Cameras and Deadlines, and Portraits - Oh My! Creating a “Day in the Life” Spread
As a school yearbook adviser, you know that one of the best ways to capture the essence of a school year is by highlighting the little moments that make it unique. One fun and engaging way to do this is by adding a “Day in the Life” spread to your school yearbook. This spread allows you to showcase the daily experiences of students, teachers, and staff throughout a typical school day. Not only does it give readers a glimpse into the routine of your school, but it also adds a personal and relatable touch to your school yearbook that will be treasured for years to come.
Here’s how you can create an engaging and meaningful "Day in the Life" spread:
Gather a Team of Student Photographers - Since this spread is all about capturing real, authentic moments, it’s important to get a range of perspectives. Organize a team of student photographers who can help document the day. If possible, assign photographers to specific sections of the day—some might capture early morning moments, others might be on hand for lunchtime chaos, and some could follow students through after-school activities.
Include a Variety of Experiences - A “Day in the Life” spread should reflect a broad cross-section of your school community. That means you’ll want to include a variety of experiences from different students, teachers, and staff. Capture moments in the classroom, but also look for moments outside of the academic sphere. Click HERE to get tips on cell phone snapshots and how to improve their quality. Also, before you start snapping, don’t forget to include:
Students in class: Capture a range of subjects and class settings, from a quiet library study session to an engaging science lab experiment.
Extracurriculars: Highlight sports teams, art classes, clubs, and student organizations.
Lunch break: This is often one of the most dynamic times of the school day, full of social interactions and different student groups coming together.
Teachers and staff: Show the hard work and dedication of the teachers and staff members who make your school unique. The school yearbook adviser is the driving force behind the scenes. Check out our Adviser Spotlights and how we celebrate their influence on the yearbook community.
Candid moments: Don’t be afraid to capture the spontaneous moments—students laughing between classes, friends walking down the hall, or the quiet focus of a study session.
Interview Students and Staff for Quotes - In addition to photos, adding quotes to the spread can help bring each moment to life. Consider interviewing students, teachers, and staff throughout the day and ask them about their favorite part of the day, their most memorable school moment, or what makes their daily routine unique.
So, How Can Social Media Help Capture “A Day in the Life” of a Yearbook Class?
Creating social media content that highlights a "Day in the Life" of your school yearbook club or yearbook class is a great way to engage your school community and generate excitement about buying the yearbook. By showing behind-the-scenes moments, you can help potential buyers feel more connected to the process and eager to purchase. However, it’s important to know what social media platforms are the right platforms when talking to your target audience. So find out what your students use and how they use it before posting. Here are some ideas for social media posts that can help you achieve an engaging post:
Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks - Share photos or short video clips showing the school yearbook staff in action, whether they're reviewing layouts, taking photos, brainstorming ideas, or editing pages. You can post these sneak peeks throughout the year, showing the progression of the book.
Example post: "Behind every yearbook is a team of dedicated students working hard to capture memories. Here’s a sneak peek at today’s brainstorming session! #YearbookInTheMaking #BehindTheScenes"
“Meet the Yearbook Team” Posts - Introduce members of the yearbook class or club through fun posts that include their roles, favorite memories, or why they love being part of the yearbook team. These can be individual posts or a series throughout the month.
Example post: "Meet Emily! She's our lead photographer and captures all the amazing moments at school events. Her favorite memory so far? ‘Photographing the big game and seeing the student section cheer us on!’ #YearbookTeam #StudentSpotlight"
Throwback Posts - Post throwback photos from previous years' yearbooks or from iconic school events. This can create a sense of nostalgia and remind students how much they value having a yearbook to look back on.
Example post: "Who remembers this epic moment from last year’s pep rally? Can’t wait to capture more memories for this year’s edition! #ThrowbackThursday #YearbookMemories"
Other ways to highlight your club or class on social media include photo challenges, time-lapse videos of the school yearbook creation process, behind-the-scenes shots of the yearbook staff in action, and much more! Don’t forget, trends come and go, so make sure you stay up to date and ask your yearbook staff what’s popular. Click HERE to learn more about how to document what’s trending and how to capture it.
By consistently posting engaging content and giving your followers a peek into the school yearbook-making process, you’ll not only generate interest but also build excitement around purchasing the final product. Plus, these posts help create a sense of community and involvement in the yearbook project, making it feel like everyone has a part in its creation.