How to Finally Get Your Photo Books Done

Have you preserved your favorite 2025 photos yet?

I know. Sometimes “make a photo book” or “get some scrapbook pages done” can stay on your to-do list for a while. That’s why I have 3 tips to help you finally get your photo books done.

Tip #1 Take it off your to-do list.

Yes. You read that right. I am a firm believer that preserving photos and memories does not belong on your to-do list. I outlined the reasons for that here, but in a nutshell: They’re too good for that. They’re too important and too good for you to get lumped in with stuff we have to do like pick up the dry cleaning and get to the post office.

Because spending time with photos and putting them on pages with some journaling is truly a self-care and wellness practice, it’s not in the same category as mopping a floor. So, instead of treating it like just one more thing you have to do, calendar it in like you do going for a walk or going to lunch with a friend or taking a shower. Prioritize it, and it will treat you well!

Tip #2 Don’t overcomplicate it.

First of all, live by this rule: Done is better than perfect.

In fact, done IS perfect!

The next part of not overcomplicating it is to just keep things simple. Don’t worry about the shiny objects. Keep it simple. I suggest doing this by using a pre-designed template. I also recommend using a print company that prioritizes quality. Because the last thing you need is a book that falls apart in 10 years that you just have to make again.

This simple (free) template, Echoes of the Year, can help you get it done in no time. (And, yes, you don’t have to preserve every photo you took in 2025 unless you want to–just choosing favorites is another way to make it easier.) Muted browns, greens, and gold evoke a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and timelessness. Customize your book with various photo layouts and text box options, giving you the power to create a unique and personal book.

And for quality info: Books printed by Forever use ultra-premium archival satin paper and have the best bindings in the industry for a long life (sewn up to 60 pages or PUR binding 61-99 pages). Choose a standard binding for this book or a lay-flat binding with black hinge and end papers. Size options are 8×8, 10×10, 11×8.5, and 12×12.

The free Create & Print program by Forever is intuitive and easy to use, and you can even make a book from your phone using a web browser! I made a little video tutorial showing how to do that, too:

Again, don’t overcomplicate it. Sometimes we think this has to be hard. It really, really doesn’t.

And if the Echoes of the Year template I showed you above doesn’t float your boat, there are a host of free, top-quality, professionally-designed templates here to choose from, and you can even search by category (like “travel” or “yearbook”) in the search field at the upper right.

If you’d like to design your own book so you can pretty it up like I do, there are templates and blueprints that can make it go a lot faster. You can see an example here.

Tip #3 Make the time (by yourself or with your Photo Circle).

Making time is one of the biggest keys. It’s definitely related to Tip #1, too. But I’ll add:

Don’t wait for the perfect time. Waiting just contributes to lost momentum (and overwhelm). I heard this bit of advice a year or two ago and it’s stayed with me ever since:

Isn’t that true for anything? Walking every day. Getting consistent at doing a random act of service. Learning to paint. It’s easy to say, “after the holidays…” or “during the summer…” or any number of things. Try starting a new goal when you want to, even if things are busy, instead of waiting for a better time when things “settle down,” because if you can do it when things are challenging, you can do it all the time.

Most often, it’s just a matter of setting aside some time–an hour every Saturday night or 10 minutes every morning–but since we’re 65% more likely to accomplish a goal with a friend, a Photo Circle is a great idea! A Photo Circle is just a little group of your own friends who meet together regularly (I suggest at least once a month) to work on photo books (or other photo goals).

I have a group of gals who do this, and we just love it! I also help people set up their own Photo Circles by giving some helpful information about how to get started with photo organizing and preservation, making books, etc.–and I have done this plenty of times over Zoom, too! 🙂 This is a free service I offer and it can have some amazing results, so check out that link above and then reach out at photoandstorytreasures@gmail.com and let’s help you out.

Whatever you choose–time set aside by yourself or with a group of friends–consistency will rock your world. You will not believe the difference it makes.

You can do this. You really can. You can get your photo books DONE! 🙂

And, I’d love to see pictures of them and hear about your experience here. We love celebrating our wins together.