Do You Earn Rewards on Photo Printing?

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated July 2026
The short answer: Yes, at your base rate. Photo printing services like Shutterfly, and photo counters at drugstores or big-box stores, code as photofinishing or that retailer, neither of which is a standard bonus category, so a flat-rate card earns the most. A drugstore photo counter may ride on the drugstore code instead.

How photo printing codes

An online photo service or a photo lab rings up under a photofinishing or photographic-services category code, outside the usual bonus buckets, so most cards earn their base rate on prints, photo books, canvases, and cards. This is separate from hiring a photographer, which is a service, not a print order.

Where you print changes the code

Prints ordered at a drugstore photo counter can ride on the drugstore category, which some cards reward, as covered in drugstore bonuses. Prints from a big-box store code as that retailer, and a standalone online photo service codes as photofinishing. So the same photo book can earn different rates depending on where you order it.

The best card for photo prints

Since photo printing has no dedicated bonus, a strong flat-rate card earns the most, unless you print at a drugstore on a drugstore-bonus card. The amounts are modest, so value points at a flat 1 cent and see options in best cash back cards.

Frequently asked questions

Does photo printing earn credit card rewards?
Yes, at your base rate. Photo services code as photofinishing or the retailer, neither of which is a standard bonus category, so most cards earn the base rate.
Do drugstore photo prints earn a bonus?
They can. Prints ordered at a drugstore photo counter may ride on the drugstore category code, which some cards reward at a higher rate.
What card is best for photo printing?
A strong flat-rate card, or a drugstore-bonus card if you print at a drugstore photo counter. The amounts are usually small.

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Bryce Casson

Written by Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. About the author and how we rank cards.