It looks like there are a ton of options out there to get physical prints of digital photos - I’m seeing super cheap high volume websites, supermarket co-branded ones that look like a throwback to the old film development days, high price boutique services aimed at fine art photographers, and indie print shops attached to exhibition spaces. Problem is, I have no idea how to even begin differentiating between them!

I’m putting together an album of photos as a gift for someone, and right now everything’s digital (either originally or from scanned negatives). I need about 200 prints, so the price differences between the various options I’m seeing add up pretty quickly - I don’t mind spending on quality, but in my experience that doesn’t necessarily correlate to price anyway.

So, what hallmarks or hidden tells should I be looking out for that’ll help me find somewhere decent? Specific recommendations would also be great if anyone has suggestions that are in/ship to the UK!

I was looking through some pictures and realized that, starting from pictures taken a few years ago, you won't be able to tell how old a picture is based only on picture quality, even though that's been the case pretty much since the invention of photography.