Lots of care and effort go into creating the perfect annual photo book full of the most important moments from the past year. A photo book checklist makes it easier to organize and prepare this precious keepsake or gift.

We've put together this must-have shot list for your annual photo book to give you a head start on freezing your favorite memories in time!

What should be included in a photo book?

Photo books should contain lots of your favorite photos. An annual photo book may contain pictures of special events, holidays, birthdays, major achievements, and of course, plenty of everyday moments. The photos that matter most to you are the ones that should receive the most prominent placement in your annual photo book.

How do you make a memorable photo album?

A memorable photo book comes to life with the photos you choose to include, plus other special details. Decide on a flow by photo theme or arrange the photo flow chronologically. Finally, personalize the pages with text, quotes, inside jokes, and sticker graphics designed to inspire laughter and smiles.

What do you write at the beginning of a photo album?

You can add a personalized message at the beginning of a photo book if you like. For an annual photo book, consider writing a short summary of the year's best moments. You might also include something special about each family member, or keep it simple with a heartfelt message of love for your family. For a minimalist style, leave it blank with a simple mention of the year.

Annual Photo Book Shot List

Here's a photo book checklist of the best shots to include for a great annual recap book. Save this list and add your own must-have shots.

1. New Year's Eve photos
2. Valentine's Day photos
3. Spring Break vacation photos
4. Easter photos
5. Mother's Day celebration photos
6. Father's Day celebration photos
7. Graduation celebration photos
8. Summer travel + highlights
9. Back to school photos
10. Halloween photos
11. Thanksgiving photos
12. Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza photos
13. Major milestones
14. Birthday celebrations
15. Any other favorite photos from the year!

More Photo Book Ideas

Besides the major moments on the calendar, be sure to spotlight those precious everyday moments.

• Family Member Spotlight - Special featured pages for each family member
• Pet Pages - Photo features packed with cuteness and mischief
• Sports Spotlights - Full pages for each sport or family member
• Activities and Hobbies - Focus on each family member's ambitions, like dance, band/orchestra, gardening, and more

You can think of your annual photo book like a yearbook and organize it with pages for each idea. These key themes will help you to blend all the best memories from the year into one treasured keepsake.

Annual Photo Book Designs and Themes

Creating a year-in-review photo book is a lot of fun and brings joy for years to come. Be sure to browse the wide array of attractive photo book styles for a year recap theme.

• Modern Themes - Contemporary photo book themes work great for annual photo books. The clean and classy design lets the photos make the biggest impression while small details like borders and purposeful layouts tie it all together. Consider Modern Black Year in Review or Modern White Year in Review for a gorgeous year wrap-up photo book.
• Vibrant Hues & Patterns - Sometimes all you need is a burst of beautiful color. Breathe lots of life into your photo book with colorful backgrounds and engaging captions like you will find in the Year in Review by EttaVee theme.
• Embrace the World as It Is - It's no secret that 2021 has been an interesting year. The Year in Review by Amy Tangerine theme tells it like it is, "In This Together." This theme focuses on family time and togetherness, staying home, and celebrating the little victories as we do our part. Life may look a little different some days, but the best things are still right here in front of us.
• Photojournalistic and Fab - The My Year Magazine annual photo book theme offers lots of space to document your year your way. You can share memories in photos as well as text in a magazine-style format that leaves a lasting impression.

These are just a few of the many choices to consider. Of course, you can always customize the text, backgrounds, fonts, and graphics in any of Mixbook's themes and designs.

Few things hold so many precious memories all in one place as the beloved annual photo book. Now that you have this photo book checklist as a starting point, simply add your own extra-special moments to customize your photo book shot list for 2022.