The Yearbook Must-Haves

New year, new cover, new theme. Fall is an exciting time of year because we’re brimming with ideas for the new book. But we don’t want to forget the basics, those little things that are essential in every book. So, let’s dot our I’s and cross our T’s to make sure we include all the yearbook must-haves.

        Cover & spine

• Theme (cover, spine optional)
• Year (both)
• Publication name (both)
• School name (spine)
• City & state (spine)
• Volume number (spine)

Bellevue East High School, title page

Title page

• Theme
• Year
• Publication name
• Volume number
• School name
• School contact info
• Population info
• Principal/Headmaster
  
  
  

  Optional add-ons

• Website
• Social media information
• District/Conference
• School colors
  
  
  

  Opening & Closing spreads
  

• Theme
• Striking photo/s connect or reinforce theme
• Theme copy explains theme and includes moments from the year
• Tone of copy compliments theme and creates a visual/verbal connection
  
  

Little Rock Central High School, summer division

Division spreads

• Headline (could be name of section or a spinoff, connecting to theme)
• Striking photo/s connect to section
• Caption/s
• Quotes or story (optional)
• Detailed table of contents (optional)
  
  
  Captions
  

• ID all pictures
• Include first and last names, title/grade
• Use idents, short, extended captions or a mixture of all three
• ID up to five in photo; more than five identify as a group
  
  
  Photo credits
• Run near the photo or in the caption
• Use “courtesy of” for non-staff photos
  
  
  Folios
• Page number
• Spread topic
• Section
• Staffer who worked on page (optional)
• Theme graphic (optional)
• Whole book link (optional)
  
  

(Top) With their colorful theme graphic, Ridgeview Middle School included the section, topics and staffers on their folio. (Middle) Rock Canyon included a whole-book link on the left page, featuring a student quote, and the section and topic on the right. (Bottom) Suncoast High School placed their folio on a slanted colored bar, a theme visual. The left page included the section and staffers; the right page the topic and the mascot, whose photo changes as you progress through the pages, creating a flip book animation.

Index

• Students & staff
• Classes
• Clubs
• Events
• Sports

Bonus tip: Click any of the links to see more detailed coverage of the yearbook must-haves. Each post is part of The Essentials series, posts focusing on critical components of a yearbook.