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Wrap up 2024 with a year-in-review photo book

Words by MyFUJIFILM

December 23, 2024

Wrap up 2024 with a year-in-review photo book

It’s hard to believe that 2024 is almost over. It feels like only yesterday that we were out with friends, raising our glasses to 2023, and just about remembering the words to ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

In any case, 2025 is creeping closer, and what better way to celebrate the end of another year, than with a year-in-review photo book?

After a memorable New Year’s gift for a friend? A meaningful present for your parents? An elegant way to store your favourite holiday highlights? Whoever it’s for — and whatever you put in it — a year-in-review photo book is bound to make a lasting impression.

Before you begin, find your photo flow

Your photo album of the year deserves some structure. So, before you get stuck into the making bit, you need to figure out how the whole thing’s going to flow. Need inspiration for organising your snaps? Here are some ideas to get you started:

Recap those monthly memories

Putting together a book to keep? If you’ve captured photos every single month of the year, why scrimp on snaps? Pick out your best shots from each month, select one of our Premium Hardcover Photo Books, then add ‘The Annual’ theme during customisation. This option might take a bit more time than the others, but if you want to create a book you’ll always treasure, it’s well worth it.

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Split your book into seasons

Gifting a book to a friend but not got enough snaps for every month? Why not split your book into seasons? Do dedicated sections for spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and fill them with seasonal moments. Splitting the photos this way gives you more flexibility. Even with just one photo from each month, you can create a polished Mini Photo Book that your recipient will love.

Sure, some seasons might contain more snaps than others, but you control what goes in and what doesn’t, so add as many or as little as you like.

Own an instax™ instant camera? There’s no reason you can’t include film prints in your year photo book. Use the instax UP!™ app to create digital copies of your photos on your phone or use a scanner and load printed pics onto your computer.

Sort your snaps into categories

Putting together a family photo book? If you’ve got a bunch of different family snaps but can’t quite remember when you took them, sort them by category instead.

You could do sections for Sunday outings, meals together, funny moments, and more. Those candid shots of your siblings devouring a Sunday roast? That snap of your mum dancing in the kitchen? It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember what month it was. Simply pop your photos into their dedicated section and do away with dates or months. As long as you feature memories they’ll love, there aren’t really any rules.

Focus on a single theme

Something huge happen in 2024 that you (or someone else) happened to capture on camera?

Make your book about that one major thing. Maybe you and your partner moved into your first home? Perhaps you took on a massive DIY project with your best friend? Whatever your major event of the year was, make it the theme of your album.

Remember, you don’t just have to include images. You could scan in wedding invitations, tickets to memorable events, or other keepsakes that capture the story of your year.

Select one standout snap

And don’t forget to save the best till last. Have one particular photo that deserves its own dedicated page at the end? Your standout shot deserves a little extra love, so make it distinct from the rest of your images. Use our online customisation tool to add a bold background or a fun frame. It’s your most-treasured shot, so make sure it gets the spotlight it deserves.

Curating your images

Let’s be honest, these aren’t just ordinary photos. They’re ‘photos of the year’. You can’t just select any old snaps to throw in there. When picking out photos to feature, think of the bigger picture. Which moments were most meaningful to you or your recipient? How do they fit into a story of the year? Are they suitable quality for a photo book?

You also want to think about including a diverse range of snaps. If you’re creating a book for you, it can be tempting to throw in multiple similar shots because you love the composition, or you just so happened to look particularly radiant that day (we’re not judging), but make sure you make room for other pics too. Mix it up, and you’ll keep things interesting.

Personalising your year-in-review book

When it comes to the aesthetic, there are plenty of ways to add personality. If you’re buying a book for yourself, you can tailor it to your own preferences. But, if it’s for someone else, consider what would make it meaningful to them.

Buying for someone who’s all about craft? Opt for our textured Linen Photo book, then add our ‘Scrapbook 101’ theme during customisation. With a natural paper-style cover, ink blotches, and tape-like accents, our scrapbook theme is the ideal pick for anyone into craft.

Minimalism more their thing? Let the photos do the talking. Stick to simple colours, clean lines, and short captions that will make the snaps the main event. Simple themes work really well in both our Premium Hardcover and Premium Softcover Photo Books. Go for glossy paper for that final high-end finishing touch.

Get creative with the cover

Not sure what to put on the cover? Go for something sentimental or amp up the fun factor — there are plenty of possibilities. If your photo album is a present to yourself, pick out a snap that makes you smile. If it’s for a loved one, find a photo that captures the essence of their year.

Prefer to build some anticipation? We have a number of playful themes that don’t require a photo on the front. So if you want to keep your snaps a surprise, you can do that too.

Gift a year-in-review book to someone special

Gifting a book to your best friend? Perhaps you want to dedicate a book to a special sibling? To make it extra meaningful, incorporate their name on the cover, then add a short phrase, poem, or personal joke that means a lot to you both.

As a final touch, wrap your photo book in personalised photo wrapping paper, then tie with a ribbon to bring everything together.

Order in time for New Year

From big milestones to little moments, a year-in-review photo book is the perfect way to celebrate 2024 and all its memories.

Making a photo book for friends or family? Check out our delivery info to make sure you’ll receive it in time for any big occasion.

Want to gift a photo book or custom photo gift for Christmas? You have until the 18th of December to order our Easy Photo Books, Wall Art, Homeware, instax™ cameras, and other gifts. Check out our latest blogs for more last-minute gift inspiration.