The Book Stops Here (Until Fall): A Yearbooker’s Summer Survival Guide
Cue the confetti, crank up the music, and take a bow—you did it! 🎉 The yearbook is FINISHED. After months of snapping photos, chasing down quotes, and designing pages late into the night (powered by snacks and caffeine, of course), your masterpiece is printed, shipped, and already being signed by friends with hearts and inside jokes.
But now what? Is it time to pack it all away until September? Not quite!
The summer months offer the perfect window to set yourself up for an even smoother, more epic yearbook experience next year. Think of it as the cool-down stretch after a marathon—you earned the break, but a little forward thinking now will make future-you high-five past-you come fall. For some quick tips, check out the June To-Do List.
Now, here’s how to wrap up the year like a pro and get a head start on next year’s book:
1. Celebrate the Wins
Take time to reflect on what you accomplished:
Host a mini celebration with your team (ice cream, anyone?)
Highlight your favorite spreads or cover design on social media. Also, follow Picaboo Yearbooks on Facebook and Instagram for more ideas on how to celebrate the year!
Thank your contributors, staff, and especially that one person who turned in their quotes on time.
Acknowledging the hard work keeps morale high and sets a positive tone for next year.
2. Archive Like a Boss
Before your laptop ends up buried under beach towels and sunglasses:
Save and back up everything (photos, templates, notes, page designs)
Organize files in labeled folders so they’re easy to find later
Make a shared drive for next year’s team to reference past work
3. Stay in Touch
Keep the yearbook crew connected with light summer check-ins:
Share fun photos or theme ideas in a group chat
Plan a casual get-together or Zoom brainstorm
Encourage rising editors to shadow you or ask questions
A little connection now can build excitement and keep the momentum going.
🎉 One Last Thing Before You Go…
You’ve poured your heart into this year’s book- now let it shine! It’s time you celebrate what you’ve created and plant the seeds for something even better next year. Submit your yearbook to our Yearbook Hall of Fame and give your students (and yourself!) the recognition you deserve. And, don’t miss the ECS Virtual Yearbook Adviser Conference coming July 21st - 22nd. Keep up with the latest trends and techniques and be ahead of the game for next school year!
Bonus: Soak Up Summer!
Lastly, don’t forget to relax. You’ve worked hard, and some downtime is exactly what your creative brain needs to recharge. Snap photos, make memories, and enjoy the sunshine—after all, you might be featured in next year’s book too. Cheers to memories made and stories yet to tell!