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Top tips for creating an anniversary photo book

Words by MyFUJIFILM

February 23, 2024

Top tips for creating an anniversary photo book

From that first selfie together to snaps from momentous milestones, photos are a fantastic way to capture your lives together. And what better way to celebrate your love story than with an anniversary photo book?

Whether you’re celebrating your first or your fiftieth year as a couple, an anniversary photo book is the perfect way to reflect on your relationship. Explore the big moments and the little ones. Relive your wedding day — or that time a seagull stole your partner’s chips at the beach.

Wondering where to start? Follow our top tips to create a beautiful anniversary photo book that will surprise and delight your loved one.

Choose your photos carefully

It might seem obvious, but the key to any successful photo book is selecting the right pictures. Most photo books include between 50 and 100 photos, so you have plenty of space to fill. Being selective pays off, too though. Chances are, you have reams of images on your phone but they won’t all encapsulate your relationship. Look for the photos that showcase your and your partner’s journey together.

And that doesn’t mean you have to focus solely on the red-letter occasions, like your wedding or the birth of your child. Professional photos have their place but silly selfies or pictures of your pet can be just as meaningful. What would make your partner smile?

Don’t be afraid to mix and match photography styles and composition. Candid shots are great for capturing the little moments that make your relationship unique, while posed photos can showcase your love in a more formal setting. A good mix of close-up and wide-angle shots can help tell a more complete story while adding variety to your book’s layout.

And if you're feeling really adventurous, why not try creating a custom photo shoot specifically for the book? You could recreate some of your favourite memories together or try out a new activity that you've always wanted to do as a couple.

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Use high-quality images

While phone snaps can be great, it’s also worth thinking about the file type and quality. You may have a photo from a night out that you adore. But if it’s blurry or small, it could end up pixelated when enlarged for a photo book, detracting from the overall quality of your gift. Instead, select images that are clear, in focus, and have a high resolution.

Top photography tip: If you’re using a smartphone camera, be sure to take photos in good lighting and use the highest resolution possible. Use photo editing software to adjust the brightness, contrast, and colour of your images, to help them look their best in print.

Decide on a theme or style

For a sleek, professional finish, consider a theme for your anniversary photo book. As well as giving the book a cohesive style, it can add an extra element of personalisation. There are plenty of avenues you could explore, from straightforward colour schemes to more experimental patterns and motifs.

Celebrating 25 or 50 years together? Keep your anniversary photo book elegant and traditional with silver or gold borders. Can’t get enough of exploring the world? Showcase your adventures with a travel theme. If you’re incorporating text into your book, find a font to use throughout — whether that’s sophisticated calligraphy or a more rustic handwriting style.

If you’re not sure where to start, a chronological approach can work just as well. Start from the beginning and let the story of your relationship unfold as you turn each page. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to put an anniversary photo book together. Plus, did you know that the traditional one-year anniversary gift is ‘paper’? With a photo book, you’ve got the theme in one fell swoop.

A year in review

Are you creating a photo book with memories from the duration of your relationship? If this feels a little overwhelming, you could opt for a ‘year in review’ layout, reflecting on the past 12 months.Select a few of your favourite photos from each month and arrange them in a timeline. There could be one main image with the month as a heading, followed by a few smaller pictures.

Add a summary of the highlights from each month. You can focus on any area that feels right for you — whether that’s a significant milestone or achievement from that particular month, a day trip you took together, or a selfie on the sofa. This is also a great way to add a seasonal twist throughout your anniversary photo book.

Consider beautiful autumnal shades for September and October or add a festive border to your December pages.

Plan the layout

As mentioned, a chronological layout is an effective way to set out your anniversary photo book. However, you could also create different sections — for example, “date nights” or “days out with the kids”.

Whichever format you choose, it’s worth planning out the layout of the exact photos in advance. With professional photo book printing, you’ll get to decide how many images you have on each page. Do you want to stick with a single picture per page? Perhaps you have four rectangular pictures to set within a border. Or maybe you want to go for a more casual collage effect.

Try a few different options to see which you like best. It’s also helpful to browse the types of printed photo books on offer. Do you want a square format or rectangular? Choose from matte and gloss paper, go mini or explore premium portrait layouts.

Emphasise your favourite places

There’s no denying that we live in the age of the selfie. But if you want to include a few landscapes, it can add a real sense of place to your anniversary photo book. From the cosy little coffee shop where you had your first date to the beach where you spent a glorious week soaking up the sun, include some locations that hold memories for the both of you.

Don't be afraid to get creative with your images — take some shots of the stunning architecture or breathtaking scenery that made the place so memorable. You could also add some colourful and descriptive captions that really capture the essence of the location and why it means so much to you both. And if you've got any keepsakes or souvenirs from your travels, why not include those too?

Document your shared hobbies

Have you thought about incorporating your hobbies into your anniversary photo book? Celebrate shared pastimes in an engaging and entertaining way. If you love cooking together, for instance, you could include a favourite recipe — a photo of a handwritten note adds a personal touch.

Express gratitude for your partner

Nothing expresses romance and gratitude for your partner more than attentiveness. You could make sure to include a particular section of your anniversary photo book dedicated to your partner. Maybe it's a candid shot of them laughing at a silly joke you made, or a sweet snapshot of the two of you snuggled up together. If you’re including text, here’s your chance to add a bit of sentimentality. A poem, song lyrics or a love letter can make your photo book all the more romantic.

Choose a quality printing service: bring your vision to life with MyFUJIFILM

Make this year’s anniversary a time to reminisce about dates, milestones, and memories. Surprise your partner with a personalised photo book printed on top-quality paper.

At MyFUJIFILM, we offer a range of beautiful photo books to help you tell your story.

Choose from finishes including gloss or matt paper, soft or hard covers and a wide range of text options, page layouts and designs. Browse our collection and get started on putting your own personalised photo book together today.