Brooks Alberta Photographer - The Truth About 'Cheap Prints'

Here's a 16x24 canvas that resides in our home.

The Great Myth: Hiring a professional photographer is expensive. I'll just get my prints made at a retail chain instead of using a pro lab like they suggested. Besides, they're just looking for more money from me.
WRONG! Here's the skinny on getting prints from a retail outlet. Yes, it is cheaper to just go down, get prints made, and leave. But let's look at how cheap it actually is.
Recently, one of our awesome repeat clients came to pick up a disc of digital files. She bemoaned the fact that she had to now go to (name of giant retail chain here, provided anonymity to avoid embarrassment) to get the images printed. She was not looking forward to muddling through the kiosk provided, manually choosing the prints and sizing options. She was also not keen on hoping the prints looked okay. Added to that, the fact that she was likely looking at an hour of her time just to select everything, then wait for the prints to be made. If there were any that didn't turn out, well, too bad - you're out the much money. Also, this client lives out of town, so having to go through this was not only a pain, but wasting time in an already scheduled day.
I gently reminded her of the online gallery we also had set up from her session, and how you can order prints from our pro lab in just a few clicks. No worries about if the prints will look good, as what you see on the screen is the top quality you will get. Oh, and delivered right to your door, to boot!
She ended up ordering a ton of prints from the gallery from the comfort of her own home, without all the hassle and worries of the 'cheap' alternative. 
Another alternative is using consumer-level online printing houses, which aren't bad, but still deliver a lesser quality as the pro labs. Images can vary greatly based on different sources, but with the professional imaging labs that we use at RyKie Images & Events, your quality images are guaranteed to look perfect.
As professional photographers, we want your images to look great. This is why we offer professional level printing, instead of something that's 'good enough'. We want to WOW you. These images will be something you will cherish and value for years to come. Why not have the best looking versions of those images? 
You also have a greater variety of products with a professional, and the chance to sit down with someone who wants the best for you instead of just a quick buck.