A summer spread is a fun way to highlight student life beyond the classroom. Whether it’s vacations, summer camps, or simple moments at home, including these memories adds variety and color to your yearbook. These pages help tell the full story of your students’ year and bring an extra layer of personality to your book. Here’s how to create a summer spread your students will love flipping back to.
Why Include a Summer Spread?
Adding a summer spread is a great way to round out your yearbook content. It brings energy and visual interest to your book while giving students the chance to see life outside of school reflected on the pages.
A summer spread also:
- Helps fill extra pages creatively
- Increases student and family engagement
- Highlights experiences that connect your school community
- Provides an outlet for student photography and storytelling
Choosing a Theme for Your Summer Pages
Start by deciding on a theme to guide your design and content choices. A clear theme makes the spread feel intentional and cohesive.
Here are a few popular ideas:
- Beach days and poolside fun
- Family vacations and road trips
- Summer sports and outdoor activities
- Camps and learning programs
- Local events and festivals
- Everyday summer fun (bike rides, ice cream stands, fireworks, barbecues)
If your staff collects enough photos, you can even devote individual pages to different themes within the summer section.
How to Collect Photos for Your Summer Spread
The key to a great summer spread is having plenty of photo variety. The more photos you gather from different students and families, the better.
Tips for collecting photos:
- Promote a summer photo submission campaign before school ends
- Use your school’s website, social media, and newsletters to get the word out
- Set up a simple upload form with photo guidelines
- Encourage teachers, parents, and students to participate
- Run a friendly summer photo contest to boost engagement
Be sure to request high-resolution images, and give clear instructions about deadlines and required details (student name, event description, etc.).
Tips for Selecting and Organizing Photos
Once you’ve gathered your photos, focus on creating a spread that tells a story and feels visually balanced.
Look for:
- Candid shots that capture genuine moments
- Action photos from outdoor sports and activities
- Iconic summer scenes like sunsets, road trips, and fireworks
- Group photos with friends and family
- Close-up details that add texture and personality to your pages
Pro Tip: Aim to mix wide shots and close-ups to keep the layout dynamic. Use captions to give context and make the pages more personal.
Using Color and Layout to Enhance the Spread
Summer is all about bright, cheerful colors, and your spread should reflect that. But it’s important to maintain balance, so your pages don’t feel too busy.
Design tips:
- Choose a complementary color palette and apply it consistently
- Use fun graphic elements like waves, sunbursts, or polaroid frames
- Incorporate playful fonts sparingly to add personality
- Maintain plenty of white space so photos and captions stand out
- Keep your layout clean and organized to avoid overwhelming the reader
The goal is to let your photos shine while enhancing the theme and mood of the spread.
Final Proofing Before You Publish
Before sending your yearbook to print, take time to carefully review your summer spread:
- Check all captions for accuracy and spelling
- Verify student names and grade levels, if used
- Confirm photo permissions and image quality
- Have a few fresh eyes review the layout for flow and balance
With a little planning and creativity, your summer spread can be one of the most memorable parts of this year’s yearbook.
Check out our blog for more tips and ideas to help you with your yearbook!
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