Some holidays end when you unpack. Others end up as a book you reach for years later. We've partnered with Glassette – the shoppable editorial magazine for interiors, food, travel and culture – on a collection of photo books and stationery made for the second kind of trip.
We caught up with co-founder Laura Jackson for her tips on turning summer memories into something worth keeping.
What are your golden rules for creating a photo book you'll actually want to revisit?
My first rule would be to choose the pictures that best represent the trip. You don’t need to include absolutely everything. I think it’s better to have fewer photographs that really bring back the feeling of being there.
Secondly, write down some of the little things you remember. It might be where you had the best vanilla ice cream, something funny that happened, or a restaurant you all loved. Adding a few words to the photographs can bring the memory back to life.
I also wouldn’t worry too much about putting everything in perfect chronological order. It’s more important that it flows and feels enjoyable to look through. Make it colorful and fun, and include the imperfect moments as well as the beautiful ones. The blurry pictures, funny expressions and little everyday details are often the things you love the most later.
Finally, think about starting a collection. If you make a photo book after every holiday or important moment, they become something you can keep adding to over the years. They also look so lovely together on a bookshelf.
Why do you love photo books vs. keeping photos on your phone?
I really love having physical memories of the places I’ve been. I’m still completely in awe of the fact that you can capture a moment in time with a photograph, and there’s something so special about then being able to hold that memory in your hands.
Books really do last forever. Obviously memories do too, but especially with my children, whenever we go away now, we try to make a photo book afterwards. It’s so lovely to sit together as a family, look through them, see how much everyone has changed and remember where we went and what we did. They become part of your family story, which I think is really amazing.
How do you choose which photos make the cut?
I actually find this part quite hard because it can take forever! I try to think about the story of the trip as a whole rather than getting too caught up in each individual photograph.
First, I make sure everyone who was there is actually included. It’s so easy to realize afterwards that the person taking all the photographs is hardly in any of them. Then I like to set the scene. I include landscapes, streets, food, flowers, plants, animals and the different activities we did. I like having all of those touchpoints because together they create a really good memory of the trip.
I don’t think too much about whether all the colors or photographs perfectly match. If you’ve taken them on the same camera, or on film, there’s usually a natural aesthetic anyway. You don’t want it to feel too polished, but I do think it’s nice to have a strong curatorial eye and choose the photographs that really tell the story.
What’s the balance between extraordinary and everyday moments?
I think everyday moments are beautiful. What makes something beautiful is so subjective, but I’ve always loved the art of noticing. It’s about the little things: textures, colors, the way the light falls, the way something moves or a tiny moment you happen to capture. That’s what I love about creativity. Two people can be in exactly the same place and notice completely different things. It might sound slightly cheesy, but I think ordinary moments become extraordinary to you because they’re yours. Those are often the photographs that end up meaning the most.
Any tips for making a photo book feel more editorial than chronological?
I think this is where someone like Papier really helps, because so much of the layout is already taken care of for you. It removes some of the overthinking and allows you to focus more on the photographs and the story. I like to start with a scene-setting image, then mix bigger landscape shots with close-up details. Food, architecture, people, scenery and all the little things you noticed while you were there.
“Make it colorful and fun, and include the imperfect moments as well as the beautiful ones."
White space is really important too. Not every page needs to be full. Sometimes one photograph on a page, or one image stretched across two pages, can have so much more impact. We’ve also created stickers as part of the Glassette x Papier collection, which are lovely for adding a bit more personality. I think of each page almost like a little piece of art, but I also try not to get too carried away with making everything perfect.
How do you think about pace and sequencing?
I think white space really helps to create pace. Not every page has to be packed with pictures, and sometimes it’s nice to let an image breathe.
Even though the book doesn’t have to be completely chronological, I do quite like beginning at the beginning, with a strong opening image that sets the scene. Then you can move between larger moments and quieter details. You might have one photograph spread across two pages, followed by a page with a few smaller images. It just gives the book a bit of rhythm and makes it lovely to flick through.
What little details make a photo book feel more personal?
I love making things feel personal. When you’re putting the book together, you can photograph or scan postcards, children’s drawings, menus, boarding passes, notes, pressed flowers or little bits and pieces you collected while you were away. Those things can bring back just as many memories as the photographs themselves. Once the book has been printed, you can also add handwritten notes, dates or extra stickers. I love the idea that it doesn’t necessarily have to feel completely finished when it arrives. You can keep adding little touches that make it uniquely yours.
What do people leave out that they should absolutely include?
I think people often forget to put themselves in the book because they’re so busy photographing everyone else. It’s definitely worth making a conscious effort to be in some of the pictures too.
I also love all the behind-the-scenes things. The food before it’s eaten, the places you stopped, the different modes of transport you used or the view from the room where you stayed.
You could also add a few little recommendations, like the five places you ate and loved, or your favorite thing you did while you were there. Another nice idea is for everyone on the holiday to choose one word that sums up the trip. Then you can include those words somewhere in the book. It becomes a lovely little snapshot of how everyone remembers it.
What’s one mistake people make when creating a photo book?
Overcomplicating it. There’s a lot of talk about making things feel editorial or high-end, but really, it’s just a lovely photo book and a memory of an amazing holiday. Don’t analyze or scrutinize every single page. It’s for you and your family, so enjoy the process and give yourself a set amount of time to make it rather than letting it become another enormous job.
I would also recommend ordering more than one copy. If you’ve been away with family or friends, it makes such a lovely gift. It’s really special to be able to give someone a physical memory of a holiday you shared together.
Hold onto summer
- 6 sizes
