How to Make a Photo Book

Turning your photos into a photo book is one of the most meaningful ways to preserve your memories. Whether it’s a family vacation, a wedding, a baby’s first year, or just everyday moments that make you smile, a photo book lets you hold your memories in your hands, share them with loved ones, and revisit them anytime. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a photo book, this guide will walk you through the entire process on Shutterfly — from gathering photos to ordering your finished book — so that even if it’s your first time, you can create something beautiful and personal.

Step 1: Gather and Prepare Your Photos

Before you start building your photo book, take a little time to gather the photos you want to include. This makes the entire creation process smoother and helps you stay focused once you’re inside the editor.

You can upload photos directly from your device, or import them from supported services like Google Photos, Amazon Photos, Instagram, Facebook, and more. If your photos already live across multiple places, pull them all into one spot so they’re easy to access when it’s time to design.

As you’re gathering photos, think about:

The time period or story you’re telling (a year, a trip, a milestone, or a favorite memory)
Rough volume (most photo books work best when you know whether you’re aiming for a shorter keepsake or a fuller book)
Any photos you already know you want featured larger or on their own page

You don’t need to edit or perfect everything ahead of time, but starting with a curated set of photos helps the book feel intentional rather than overwhelming.

Step 2: Choose Your Photo Book Template

Once your photos are ready, the first real step in making a photo book is browsing design templates.

Photo book templates are pre‑designed layouts created for different themes, occasions, and storytelling styles. You’ll find options for travel, family, weddings, baby milestones, everyday life, and more. Each template includes coordinated page designs, fonts, and layouts that give your book a polished look from the beginning.

If you prefer full creative control, you can also choose to start from scratch with a clean, blank design.

At this stage, you’re not committing to photos yet—you’re choosing the visual foundation of your book. You can always adjust layouts and styles later.

Explore popular options:

Step 3: Choose Your Photo Book Size, Cover Style & Binding

After selecting a template or starting from scratch, you’ll choose the physical details of your photo book. These choices affect how your book looks, feels, and opens.

Select Your Photo Book Size

Photo books come in multiple sizes, including square, portrait, and landscape formats. Think about how your photos were taken and how you want the book to be experienced—whether it’s something you’ll flip through on a coffee table or hold in your hands.

Choose a Cover Type

Cover options include:

Hardcover for a classic, durable finish
Softcover for a lighter, magazine‑style feel
Leather for a high-quality, luxe album

Your cover design can be customized later with photos, text, and layout changes.

Pick Your Binding Style

Binding determines how the book opens and how photos appear across pages:

Standard binding opens like a traditional book
Layflat binding allows pages to open flat, perfect for full‑spread photos
Deluxe layflat binding offers an upgraded layflat experience with a premium feel

These choices set the structure of your book before you begin placing photos.

Step 4: Choose How You Want to Create Your Photo Book

Now it’s time to decide how hands‑on you want to be during the design process. This is where you’ll connect your uploaded photos to your book.

Option 1: Make It Fast

This option automatically designs your book for you. After selecting your photos, the system arranges them into layouts based on your chosen template. You can still edit everything afterward, but this is the fastest way to get a complete draft.

Option 2: Make It Manually

This option gives you full control. You place photos page by page, choose layouts, and build the book exactly the way you want. It’s ideal if you enjoy designing or want a highly personalized result.

Option 3: Make It For Me

With this free photo book designer option, a professional designer creates your photo book using your photos and selected preferences. In just 24 hours, you’ll receive a completed design that you can review and edit before ordering.

Once you choose your creation method, your photos are officially pulled into the editor.

Step 5: Customize Your Photo Book From Cover to Cover

This is the heart of the process—and where your book truly comes to life.

Design the Cover

Start with the front and back cover. You can:

Swap photos
Adjust text placement
Edit titles, dates, or names
Change layouts or background colors

Your cover sets the tone for the entire book, so take your time here.

Edit and Arrange Pages

Inside the book, you can move through pages one by one and:

Add or remove photos
Change page layouts
Rearrange photos within a layout
Add or delete pages entirely

Layouts are flexible, so you’re never locked into the original design.

Add Text and Captions

Text turns photos into a story. You can add:

Page titles
Captions
Dates, locations, or short notes

Text boxes can be resized, moved, and edited so they work naturally with your photos.

Customize Backgrounds and Embellishments

Once you’re in the editor, you can customize the look and feel of each page beyond just photos and text. Shutterfly gives you built-in design tools that let you adjust backgrounds and add finishing touches, so your book feels polished and intentional, not default.

You can:

Change background colors or patterns to match your photos or overall theme
Add embellishments and design elements, such as icons, borders, or decorative accents
Adjust spacing and alignment so everything on the page feels balanced and clean

These details are what pull the whole book together. Even small changes, like a subtle background color or a simple embellishment, can make your photo book feel more cohesive and thoughtfully designed.

Step 6: Review, Preview, and Make Final Adjustments

Before ordering, preview your photo book from beginning to end. This step helps you catch:

Typos or missing text
Cropped faces or important details
Photo order or page flow issues

You can jump back into the editor at any point to make changes.

Step 7: Place Your Order

Once you’re happy with your book, it’s time to order. Confirm your quantity, review your selections, and place your order with confidence knowing exactly how your photo book was created.

Related Resources on How to Make a Photo Book

Making a photo book isn’t about being a designer—it’s about preserving your memories in a way that lasts. By following these steps, you’re not guessing your way through the process. You’re making informed choices at every stage, from templates and bindings to layouts and finishing touches.

Now that you know how to make a photo book, you can return anytime to create new ones for life’s moments—big, small, and everything in between.

Additional Resources: