Guide to buying a printer for photography

Why do photographers need a specialist photo printer?

Printing your own photographs with a dedicated photo printer offers a greater degree of creative control and colour accuracy. Whether you’re printing at home or in your studio, you have full oversight of colour profiles, paper types and test prints. You decide the finish, the colour management and ultimately, how your art is presented.

There are also major cost benefits provided by a photo printer. For photographers who print frequently, especially for client proofs or event packages, a photo printer can offer significant savings compared to repeatedly ordering prints.

A photo printer also allows for immediate results and level of experimentation. If you’re trying a new edit or testing a monochrome series, a home photo printer gives you rapid feedback, helping you refine your artistic decisions.

Whether you’re building a portfolio, printing client images or showcasing your work at galleries, having high-quality prints on demand is a powerful asset.

How does photo printer technology work?

Understanding a few key essentials makes choosing the right photo printer far easier:

Why do photo printers use inkjet technology?

Inkjet printers offer great functionality for photo printers, as they spray microscopic droplets of ink onto paper, creating smooth gradients and precise colours. They usually outperform laser printers for photography because they can reproduce subtle tonal changes.

What’s the difference between dye and pigment inks?

Dye inks deliver vibrant colours and glossy finishes, ideal for everyday photo prints and hobbyists.

Pigment inks sit on the surface of the paper rather than soaking in. They offer exceptional archival longevity and are preferred for gallery-quality, fine art and professional work.

Why do some printers use 6 colours and others 10?

More colours will generally mean smoother gradations and better accuracy.

6-colour systems enhance skin tones and general photo quality.

10-colour systems expand the colour gamut dramatically, improve black-and-white printing and offer better shadow detail.

What do print resolution numbers really mean?

Print resolution is usually measured in DPI (dots per inch). This refers to how many tiny dots of ink a printer can place within one inch of paper. In theory, more dots mean finer detail and smoother images.

Once you reach a certain level, increases in DPI become almost invisible to the human eye. For photo printing, anything above roughly 240–300 DPI already looks extremely sharp at normal viewing distances.

What key features should photographers consider in a printer?

When comparing photo printers, look at how each key feature impacts your printing needs:

Print size options

A4: Ideal for hobbyists or everyday prints.

A3 / A3+: Excellent for portfolio pieces, landscapes and display prints.

A2+ and beyond: Preferred by professionals producing gallery or commercial work.

Ink systems: Cartridge or refillable tanks?

Photo printers with ink cartridges tend to offer a lower initial cost and have been the standard for many years.

Photo printers with refillable ink tanks dramatically reduce printing costs over time and are perfect for photographers who print in high volumes.

Running costs and cost per print

A key factor for event photographers delivering regular client prints is the cost per print. As mentioned just above, ink tank photo printers now offer the lowest ongoing cost.

Paper handling and versatility

Look for a photo printer that supports photo papers from glossy to matte.

It should offer the ability to print fine art media and deliver borderless printing.

Connectivity and workflow tools

Wi-Fi, mobile printing and compatibility with editing tools (including colour management software) all offer a great level of flexibility and allow you to streamline your entire process.

Which Epson printer is best for photographers?

When it comes to a discipline as specialised as printing for photography, a personalised approach is much better than one-size-fits-all. Epson offers four main printer collections that are perfectly tailored to different types of photographers.

Expression Photo: The ideal choice for home enthusiasts

Perfect for hobbyists and emerging creatives, Expression Photo models balance quality and convenience. Their 6-colour inks, compact design and A4 to A3+ capability make them ideal for those seeking excellent photo reproduction without professional-level volume or archival needs. This range is well suited to family photography, travel images and creative experimentation at home.

EcoTank Photo: For high-volume cost-efficient photo printing

If you print frequently—weddings, events, client proofs or personal projects—the EcoTank Photo range offers ultra-low running costs thanks to refillable ink tanks. Many models include dedicated grey inks, which produce smoother monochrome prints. These printers are an ideal balance of quality, cost efficiency and long-term value for photographers who produce large volumes.

SureColor Professional: Perfect for fine art and professional photographers

For established professionals, fine art creators and those selling prints, SureColor models provide 10-colour pigment ink systems, exceptional colour accuracy and museum-grade archival longevity. They support large format printing, making them perfect for gallery displays, commercial artwork and high-end client work where precision is non-negotiable.

Commercial Solutions: Tailored to the needs of photo businesses

For businesses handling very high volumes, such as school photography companies or high-demand retail print shops, Epson’s Commercial Solutions deliver speed, durability and flexibility at scale. These systems are built for continuous use with minimal downtime, ideal for busy production environments.

How do you match your printer to your photography style?

Just as no two photographers are exactly the same, no two photo printers are identical in their offerings. So how do you find the ideal photo printer for your photography style?

Portrait photography

Portrait photography depends on smooth gradations, soft skin tones and accurate colour reproduction. A 6 or 10-colour system is ideal, depending on your level.

Landscape photography

Wide colour gamut and the option for larger prints will help capture the full richness of sunsets, forests and skies. A photo printer offering A3+ or larger is recommended.

Black & white photography

Dedicated grey inks produce cleaner monochrome prints without colour casts. A photo printer that can utilise pigment inks will increase your prints’ archival longevity.

Fine art photography

You’ll need versatility with premium papers, high-precision colour and museum-grade permanence. These are hallmarks of the Epson SureColor range.

Event and wedding photography

The potential to print at high volume and low running cost, without ever sacrificing quality, will matter most here. An Epson EcoTank Photo printer is the perfect fit.

How to select your photo printer ink, paper and software

In the same way photographer and camera need to complement each other, even the best photo printer is only as good as the photo paper, inks and software its paired with.

The benefits of high-quality photo paper

Professional photo paper transforms the detail, contrast and depth of a printed photo. Matte papers suit fine art while glossy papers will enhance vibrant colour.

The importance of genuine inks

While lower initial prices seem tempting, nothing ruins a photo print quite like poor-quality replica inks. Our genuine Epson inks are engineered to work with your print head and photo paper to achieve maximum quality and longevity, and with our refillable ink tank options you can still find the most cost-efficient option for the long-term.

Mastering the basic of colour management

Achieving the right colour balance adds a lot to a photo print. Using ICC profiles tailored to your chosen paper will ensures accurate and reliable results.

Epson software tools

Epson software provides support not just for colour management, but also layout formatting and workflow streamlining. This ensures consistent quality from first draft to final output.

How do you choose the perfect photo printer for your needs?

Now that we’ve considered key elements such as photo printing technology, features and supporting items, there are four main questions to focus on as you make your selection.

What’s your typical print volume?

If you print at a low volume, go for the Expression Photo range. If you print at a high volume for personal or small business use, opt for our EcoTank Photo range. If you require high-volume professional photo printing, choose from our SureColor range or Commercial Solutions.

What sizes do you typically print?

While an A4 photo printer will cover many photographers for occasional and even everyday use, an A3+ or even A2+ choice is preferable for portfolios and professional work.

What’s your photography style?

As mentioned earlier in the guide, we offer an ideal fit for each photography style.

Do you expect your photo printing needs to grow?

While one of the lower volume or small format photo printers may suit you for now, if you’re expecting to expand your photo printing in the mid to near future, choose a printer to fit those requirements and save on future upgrade costs.