Treering Blog

For sixteen years, you’ve trusted Treering to capture and print your school’s memories, and every December, we pause to reflect on what a privilege that truly is. What started as a simple idea (that yearbooks should be easier, more affordable, and more personal) has now grown into a movement powered by editors, teachers, parents, and students who care deeply about preserving their school stories.

This year, that movement reached new heights.

‍

In 2025, Treering helped schools raise $2.9 million, printed our 10 millionth yearbook, and earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies. But behind every milestone is a more meaningful truth: editors and advisers across the country continue to create smarter, stronger, more student-centered yearbooks. We’re honored to support them every step of the way.

Below is a look back at the innovations, stories, and community moments that shaped Treering’s 16th year plus a peek into what’s coming next.

‍A creative community that keeps growing (and inspiring us) 

Each year, the Treering community grows not only in size but in creativity and confidence. In 2025, our community passed 12 million members, representing schools in Australia, Canada, and the US. Behind every login is someone with a vision: the first-year adviser walking into a new school year, the senior editor rallying a team of ninth graders, the parent volunteer learning design terms for the very first time.

Helping schools raise a remarkable $2.9 million

Fundraising continues to be one of the biggest stress points for schools, and Treering schools love receiving a yearbook check instead of a yearbook bill. By choosing their fundraising amount and adding it to the total cost of the book, schools raised $2.9 million in 2025.

Instead of paying a yearbook invoice, schools are putting real dollars back into their budgets, funding what matters most: field trips, clubs, student journalism programs, arts initiatives, athletic equipment, spirit events, classroom resources, and yearbooks for students in need.

A major milestone: Treering’s 10 millionth book

Some milestones call for a moment of awe — and this was one of them.

This winter, we printed Treering’s 10 millionth yearbook. That number represents millions of stories, academic achievements, halftime huddles, first days of school, senior dedications, hallway friendships, and portraits of students who will one day show the book to their own kids.

For us, it also represents innovation: we’re one of the only companies able to produce fully custom books, with custom pages for every student, in under three weeks. When every book is uniquely theirs, yearbooks celebrate students in a way that is meaningful for them.

How we supported editors this year

If we had to choose a theme for 2025, it would be editor empowerment. Every enhancement we built this year was designed to support the people who power the book, especially advisers and student editors who juggle deadlines, clubs, homework, coverage gaps, and the joyful yet chaotic reality of school life.

Your feedback, questions, wish lists, and creativity drive every improvement we make.

‍1. Faster, smoother, more confident onboarding

This year, we expanded the Treering onboarding experience. Whether you were learning the platform for the first time or returning after a few years away, Welcome Walkthrough calls with the Community Advocate Team and communications from L1FT helped create a clear roadmap for setting up the book, customizing pages, inviting editors, collecting photos, and aligning your timeline.

Many schools reported that this shifted their entire experience, turning what once felt intimidating into a confident first step.

2. A bigger, better year of contests

We heard your requests for contests that spotlight page design talent and also inspire creativity during key moments of the production cycle.

This year, Treering contests included:

• Inaugural cover contest
• Instagram photo contests
• Parent and editor design contests
• Seasonal challenges that aligned with design checkpoints via pop-up giveaways on Instagram and Facebook

3. Camp Yearbook: our annual two-day summer conference

Camp Yearbook launched in 2024 as a way to help advisers and editors start strong before school even started. Schools joined us for two days of themed workshops, live design sessions, team-building exercises, and planning challenges.

It quickly became one of our highest-rated programs of the year, and many schools left with their theme locked, their ladder built, and their editors trained before the first bell rang.

‍

4. Updated yearbook curriculum

A team of former classroom teacher-slash-yearbook advisers and a group of current yearbook advisers completed a complete overhaul of Treering’s free yearbook curriculum. The updated curriculum is now grab-and-go. Instead of long, one-size-fits-all sessions that advisers have to divide and support, lessons are now broken into focused segments that can be taught in short class periods, advisory blocks, club meetings, or asynchronous settings.

Each module now includes five lessons with

• A clear objective based on Common Core and/or CTE Career Ready standards
• Bite-sized instruction that fits real bell schedules
• Bell ringers, student-facing slides, activities, and exit tickets
• Practical examples pulled directly from real Treering schools’ books
• Action steps students can apply immediately to their pages

This structure made it easier for advisers to meet students where they are, whether they’re first-time editors learning the basics or experienced leaders ready to push design and storytelling further.

5. More real-life examples shown across our socials

Editors asked for clearer examples of real pages created by real schools. This year, we overhauled our social strategy to prioritize:

• Regular showcases of elementary, middle, and high school spreads and cover ideas
• Behind-the-scenes process videos
• How to use Treering’s complete themes
• “Fix this spread” mini-tutorials on TikTok
• Real portraits and coverage examples to inspire editors
• Creating a private Facebook group for advisers to support and inspire one another

This shift helped new advisers see what’s possible. It also helped experienced teams level up their work.

‍Looking ahead: what to expect in 2026

As we enter year seventeen, we’re more committed than ever to supporting editors with tools, training, and community spaces that make yearbook creation easier:

Superior support as you design, market, and distribute your best yearbook yet

• Clear how-to guides for marketing your book
• Expanded training calendars
• New resources for student leadership teams and editing workflows

Yearbook Club workshops

Our virtual Yearbook Club is expanding to twice-monthly sessions, including:

• Design labs
• Editor leadership coaching
• Photo submission strategies
• Theme development deep dives
• Marketing walkthroughs
• Distribution planning in real time

Print ready to delivery: still three weeks or less

We remain committed to fast, predictable, high-quality printing. 

Templates editors have asked for

Yearbook advisers met with the design team for three focus groups to evaluate this year’s crop of themes and predict design trends for 25-26. Based on early feedback, to support schools that want clean, easy, plug-and-go options, we are releasing ten theme packages in fall.

Treering theme packages will continue to be complete, coordinated yearbook design systems with a customizable cover, matching interior layouts, 100+ coordinating graphics, and a curated color palette. They’re designed to make yearbooking easier and faster.

Thank you for an amazing year

Thank you for another year of creativity, passion, and partnership. Whether you built your first book this year or your eleventh, whether you’re a student editor, a parent volunteer, a journalism adviser, or a school leader, your work matters, and we’re honored to support it.

Sixteen years in, and every new year feels like the most meaningful one yet. The number of books we’ve printed, the awards we’ve received, the millions raised matter. What matters most is the trust you place in us to help you preserve the moments that shape your school communities.

We wish you joy, rest, and inspiration this holiday season. We cannot wait to create with you in 2026.

‍

Parents, your 2025 memories deserve the spotlight! Share your funniest, proudest, or sweetest moment and tag @TreeringCorp and use #Treering2025Memories for a chance to win something for you.

Three winners will take home a one spa day, treat box, or a week of coffee on us. Your memory might be featured on our page!

Eligibility

• U.S. parents or legal guardians, 18+
• No purchase necessary

Treering Memories contest entry period

• Starts Monday, December 15, 2025, at 8:00 AM PT
• Ends Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM PT

Steps to enter

1. Follow @TreeringCorp on Instagram
2. Share a funny, proud, or sweet memory from 2025 on your Feed or Story (must be a public profile to be visible)
3. Tag @TreeringCorp
4. Use #Treering2025Memories

Winner selection and notification

Treering's social team will select the winners based on creativity and originality. Winners will be announced on Instagram during contest week.

Prizes

Three winners total will receive one of the following:

• Spa / self-care gift card
• Delivered treat box
• Coffee for the week

Release

By sharing your photo, you have verified the approval of the original photographer and anyone pictured, and you approve Treering to use your name, write-up, and school name for any marketing purposes, including but not limited to treering.com, social media, and mass media.

Additional information

• Content must be appropriate for all audiences

Contest not sponsored by Instagram

One of the top questions we see in yearbook adviser and yearbook coordinator Facebook groups involves yearbook gear such as cameras and organizational supplies. Using a combination of funds from budget money, yearbook fundraiser proceeds, or a grant, you can build a media room that achieves your goals.

This list is not meant to be comprehensive, rather a smattering of options. Tailor your shopping list to match your program’s goals as well as your population. Do you really want your elementary yearbook club students passing around a $2000 camera? Conversely, should your competitive high school team aim for a Pacemaker with just point and shoot cameras?

Cameras

Camera bodies

The camera body, or box, is where half the magic happens: the shutter release, mirror, viewfinder, and controls live on the box on a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera; see mirrorless camera below if your head is going to explode. Your yearbook photographers will control the settings here.

Purchasing a camera kit from a big box store or online may seem like a great deal. The lenses that accompany those kits usually aren’t “fast” enough to take photographs in the gym or an auditorium when the light tends to be tricky.

A used camera kit from a resale website is always an option for schools looking to buy yearbook equipment with limited funds. Save the money for a fabulous lens that will help you get the sharp images you want. Most bodies built in the last 5-10 years will have the ISO, autofocus, and shutter speed capabilities you need, even for those frustrating low-light gym photographs.

Some great beginning boxes are:

• Canon Rebel
• Nikon D3500

Mirrorless cameras

Being lighter, and a potentially less expensive investment, mirrorless cameras are slowly replacing some DSLRs in yearbook classrooms. Mirrorless cameras will help emerging photographers because there isn’t as much gear to tote and they can look less intimidating.

Highly recommended mirrorless cameras:

• Canon R6
• Nikon Z6

Lenses

In many cases, investing in a lens aka glass will be more critical than a body. If all your school’s sports are outside, then the lenses that come in your kit will be perfect. If you photograph volleyball and basketball in a gym or musicals in a dark auditorium, then you are going to want a lens that can use the full ISO, aperture, and shutter speed range of your box. When buying any lens, make sure it marries your box. There are some off-brand lens brands such as Sigma and Tokina that are less expensive than their Canon and Nikon counterparts.

Two lenses to have

• 35-70mm f/2.8
• 50mm f/1.8 (more on the nifty fifty below)

Nifty fifty

If you add anything to your cart this year, make it a 50mm lens. The depth of field and low-light capabilities you have are what the young people deem clut

Lens cleaning essentials

Each camera bag in your yearbook program should contain a camel hair cleaning brush.

Pro tip: A pencil eraser is a great tool to keep in each camera bag to clean the battery connectors.

Photography essentials

Lens filter

These aren’t the photo-destroying filters your social apps provide, but screw-on glass filters for camera lenses. Use this circular filter for cutting glare and reducing light specifically with outdoor photos. Before setting out on a yearbook assignment with a polarized filter, take some time to play with it. Because it increases color saturation and cuts bright spots, it takes some time to learn.

Reflector

Reflectors, next to the nifty fifty, are one of the best, inexpensive photography items your yearbook program can use. They help you control light for outside portraits (think of fun ways you can take those pull quote pics up a notch) and also maximize limited lighting when doing studio shoots. A fun, and less traditional way to use a reflector is as a background.

Ring light

With mini ring lights being a cell phone staple in the early stages of influencers, pros have used the big ones for years. Ring lights surround your subject and eliminate most shadows over which three-point lighting enthusiasts geek out. (If you play around with your ring light and reflector, you can simulate the three-point look!) They make eyes pop. 

The best ring lights are at least 18”, and they come with both warm and cool light settings as well as a dimmer. Some tripods also have cell phone and tablet holders in addition to the traditional quick-release plate.

Studio kit

Studio kits look impressive, but are they essential yearbook gear? Here’s how we’ve seen Treering advisers use studio kits:

1. Class favorites, superlatives, or standouts
2. Photo illustrations
3. Pull quote portraits
4. Retakes when your pro photographer won’t come back for a third (or fourth) shoot
5. Setting up a photo booth at dances and school-wide events for a fundraiser

Many of the kits you can buy pre-packaged online will suffice for your yearbook program. Soft boxes vs. flashes are something to consider when looking at the rest of your gear.

Memory cards and card readers

Memory cards are temporary storage. They are temporary storage. Memory cards are not permanent storage. Phew! PSA over.

WiFi SD cards are game changers for busy yearbook staffs: they transfer files from your camera to the predetermined storage space without cables and card readers. Some cards even have an app so you can review photos on the spot. These make for effective teaching moments.

If you don’t have the budget or tech capacity, for something like wifi cards, it is nevertheless imperative to buy at least two memory cards per camera bag. Make sure you have a card reader in each bag as well as a card reader on each computer in the yearbook or media room.

Additional Yearbook Gear

• Rain Sleeves: keep your camera dry during outdoor events, such as soccer matches, in inclement weather
• Cell Phone Lenses: clip-on lenses run less than $30 and can add wide-angle, omnidirectional (aka 360), or fish eye capability to most smartphones. We love these for fun runs, homecoming rallies, and school carnivals.

Yearbook/media room

Yearbook gear is not limited to photography equipment. In fact, providing environmental tools is as essential as camera gear.

Cubbies and mailboxes

Magazine holders from the dollar store or cast-offs from the front office make great boxes for your students. Use them to send out important communications, such as emails from teachers regarding upcoming classroom events or new SD cards. Students can also use them for gift exchanges, camera check out, and peer edits.

Notepads

Doodling, brainstorming, and note-taking on paper are healthy parts of the creative process. In the early planning days, practice both digital and paper-based workflows so your team can decide which works best for them.

Mini fridge and snack subscription

An exclusive yearbook fridge in the corner of your classroom becomes a perk of the position. Waters, juices, and the occasional box of popsicles serve dual purposes: appreciation and fuel. Involve parents in keeping it stocked: at back-to-school night, start a signup sheet for yearbook parents to supply your students with snacks each month. Parents may even opt to share the cost of a snack subscription service.

Coffee maker

This is as much for you, Yearbook Adviser, as it is for your team. (And if you’re getting exasperated with us for suggesting you give children coffee, remember, cocoa pods and tea pods exist as well.) The point is to create a warm, hospitable environment for the hardest working people on campus.

Bulletin boards

This is where you brag on your students by sharing a photo of the week and any awards they may have earned. Pin thank you cards and any positive emails you receive regarding the yearbook for all to see.

You planned your year and recruited your team. Roles are set. Parents and teachers are submitting photos. And then, an unreliable volunteer sets back your yearbook exponentially. Take heart: you’re not the first yearbook adviser to experience this!

Volunteer unreliability factor 3/10 - deer in the headlights

Ready, set… nothing. Whether fear of failure or a general spirit of uncertainty are acting as hindrances, it’s time to step in as a coach. Let’s face it, many of our parent volunteers are publishing and journalism amateurs. Take some time with the new recruits to show not tell: design a layout together, photograph an event together, get students' quotes together. Build confidence! Consistent communication, including genuine appreciation, inspires unity and helps volunteer yearbook staffers push on towards your goal.

Volunteer unreliability factor 7/10 - oops… (s)he did it again

Early detection, while uncomfortable, can eliminate problems later on. The first time someone is a no-show, address it (kindly). 

When you do get that face-to-face moment, maintain your professionalism:

• Communicate with specifics: instead of “You’re always unreliable,” try “You volunteered to take Fun Run photos and did not have a backup in place when you were a no-show. What is your plan to get pictures?”
• Keep it focused: the conversation should center around yearbook responsibilities and not on personal issues. You’re not meeting to be a relationship counselor, life coach, or even a friend. You’re a project manager looking to complete a job.
• Be proactive: document what will happen next. If your yearbook co-chair wants to remain in the role, write out what it will look like with clear expectations and deadlines. Also include an “out” clause if your volunteer continues to be unreliable.

A word of caution: it’s easy to fire off a text or email, and like we tell our children, easy isn’t always best. As we know, much of communication is non-verbal, so a face-to-face session allows you (and your volunteer) to assess body language and tone.

Volunteer unreliability factor 10/10 - the worst-case scenario

What do you do when a volunteer up and quits in the middle of your yearbook and is unreachable, unresponsive, and, frankly, unrepentant?

1. Plan for human error and phone a friend
   Within your yearbook staff, build in a group of utility players; this may be a working mom who cannot help at every event or a school secretary that does too much already. Have a few friends you can call to help with one-off tasks. The leader of your parent org may have a list of volunteers to plug in.
2. Promote from within
   Your next yearbook co-chair may just be on your staff already. Once you’ve communicated the need—again using specific, job-focused language—the team may have a solution! (You recruited the best for a reason!)
3. Flip your lid
   Not really. It was just fun to write.
4. Remember your purpose
   As cliche as it is, remember the kids. It’s the students who will open the yearbook you helped create, pour over its pages, and never once reminisce on the unreliable volunteer who temporarily thwarted progress. Why? Because you're a project manager who completed the job.

In honor of the season of giving, Treering will match up to thirty yearbook donations per school account. From Tuesday, December 2, 2025 through Tuesday, December 31, 2025,  one community book donation equals one Treering book donation. Editors can re-assign these books to teachers, promoting students, the principal, or students in need.

How the donation match works

1. Enable the Book Donation option on the dashboard
2. Let your campus community know 'tis the season to share the (yearbook) love
3. Re-assign the yearbooks so recipients can customize or order non-custom books to hand out

This promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2025. Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2026.

The Fine Print

• Maximum of 30 donated books will be matched per Treering school
• Promotion ends at 11:59 pm PST on December 31, 2025
• Matched yearbooks will automatically be added to your account by January 30, 2026
• Donations may not be combined with any other promotions
• Donated yearbooks cannot exist on ship-to-home, invoiced, or PO orders; credit card or PayPal orders only
• Ordering donation books will not be available for After Deadline Orders

‍

The inverted pyramid is the go-to launch point for budding journalists. (Anyone else hear a journalism teacher’s voice: “Don’t bury the lede!”) For these emerging writers, filling each level equates to squeezing the five Ws into its ranks. This could lead to repetitive or restricted writing. The “easy” fix: asking better questions. 

Integrating the five common topics with the inverted pyramid structure helps students create engaging yearbook copy because it models inquiry. They move beyond “What was your favorite…?” They create questions with analytical depth. They craft stories worth reading.

What are the five common topics?

How would the ancient Greek and Roman orators write a yearbook story? (That might as well be under “Adviser questions I’ll never ask for 1000, Alex.”) The five common topics are definition, comparison, relationship, circumstance, and testimony. The early scholars used this method of inquiry to discuss, persuade, and analyze. Developing yearbook interview questions based on the five common topics can be a structured way to gather information and insights.

Definition

The five Ws fall here: the topic of definition breaks down your subject into key components. What it is and who does it. Where it takes place. Why it’s important. When it occurs. 

What is a clear definition of [the subject]? 

This is extremely helpful for students when they craft copy on an unfamiliar topic. For example, most people use “bump, set, spike” somewhere on a volleyball spread. We don’t bump. We pass.

How would you characterize the key features that distinguish [the subject] from other similar concepts? 

Each game, dance, movie night, and fun run is unique. So are labs, presentations, debates, and study sessions. Find out what sets this event or activity apart. By defining what it is holistically, you are also defining what it is not: just another day. (Remember, there is a reason for this story beyond an opening in your page template.)

What are the essential elements that makeup [the subject]? 

Sports and arts copy can always be improved by understanding the technique. Start with your photos and ask the stakeholders to explain what they are doing step by step. Define tools, from cleat spikes to microscopes, and their use.

Back to our volleyball example: She’s aligning her feet to the setter and positioning her body so her belly button is behind the ball. Straight arms and little-to-no movement are key for her to give a high pass the setter can push to the outside hitters or run a quick hit from the middle. She starts each practice by passing 50 free balls as an offense-defense transition drill. 

No bumping is involved.

Comparison

The next step is to expand upon the basics by drawing parallels or highlighting differences. Using analogies, journalism students can make complex ideas understandable. Sometimes, it helps to take the opposite approach and point out key differences.

In what ways is [the subject] similar to [another relevant entity], and how are they different?

Familiarity is comfortable. By relating new topics to known ones, you can ease your reader in. 

Are there instances where lessons from [a related concept] can be applied to [the subject]?

Again, even though chemistry class repeats the gummy bear lab annually, it is not the same year after year. The same can be said about an AP class preparing their art portfolios or a Link Crew orientation. 

Using the topic of comparison, student reporters have a reason to cover recurring events–they are digging into the differences.

How does the comparison to [another relevant entity] enhance our understanding of [the subject]?

Keyword: enhance. Comparison is valuable if it adds value. And before you flinch at the intended redundancy, remember new writers need to evaluate their notes as part of their process. Listing related and opposing concepts will also strengthen the topic of definition. 

Relationship and Circumstance (This is a Twofer)

I’m combining topics three and four. Event sequences, cause-and-effect relationships, and the outcome of the event all have a place at the proverbial table. Understanding circumstance helps in tailoring yearbook copy to be more relevant and effective because we use it to examine the context of each story. It’s the here and now.   These details help readers understand why the event is significant at this moment.

What current events or trends are influencing [the subject]?

More than the water bottle du jour, the timeliness of a yearbook story gives its place in your school’s historical record. You give campus events context by relating them to the community or even the world.

Are there specific challenges or opportunities related to [the subject] that are particularly relevant now?

In the example above, a student gave a speech. This is a daily occurrence around the globe. The author used the subject’s reported challenges and testimony (spoiler alert: that’s topic #5) to illustrate what led to the moment.

Chances are, this story wouldn’t have been printed in your mom’s yearbook. The circumstance was different.

Can you identify any cause-and-effect relationships associated with [the subject]?

Part of contextualizing your yearbook stories is adding what resulted from the story. Did the fundraiser set a new record? Athlete return for her final game of the season? AP Language class win the literary food festival? Wrap up your story.

Testimony

“Give me a quote for the yearbook.” Next to definition, testimony is the most commonly used of the five common topics. It’s the human element. Including testimonies from different sources helps balance the story, gives authority to student writing, and showcases varied perspectives. 

While it’s the fifth topic, when students write, they should incorporate the questions below.  

What diverse perspectives contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of [the subject]?

Scores, stats, fundraising figures, and meaningful quotes enhance credibility and give voice to yearbook copy. 

How do you navigate conflicting testimony or opinions from authoritative sources regarding [the subject]?

The short answer: ask more questions. How do you find out what is true and who do you ask? (This could be more common with sporting events over bio labs.)

Example structure for the inverted pyramid and five common topics

Let’s start with this photograph of four students on the green. 

To come up with the copy, students identified:

• Names of students and their grades
• Location of photo
• What is going on
• Background on Xilam
• What aspect of Xilam is shown in the image
• Relationships between Mexican martial arts and Spanish for native speakers class
• How many languages–and which ones–are spoken on campus

This structure delivers both the essential information layered with insights. It moves beyond a listing of the 5Ws because it begins with inquiry.

It's no secret to seasoned advisers that yearbook class is one of the most accurate career-preparation courses available to students. The yearbook-building process meets all of the national Career-Ready Practices. We’ll go through each below with practical application ideas for yearbook classes.

1. Act as a responsible and contributing citizen and employee.

How to do it: teach project management skills by having students pre-plan their weeks. 

Weekly goal-setting and check-ins maintain a culture of accountability while building executive functioning skills. First, project your ladder and page assignments. Then, reverse engineer some major milestones. From there, students can set a goal, calendar important dates, and pre-plan how they will meet their deadlines. Do this corporately so each student can see his/her contribution.

2. Apply appropriate academic and technical skills.

How to do it: equip your students with tools and training for their age, ability, and your yearbook mission. 

Keep in mind, a first-year yearbie/yerd/yearbook student should have a different skill set than a third-year one! Returning staffers are excellent resources to teach skills, especially those on your editorial board.

3. Attend to personal health and financial well-being.

How to do it: schedule in the fun!

Because you corporately planned the year, you already know when the pinch points are going to be. Plan a few fun days before and after to help students relieve stress, and show them the importance of balance.

Also, be transparent about finances. Your yearbook students should know how much it costs to produce their yearbook. Likewise, they should know financial goals (book and ad sales) and celebrate their achievement.

4. Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason.

How to do it: begin the year with a plan.

All the work you do from a syllabus to the page ladder and assignment provides the overarching structure. Bi-weekly editorial meetings and all staff meetings should include check-ins, deadline assessment, and teaching moments to provide accountability and hone these skills:

• Model how to email teachers and coaches by providing templates or examples of wording.
• Practice interviewing.
• Show, rather than tell, how to enter a class to pull a student for a quote or photo opportunity.
• Set expectations and boundaries for yourself and your team.

5. Consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of decisions.

How to do it: create worthwhile partnerships.

These are Treering’s core values. From sustainably sourced printing materials to partnering with charities, the environmental and socio-economic impact of a yearbook transforms lives. Additionally, ethical reporting and creating an inclusive yearbook are hallmarks of positive social impact.

6. Demonstrate creativity and innovation.

How to do it: make a yearbook.

(We’re just going to leave this one here.)

7. Employ valid and reliable research strategies.

How to do it: make before, during, and after your journalistic mantra.

What we see in many yearbooks are photographs of the actual events, and we miss ASB creating poster after poster for spirit week, Mr. Watts cleaning up until 2 AM, the baseball team volunteering to haul hay bales, etc.

Ask your team:

• What preparation goes into [the event]?
• Who is involved?
• What is the impact of [the event]?
• How can we capture this?

At the interview, ask:

• What don’t people know about [the event]?
• How do you prepare for [the event]?
• How much time do you invest?
• What happened after [the event]?

Also, coverage doesn’t have to follow the traditional photo/caption format. Create infographics and polls, show game statistics and team scoreboards, and use quotes from differing perspectives to tell the story of your year.

8. Model integrity, ethical leadership and effective management.

How to do it: the old adage It starts at the top applies here. 

Module 2 of Treering’s free curriculum will help you unify your team and build trust.

9. Plan education and career path aligned to personal goals.

How to do it: toot your team’s proverbial horn.

Using the yearbook job descriptions in Treering’s curriculum guide, work with your team to create resumes, detailing their job experience in yearbook class. While many think, “I put pictures on paper,” they don’t see things like: 

• Scheduled photographers for event coverage
• Experienced in copy editing, reporting, and layout design
• Promoted publication on social media, in print advertising, and at community events
• Worked within deadlines to maintain $20,000 budget

It’s our job, advisers, to show them their impact! Then show their parents. Then show your administration.

10. Use technology to enhance productivity.

How to do it: post and track your goals.

Your yearbook software plus a digital planning tool such as a Gantt Chart in Google Sheets or a Trello board will keep you on track. 

11. Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

How to do it: make a yearbook, part 2.

What do you do when a photographer does not show up for a game? How do you handle an event being canceled or rescheduled? What do you do when someone accidentally reformats a card prior to photos being uploaded? The yearbook creation process is all about pivoting. Build in contingencies by creating evergreen content or interactive pages that compliment your theme. (Here is a list to get you started!)

12. Work productively in teams while using cultural/global competence.

How to do it: facilitate a collaborative working environment.  

In-class collaboration:

• Peer review (here are some editing tools)
• Students teach other students a skill
• Plan your distribution event

Out-of-class collaboration:

• Connect with your school photographer to receive portraits on time
• Schedule club and team photos with leaders
• Crowdsource event photos from classmates
• Interview students
• Schedule in-class photo ops of academic coverage

We also have an alignment matrix, outlining how the Treering curriculum meets both CTE standards for eight pathways and these Career Readiness Practices and makes your yearbook class the ultimate career preparation course.

Raise your hand if you've made a mistake in the yearbook. Yup. The editing process for our small (read: five members) yearbook team transformed when we goofed up the spring sports section. Who noticed page numbers missing from the softball page? Softball players. Do you know who didn’t notice? Everyone else on campus. Regardless, that was the proverbial wake-up call this adviser needed to create a spread checklist to accompany the editing process. The flexible framework and quality assurance that came with its implementation simplified spread creation and elevated the theme elements.

List of things to include

If your goal is cohesive design and layout, include a copy of your style guide in your checklist.

Yearbook style guide ideas

• Font size and weight: heading, subheading, caption, body copy, portraits, rosters, pull quotes, group photos, folio/page numbers
• Text alignment rules
• Color palette
• Theme graphics: size, use case
• Photographs: borders, size, shape, alignment, spacing, rules on hand gestures and photobombs
• Banned words: favorite, family, this year, come together (these aren’t industry standard, rather my list of campus-specific cliches I’d rather not see again)

Pro tip: Set up photo and text styles in your yearbook editing program.

When do you need a yearbook spread checklist?

The quick answer: any time a spread is in progress.

Yearbook checklists provide a foundation, ensuring that students cover all essential elements of a spread—from images and captions to layout and design. There are no surprises. The checklist can alleviate surprises and questions such as, "What size are headlines again?"

At a minimum, spread checklists should accompany PDF proofs because we all do our best proofing after the book goes to print. 

Using yearbook checklists in peer editing

The checklist becomes an educational resource in itself. It is a tool for quality control, enabling students to cross-check their work against established criteria. This fosters a culture of accountability and attention to detail.

As students engage with it, they absorb design principles and begin to internalize design standards as they learn what works aesthetically. This learning opportunity extends beyond the checklist and contributes to the overall growth of emerging designers. (According to the folks at Cornell, peer editing increases student output.)

A checklist is not a rubric

In the educational realm, checklists and rubrics are like the Rocket Raccoon and Groot of assessment. Think of a checklist as your friendly to-do list; it's straightforward and lists criteria that need to be met. Using the cycle above, it’s a coaching tool that moves yearbook spread designers from blank page (scary) to complete and tells the story of the year (goal). On the flip side, rubrics break down criteria into levels, providing a nuanced understanding of performance.

In yearbook class, the spread checklist emerges as a non-negotiable tool for success. From providing structural guidance to serving as a quality control mechanism, its benefits extend to both students and advisers. For new advisers, it acts as a compass, while returning advisers find it a means to ensure consistency and embrace innovation.

By improving the composition and lighting of your photos, you’ll be able to use any device with confidence. While drool-worthy mirrorless cameras are all the rage and DSLRs “look the part,” cellphones, tablets, and point-and-shoots can also produce great photos. The key is your perspective and awareness of the action.

Composition basics

Composition creates compelling photos. When composing a shot, think about elements like background, framing, balance, leading lines, depth of field, and viewpoint. Even at sporting events or the school musical—when you’re limited on where you can stand—take some time to go through this list in your head to intentionally get the strongest photos. 

In the digital age (did you read that in my grandma voice?), just clicking away and hoping for a usable image can be a waste of time. Being intentional for five to ten moments will help you anticipate action and yield more authentic images.

Background

If it’s not drawing the eye to your subject, you might want to get rid of it. Take time to assess what is behind your subject:

• If possible, remove distractions like garbage cans, signs, or other people
• At sporting events, stand on the opponent’s side so you get your fans’ reactions
• Position a photographer backstage or in the sound booth to capture behind-the-scenes action

Simple camera fixes such as adjusting the aperture (see “Depth of Field” below) or environmental ones (see “Leading Lines”) can help improve your photos’ backgrounds.

If it’s not drawing the eye to your subject, you might want to get rid of it. Take time to assess what is behind your subject:

Simple camera fixes such as adjusting the aperture (see “Depth of Field” below) or environmental ones (see “Leading Lines”) can help improve your photos’ backgrounds.

Framing

Your photos should focus on key interactions. For example, a tight frame on a student meeting their teacher on the first day of school captures a meaningful moment. 

Alternatively, a wider frame might show the atmosphere of an event. Consider how close you want to be and what details you want in the shot.

If the event and space allow, move around to add diversity to how you frame your subjects. My yearbook adviser used to say, “Zoom with your feet.” It’s the second-best piece of photo advice I’ve received. (Lighting takes first billing for those of you playing along at home.)

Balance

While symmetry works well in group shots, you might also want asymmetry to draw the eye to a specific part of the frame. Think about how elements are weighted in the frame to achieve the mood you want. 

In the example above, the laptop is what holds us captive.

Leading lines

Use natural lines—like desks, edges of buildings, or stripes on the school bus—to draw the viewer’s eye towards the subject. 

Depth of field

This can be easily achieved with portrait settings on phones and cameras. Blurring the background adds drama and focuses attention on the subject. Whether you're using a DSLR or a smartphone, depth of field, or aperture, can elevate your images.

Viewpoint

Experiment with angles. Try taking shots from above, below, or behind to add variety and interest. Different perspectives help tell the story more creatively and capture aspects that a straight-on shot might miss.
‍

Teaching yearbook: 5 photography mini lessons

Improving yearbooking skill sets is an ongoing process, and we sometimes forgo instructional time as deadline season creeps in.

These five lessons will help improve composition.

Lighting essentials

To say lighting is crucial is an understatement. In photography, too much or too little light can impact the photo’s quality. Be aware of your main light source. If you’re at an event, take a moment to assess from where the best light is coming. 

Tips for indoor photography

Windows can be problematic if they are behind your subject. Unless you are aiming for a silhouette, keep them to your side. 

If the lighting isn’t ideal, adjust. Sometimes, just asking students to move to a better-lit area can make a big difference. They’re usually happy to accommodate. For example, if you are photographing a dance, set up an area to take group photos with good lighting.

Using flash can also help in tricky lighting. For instance, in a situation with backlighting (like a window behind your subject), a fill flash will illuminate the subject and balance the exposure. In low-light conditions, adjusting your camera’s ISO or shutter speed with the help of a tripod can also help capture the shot without losing detail.

Outdoor photography considerations

Outside, natural sunlight is ideal, and just like inside, positioning is important. Move so the sun is off to the side or behind your subject to reduce harsh shadows and prevent squinting. Most professional photographers avoid outdoor photoshoots when the sun is overhead for this reason. (Basically, when the fun run is happening.)

We recommend using a tripod and angling yourself so the sun is at your subject's side.

Remember that a good photographer’s eye matters more than fancy equipment. Whether using a DSLR or a smartphone, focus on framing, lighting, and timing to compose meaningful moments.

This blog is adapted from Sandra Violette's Photography session from TRL 24 POV: I’m on the Yearbook Team. Violette, a professional photographer and PTO mom, serves on the Onboarding and Engagement Team at Treering Yearbooks.

People often ask about the process behind creating yearbook themes—how we come up with ideas, what inspires the designs, and what steps go into making them both creative and versatile. To help answer those questions, I’ve gathered the most common ones I hear, along with insights into how we approach theme development.

– Allison Vecchio, Design Director

– Ashlyn Wong, Associate Graphic Designer

Q: What’s the first step you take when creating a theme for a yearbook?

Allison: The very first step is listening. We start with focus groups, inviting editors and advisers to react to early design inspiration and share what excites them. That feedback becomes ourcompass—it points us toward where to explore next. From there, the design team dives into inspiration.

Q: Where do you look for inspiration?

Allison: Inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere—online platforms like Pinterest and Designspiration, opening credits in films and series, the type treatments on city signage, or the latest work from leading agencies like Pentagram. We also keep a close eye on current graphic design trends. Those pieces come together in a mood board, much like a collection of magazine tears, so we can see the direction starting to take shape. We cast a wide net at first, then refine and narrow down as we go.

One of the biggest themes actually came directly from our users during a focus group. The Gallery theme idea originated in a focus group session where a few customers described looking through a yearbook as feeling like walking through a gallery.

And, the idea for Gallery was born!

My most recent spark came during a trip to Madrid, where I visited the Museo del Prado, and the Museo Reina Sofía. My creative mind expanded tenfold viewing works by the old masters whom I studied years ago, such as Caravaggio, El Greco, Fra Angelico, and Heironymus Bosch.

Q: How do you decide what to design?  

‍Allison: Our process is customer-focused and data-driven. After running focus groups, we analyze the usage data in our application to see which themes are trending across schools. We combine that with customer feedback to understand why something resonates. Once we have that insight, the design team begins exploring themes that can work across different grade levels and schools.

Many questions come into play when we think about what to design. Does the theme make sense for all genders? Will it look too feminine, or too masculine? How can we achieve a healthy balance? Is this primarily for an elementary school, or could it be designed in a manner to apply to all grade levels?

Q: How do you choose your color palette and typography to match the theme?

Ashlyn: Color and typography decisions always begin with exploration and testing. We build out several palette and type combinations, then test them — dropping them into sample spreads, pairing them with backgrounds, and checking legibility. We look at how bold or neutral tones interact with student photography, and we make adjustments based on feedback from internal collaboration. It’s a cycle of experimenting, testing, and refining until the theme feels balanced and cohesive.

Q: How do you create the artwork?

Allison: In our focus groups, customers told us they wanted the same collection of graphics across every theme. We set out to do this by working with illustrators to create bespoke artwork. Finding the right illustrator takes time. We review portfolios until we find one whose aesthetic aligns with the concept. For example, with the Gallery theme, we partnered with illustrator Ekaterina, whose warm, approachable style was a perfect fit. She created more than 100 illustrations that together gave the theme the feeling of walking through a gallery.

Q: Which past theme are you most proud of and why?

Ashlyn: The focus groups revealed that records and decades were popular, and we really wanted to give our users a full, cohesive theme that could synthesize these concepts. For the Record stands out because it challenged us to unify five distinct decades into one cohesive theme. Although we hit roadblocks and had to pivot several times, the final product was something fun, flexible, and unique. I’m proud of the way our team was able to not only fulfill our customers’ requests despite challenges, but problem-solve to create something revolutionary.

‍Allison: The themes that stand out most for me are the ones I see schools using again and again. Dream Big is one that always gives me the feels. It carries the charm of a children’s book, with richly illustrative backgrounds I created in Photoshop. Small details—a child holding a kite or soaring into the sky—symbolize limitless potential, inspiring students with the idea that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

With nearly half of US states banning cell phones in the classroom, many advisers reached out for creative solutions for collecting yearbook photos. Student cell phones can have cameras that capture photos as well as or better than traditional cameras, and have become a cost-reducing factor for yearbook teams. As more schools create and tighten policies governing cell phone usage on campus, we need practical solutions for yearbook class.

The yearbook’s mission remains unchanged.

Take heart, yearbook creators, when parent volunteers weren’t permitted on campus, we pivoted. This is no different. [FWIW, I’m imagining being on a horse, like William Wallace, as I type this.]

via GIPHY

The quick response

The easy solution is to grab some point-and-shoot cameras for yearbook students to have on hand or a few iPad Pros, if your school permits it. Focus the first few class or club meetings on the basics of composition. 

Another solution is photo training with a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Explore aperture (depth of field) and keep track of what ISO and white balance work for specific locations on campus, like the dreaded gym pics, which always look straight out of the 1970s with the yellowed floors and fluorescent lights.

If you don’t have budget constraints, check out our recommendations for yearbook gear.

Capital expenses aren’t for every yearbook team. Additionally, neither of these solutions addresses how to get you and your team everywhere—you can’t. Adding avenues for school staff, parents, and students to contribute photos will grow your reach.

Create a submission pipeline

Photo drop campaigns should be part of every post-event communication from your yearbook team. Did fourth grade take a field trip to the zoo? Reach out later that day to the parents and teachers who went for their snaps. 

Keep in mind, the easier it is to share, the more results you will receive. Also, limiting yourself to one or two avenues will simplify your back-end organization.

Yes, this approach might require more planning and follow-up than in past years. Remember, the systems you build now will benefit your yearbook program long after the initial challenges are resolved.

Photos from Teachers and Staff

While we cringe at asking our classroom champions to do one more thing, the thought of not celebrating their outstanding work is far worse. Work with your campus administration to add Google folders to the school’s shared Drive.

There should be a folder for each teacher and school-wide folders for holidays, recess, specific school events, lunchtime fun, assemblies, etc. 

Photos from Parents

Many of the advisers in Treering’s Official Facebook Group say they have room parents responsible for in-class photos. Additionally, parents are often present at outside events such as concerts, field trips, and games. Partner with them for photos of

• Off-campus event and athletics photos
• Candids from carpool, pick up/drop off
• First day
• Any dress-up or spirit day
• Summer and winter vacations
• Homework and student art

In addition to a shared folder to which parents can drop images, share an email address. 

You can even send targeted asks after events: Hey Fatima, It was great to see you at the Science Fair. Would you please send me 2-3 photos of Jackson and his friends so I can include them in the yearbook? Thank you! 

Full disclosure, any time I see parents taking photos of their children, I ask them to email those photos to me on the spot. 

Shameless.

Photos from Students

If your yearbook program has a class or club component, creating photo assignments is one way to secure photos from students. The last thing you want to do is just tell a student, “Go take photographs of science.”

Many schools employ a beat system, assigning students to specific grades, clubs, and sports. This is a way to monitor coverage while teaching communication and project management. Students connect weekly with their contacts (coaches, teachers), find out what is happening, and take photographs of events.

The beat system also serves as accountability: if Erika’s beats have empty content folders in week three, the editorial team needs to redirect her efforts.

If you need help providing photo support, explore

• 5 photography mini lessons
• Classroom photo tips

The key to success lies in early, frequent, and clear communication with your entire school community. When staff, parents, and students understand the goal and their role in achieving it, collaboration becomes smoother and more sustainable.

Explain why the cell phone ban affects yearbook coverage, what kinds of support you need, and how you’ll collect photos. Then, keep the conversation going:

1. Remind teachers of upcoming photo ops
2. Update parents with specific photo requests
3. Train students to use alternative tools and plan ahead. 

The more proactive you are, the fewer last-minute gaps you'll face.

Making a yearbook with Treering's online software is as simple as drag and drop. Options such as portrait autoflow and auto layout make anyone look like a professional designer, and integrated professional tools, including a color picker and page designer, give you the flexibility to create from scratch.

Watch a brief software demo.

What Editors Love

Teachers, parents, and students enjoy using Treering's free online creation software to collaborate on their yearbooks. They also enjoy

• Flexible deadlines
• Three-week turnaround
• Custom pages
• No order minimums
• Ease of use

Why Principals Choose Treering

School administrators and the front office team appreciate

• No contracts
• Inclusive pricing: 100lb. paper, software, curriculum, bulk shipping to school, themes
• E-commerce tools that collect payment and show real-time order reports
• Fundraiser capabilities
• Parents can order after the deadline (no one ever misses out!)