A personalised photo book is a fantastic way to remember all the moments that made your year great – no matter how big or small! Whether you’ve started a new hobby and want to document how far you’ve come, or you want to create a cute photo book for the kids filled with snaps of all their adventures, a photo book gives you a chance to appreciate every step of the journey. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some top tips to help you design your photo book from start to finish.
Pick your cover image
Your photo book cover will be on display in your home, so make it a good one. The cover is where your story starts, so pick a photo that sets off the theme of your book. If it’s a family album, add your favourite group shot to the cover. For a baby book, use your little one’s first photo for the front. We’ve got some creative photo book themes to help you group your images together, too, if you need some more ideas to get started.
Our top tip: play with your cover design options. Opt for a clean and simple linen cover with the year printed on it, or use a full image for the cover to make a colourful statement. The choice is yours.
Choose the order of your book
Ordering photos from an entire year can be tricky. But if you want to arrange your photo book chronologically, we’ve got some photo organisation tips to help you tidy up your files. Once your files are in order, you can arrange them in your photobook like a timeline of your year. If you don’t want to sort your photos chronologically, think about grouping them by colour or by theme. You can keep images with similar tones together or create a section of shots from any staycations or trips you’ve taken this year. You could also dedicate sections of your photo book to the people who made your year amazing. Why not keep all the photos of your parents together and then create a new section for your favourite pictures of your friends?
Have some fun with our design features
Our in–house illustrators have created hundreds of new designs over the past year to help you customise your photo books to perfection. Have a play around with clip art, backgrounds, masks and frames to make your photo book unique. All of the design features are editable, so you can make as many tweaks as you like. But remember, you don’t have to be a graphic designer to create something special with bonusprint! Our photo books are really easy to create, so get stuck in and have some fun.
Add mementoes to your photo book
Your photo book doesn’t have to just feature photos; you can add in mementoes that you collected throughout the year, too. Remember, those small moments can be the most memorable. Did you visit any museums or art galleries this year? Or maybe you have your film tickets from a romantic trip to the cinema? Easily include them by scanning your mementoes and uploading the image to the editor. Read our tips on how to scan your photos and mementoes for some extra assistance with this part (it’s easier than it sounds!).
Write an intro for each section of your photo book
A short intro to each month or each section of your photo book is a great way to summarise all your highlights and adds extra depth to your finished piece. You can write a little paragraph explaining where you went and what you got up to, and anything else that adds some extra colour to your story. If you’re not much of a writer, keep it simple. Write the date and introduce the section with a snappy list of all the events, activities or trips.
Add some quotes
Do you love inspirational quotes? Or maybe there’s a certain song that summed up your year? Add some quotes or lyrics next to your photos for a fun way to insert some more personality into your photo book.
Let your photos tell the story
It’s no secret that a picture tells a thousand words. So if you want your pictures to do the majority of the talking in your photo book, we have loads of exciting layouts to have fun experimenting with. Opt for an informal mosaic style for lots of cosy family shots, or try a single– photo page layout to show off stunning landscapes or amazing scenery.
Wrap it up
A great way to wrap up your photo book is by looking back on your 2022 in numbers. You could create a page with the number of projects you’ve completed; you’ve visited, the places you’ve been to in your neighbourhood or all the new words your little one has picked up this year.
We hope we’ve given you some ideas so you can get cracking on your photo book and celebrate your 2022 in style.
We’d love to see your photo book creations. Share them with us using #bonusprint, or give your friends some photo book inspiration ideas by clicking the icons below to share.
