The school year is jam-packed with memorable moments, and sometimes it can be challenging to fit everything into your yearbook. However, having too much yearbook content isn’t the worst situation, as it beats scrambling for material to fill those extra pages! Nevertheless, there are times when we need to adhere to a page count or budget, which means knowing where to make cuts!
Cutting down your yearbook content doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality or losing cherished memories. If you find yourself overwhelmed with too much material and don’t know what to take out, here are some things to try:
1. Allocate Pages
Clearly allocate a certain number of pages for each department or classroom early in the yearbook design process. Doing this early on gives those teachers and staff members time to decide what content is the most important and what needs to make the yearbook. This way it’s not a last-minute scramble where you’re left guessing what to include and what to ditch!
2. Use a Simple Theme
Opt for a simple layout. Stick with a clean page background that doesn’t occupy too much space, allowing for a little extra room on each page.
3. Reduce Images
Reformatting photos is an easy way to free up some space! Will your page be worse off with fewer images, or could the photos be resized?
4. Set Word Limits
Ensure that all text is concise and to the point. Give contributors a word limit to stick to, and don’t be afraid to cut out redundant or repetitive sentences!
5. Check for Duplicate Content
Each piece of content should offer a fresh perspective in your yearbook. Have a look through all the submitted articles and photos and make sure there aren’t any double-ups across different sections of the book.
6. Review Captions & Descriptions
Captions can help provide context to your photos but also take up space! Ask yourself whether the captions are necessary or if you could make them shorter while still conveying all the necessary information.
7. Seek a Second Opinion
When you’re deeply involved in a project it can be challenging to cut content you’ve invested time in. This is where a fresh pair of eyes comes in handy! Get a second person to go over the yearbook to identify unnecessary or duplicate content.
8. Opt for Group Shots
Include team photos instead of individual portraits. This can help save space while still capturing the essence of the event or group.
9. Create a Highlights Reel Page
If you want to showcase several events but lack the space, dedicate a couple of pages to feature smaller events that occurred throughout the year.
10. Consider Digital Content
In the digital age, not everything needs to fit in your printed yearbook! If you wish to share an album of event images, or an in-depth written piece you don’t have the space for, add a QR code to the yearbook so readers can access the content online!
