As a photographer, printing has always been something I outsourced. Labs are convenient, consistent, and for years it made the most sense. But recently, I decided to change that and bring printing in-house by purchasing a Canon Prograf Pro-1100 photo printer.
This post isn’t a technical lab comparison or a sponsored review. It’s a real-world breakdown of why I made the decision, what the setup experience was like, and my honest first impressions as a working wedding and portrait photographer.
Why I Wanted to Print at Home
For me, printing isn’t just about delivering photos — it’s about control.
I wanted more say over:
- Colour accuracy
- Paper choice
- Turnaround time
- Print consistency
Whether it’s client prints, portfolio images, or personal work, being able to produce high-quality prints on demand is a big advantage. Especially during busy seasons when turnaround matters.
Shipping & Unboxing Experience
The printer arrived quickly, which honestly surprised me. Shipping was straightforward, the box was well-protected, and everything inside was laid out clearly.
Right away, it felt like a serious piece of professional equipment — not a consumer printer pretending to be “pro.”
Setup & First Impressions
Setup was refreshingly straightforward. From loading inks to initial configuration, Canon did a good job making the process approachable, even for photographers who don’t consider themselves “printer people.”
The build quality feels solid, controls are intuitive, and nothing about the setup felt rushed or flimsy.
This is clearly a printer designed for photographers who care about output, not just convenience.
How This Fits Into My Workflow
For my business, this printer will be used for:
- Client prints
- Portfolio images
- Sample products
- Personal projects
Having the ability to print exactly what I want, when I want, without waiting on a lab, opens up a lot of creative and business flexibility.
Final Thoughts (So Far)
These are early impressions, but so far I’m happy with the decision.
Printing at home isn’t for everyone, but if you care deeply about your final product and want more control over your images, a Canon Pro printer is absolutely worth considering.
I’ll be sharing more once I’ve spent real time printing client work and dialing in my workflow.
