RedBaron4730

I have a goal to become a professional photographer. My niche is wildlife photography and specific events. I have access to Lightroom and one other post production software to manipulate raw files.

My issue, having selected pictures that appear pretty good on a monitor to display as a professional print to a 6 x 9 or 8.5 x 11 photo page. I have HP Officejet Pro 9010 which many of you know will print a 8.5 x 11 photo page.

Is there a specific setting in Lightroom and/or HP Officejet setting I may be overlooking to get a good glossy pic to be hung in an office?

Thank you for your prompt responses and look forward to hearing your comments.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are LR Export settings for paper type, as well as sharpening. I'd start by experimenting with the settings to create an output file that you then print from that exported file. Additionally, assure the pixel resolution of the digital image calculates to at least 300 pixels per inch of the target output size. When you master the settings for your images and target printer and print size, save those to a User Export Preset for reuse.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

It is challenging to say what you are overlooking when you give us no idea which settings you are using or what the output looks like. I suggest that you head down to the library and read a few books. Then, if you encounter any problems watch some utube videos.

RedBaron4730

Hi Orphoto - I am still playing around with LR export settings but the HP Printer, I have
'Media = 'Photo paper'
'Quality Settings = 'BEST'
Color

Too, I am using 'Office Depot Photo Paper'. It is the cheapest photo paper I could find but cheapest is not always the best. Are there any recommendations for Photo Paper? Thanks

anotherview Loc: California

A worthy photograph begins with an effective composition.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The HP Officejet Pro 9010 is an "all-in-one" with black and three colors. A printer designed for quality "professional" photos will have as many as 8 or 10 colors. There are not many to pick from. Both Epson and Canon each make a few. An example on the low end is the Canon PIXMA PRO-200. It has 8 colors of dye ink and prints up to 13" wide. On the high end for common sizes is the Epson SureColor P900. It uses 10 colors of more permanent pigment ink and prints up to 17" wide.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

It sounds to me that you have a long road to travel prior to reaching your goal. Goals are good to have. But in order to reach them one has to study, learn, absorb information, and grow in their chosen endeavor. If you cannot even figure out how to make a print on your printer you are not working hard enough to reach your goal. Go to classes, shoot with professional photographers, read everything, talk with others and shoot, shoot, shoot. Then, when you have it "all down" you can become a professional photographer. I don't mean to be harsh, but this is reality. Just knowing how to work a camera does not make someone a professional photographer.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Absolutely. If you want to produce professional grade prints of your work, you need to invest in a true photo printer such as mentioned previously or have a professional lab such as Bay Photo do your printing. Plus you need to invest in a color calibration system such as the Datacolor Spyder X and calibrate your workflow. That $150 investment will pay for itself in short order by saving wasted paper and ink.

Randyfrieder Loc: Long Island, New York

Or, you can go to a store with an in store photo printer, such as, cvs, Walgreen’s, camera stores, etc, to make some prints, before you invest in an expensive printer.
See if that is what you are striving for, and then try to emulate the result with your gear.

In order to make a great print,
you want to start with a great image.

Maybe, download a photo that you really like, that matches your style and subject matter, make a print. That will give you a good idea of whether it is your image that is influencing your results, or it is the printer.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I think it is more than a little unfair for folks to tell you to go and learn stuff when that is what you are obviously seeking to do. I am not personally familiar with your printer, but I did check to see what has been written about it. In fact, a common observation in reviews is that it is not a particularly good photo printer (the reviews were much less kind) because it cannot achieve the depth of color that more purpose-designed printers are capable of. The best post processing will go for naught if your printer cannot reproduce what you have built. Suggestions to shift your printing to a trusted custom printer are very wise while you are researching and saving for the personal printer that you need. As a hint, if you form a good relationship with your printer, you may be able to learn a ton of really good stuff from them. I have found that the best are staffed, at least in the front, by art students either working to pay for school or to fill internship requirements.

As has been hinted, but not stated, the next thing to do is to build a local network of knowledgeable and helpful people. Start with those folks at the printer and build from that point. You need to have folks around you who are knowledgeable (and whose work you can see), who you can trust, and who have your best interests at heart. This forum will not properly satisfy any of those things.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Red Baron, you became a member in 2011 and in 2014 were asking this same basic question. You received some sincere helpful advice, not always the situation on this forum. In the nine years since 2014 what were some of the things you were able to accomplish to move you toward your goal of becoming a professional photographer? Also what genre of professional photography are you interested in, wedding, sport, portrait, architectual, there are many?I know that it is not an easy process to gain the technical prowess with the necessary equipment that will enable you to achieve your goals . Then there is that undefineable thing of simply having a "good eye" for the image. I might be taken to the woodshed for that idea, but I do believe that there are images that if examined by their separate discrete elements would fall short that somehow coalesce together for an image that is greater than the sum of its parts. Do you feel your own images, or at least some of them, have that quality? The truth is that those of us on this forum do not know enough about you as a photographer and as person to advise you about investing your time and your money to venture into a new career path. As far as gaining economic security, I believe that choosing a career in professional photographer is fraught with pitfalls especially these days with AI and simply the billions of images now being created. Not saying that it can't be done, but be careful.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

While those stores can produce a better print than an HP All-in-one they are chemical process printers and can’t compare to a dedicated photo inkjet printer. The OP also should learn about calibrating his work environment, using specific profiles for his printer and the paper choice, and soft-proofing his images before printing. (And if you’re watching YouTube videos on soft-proofing, DO NOT WATCH Anthony Morganti’s video. I know some people really like his Lightroom tutorials, but when it comes to soft-proofing he has no clue)

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

There are a lot better ways to earn money than being a professional photographer. Personally, I would rather sell donuts for at least then I could eat my mistakes.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Some topics to research:

ICC Color Management Workflow

Monitor calibration and profiling

Color correction area environment (gray, dim, no bright colors anywhere)

Standards and standard environment for print evaluation (brightness, color temperature, accuracy, surroundings, calibration to monitor...)

Using correct paper profiles for your ink and printer

Setting correct paper TYPE in printer drivers

Ink types (dye and pigment), permanence, and what really IS a PHOTO printer, anyway?

White balance and white balance reference targets

Raw file workflows and using Lightroom Classic to drive your printer directly from a raw conversion

There is much to learn, and much to try. Making high quality prints takes a SYSTEM approach. Any one item in your system that is not set up properly can destroy your best efforts to achieve high print quality.

Randyfrieder Loc: Long Island, New York

Nope, no chemicals, in most of the drug store chains.
Most have a Kodak or Fuji kiosk. You insert your memory card, edit the print for exposure, cropping, color, then you click print, and the inkjet printer inside the kiosk spits out the prints.


Even if they do use a chemical process, that is fine.
My advice was to print out one of his images, or one he likes on line, make a print in a store so he can go home, compare the results with what he is getting, and maybe that will help diagnose the issue.
Maybe he’s not adding enough or too much contrast, same with exposure adjustments, when editing.
Maybe it’s the paper choice, etc.
The point is to have a known good print in order to have something to strive for and compare to.

If the op is not going to do enough volume with a new printer, they can clog.
It would be good idea to make his prints at a kiosk to test the market, before investing in a photo printer, ink and paper. If he buys a quality (ie: costly) printer, and finds that his prints don’t sell, he’s out a lot of money.
If he does sell a decent amount, of the kiosk prints, then he can go, spend his money and make beautiful prints at home.
One step at a time.
And I wish him much luck with his chosen journey.