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Hey friends! Your gallery is delivered. Now what? So many beautiful photos just live on a phone. I print mine at home again and I love it :)
The printer I actually use
I print with my HP DeskJet 2855e ($60.99, in stock when I checked 10/10). It's a simple, budget all-in-one. Is it a pro photo lab? No lol. But for 4x6 prints, cards and fridge photos it does the job, and it was easy to set up from my phone.
Ink without the anxiety
I'm on HP Instant Ink. The printer orders ink before it runs out, and you pay by pages, not cartridges. More in my HP Instant Ink review.
How I print photos at home on a DeskJet
- Download the full-size files from your gallery (not screenshots!).
- Use glossy photo paper for 4x6, matte for cards.
- In the HP app pick "photo" and "best" quality, and set the paper type.
- Let prints dry about 10 minutes before stacking.
- Frame one right away. Otherwise they end up in a drawer!
Upgrade pick for photo lovers
If you print a lot of photos, the HP Envy Photo 7975 ($159.89, in stock 10/10) has a separate photo tray, so 4x6 and 5x7 don't mean swapping paper. I don't own it, it's just the one I'd look at next.
Want to see where these photos come from? Take a peek at my portfolio or services. What's the first photo you'd print? And if you'd rather hang a finished print than make one, my landscape and nature work is available as fine art prints on Fine Art America.
FAQ
Can a budget printer print good photos? For 4x6 and cards, yes, on real photo paper with "best" quality.
Glossy or matte? Glossy for small prints that pop, matte for cards and anything behind glass.