday cards with a personal touch
Gift tags for friends and family
Tree ornaments - a lovely way to see your favourite photo every holiday season
Pet Photo Phone Cases, a novelty item so you can enjoy your pet whenever you look at your phone
Cushion Covers, a fun way to add your personal touches to a room.
These projects are fun, flexible, and a lovely way to share your images—without replacing the role of professional artwork.
Below are some reliable online resources you can use for your small printing projects.
Vistaprint - great selection of gift items
Posterjack - easy to use and good selection of printed items suitable for gifts and small projects
Mixbook - Print your calendars and cards and use the discount coupon at this link!
A Simple Way to Decide
Here’s an easy rule of thumb I often share with clients:
The images you never want to replace → professional printing
The images you want to enjoy casually or share → DIY printing
This approach lets you enjoy the best of both worlds.
One Last Thought
Your photographs tell a story that becomes more valuable with time, especially when your beloved pet is not longer with you… and we all know that day will come!.
Choosing professional printing for museum-quality canvas, metal artwork, larger wall art, and heirloom albums ensures that your most important images are preserved with the care they deserve.
Using your digital images for DIY projects lets that story show up in everyday life—shared, celebrated, and enjoyed.
If you’d like guidance on which images are best suited for professional artwork versus DIY printing, I’m always happy to help you make those decisions with confidence and ease.
If you have not yet booked a session and would like to know more about pet photography sessions in the Toronto area, please feel free to set up a complimentary consultation and we can discuss a session with your dog or cat and family. I’d love to hear about your pet!
