Some Mixbookers are thrilled to start a photo book with a Blank Canvas and design every page from scratch. Others stare at that blank canvas and discover their minds have also gone totally blank! Most Mixbookers fall somewhere in between—starting a project with a head full of ideas while desiring an easier way to turn the vision into reality.
Customizing one of Mixbook’s hundreds of professionally designed photo book themes promises the best of both worlds. You can bring your own unique vision and creativity to every project, while benefiting from inspiring design templates that are fully customizable.
The benefits of customizable photo book themes are amplified when you discover the perfect one for your particular project. Here are our top tips for finding that ideal theme.
Start with the purpose of your photo book project
Before diving into theme selection, take a moment to define the intended purpose of your photo book. What story do you want to tell? Which photos will you use? Why do you want to create the photo book? Who is it for? Consider the emotions you want to evoke.
Whether you're chronicling a loved one's life or celebrating a joyous milestone, clarifying your purpose will guide your theme selection process.
How to find the best photo book themes
Mixbook has hundreds of photo book themes, so you’ll need to narrow down the options for easier browsing.
Start by scrolling through All Photo Books for a wide overview, or choose a category, such as wedding, family, travel, or baby. Look for tags at the top of a category page for subcategories, such as “Engagement Books” and “Wedding Guest Books” within the wedding collection. You might also browse one of the broader, more versatile categories like best sellers, everyday, or simple.
Use filters while browsing to see themes that suit other preferences. You can filter themes by customization level (easy, medium, or pro), a main color, aesthetic style (e.g. modern, watercolor, vintage), and special features like designer collection or quick gifts.
For each theme that catches your eye, click on the thumbnail for a quick preview or a link to more product details. Flip through the theme to look at the pages inside.
Instead of trying to immediately find your No. 1 choice of theme, use the Favorites tool to create a shortlist. Just click on the heart symbol next to the theme name. Pull up your Favorites list using the tab at the top of the browser.
Consider these design features to find the best theme
While you’re browsing photo book themes, consider the following important features.
Aesthetic style
When selecting a theme, think about the overall design style that aligns with your project and personal preferences. If you’re making a photo book as a gift for a loved one, remember to prioritize their style over your own.
Is Aunt Lola’s home packed to the brim with tchotchkes and painted every color of the rainbow? A colorful theme with ample design accents would probably be a great choice. Was your wedding at a gorgeous woodland venue with wildflowers all around? Focus on botanical or whimsical themes, or perhaps a minimalist design that lets the photos provide all the flourish.
Color scheme
Pay attention to the theme's colors and mood. Colors affect feelings and mood. For example, reds and pinks are often associated with love and passion, while oranges and yellows evoke warmth and cheerfulness. Choose a theme with colors that match the overall mood and purpose of your project.
Further, creating cohesive color schemes that are pleasing to the eye requires real skill. Why not outsource that task to our expert theme designers?
Design elements
Mixbook’s photo book themes are fundamentally collections of the same basic elements of design—photos, text, backgrounds, and accent stickers—arranged in varied compositions across single pages and two-page spreads. Some themes feature only the simplest of photo layouts, while others comprise many and varied elements united by a cohesive style.
Which design elements does your ideal photo book theme include? A few caption boxes, or ample editorial space? Large-scale photos, thumbnail collages, or some of each? Cute cartoon-style stickers or elegant calligraphic accents? Crisp white backgrounds, or a collection of eye-catching patterns?
Layouts
Layouts refers to the composition of design elements on a page—the way in which they are arranged in the space. You can easily adjust the layouts in Mixbook Studio™ using the “Layouts” panel on the left. However, it will save you tons of time and effort if you choose a theme with layouts that already suit your preferences.
Content prompts
Many Mixbook themes go beyond just fill-in-the-blank boxes and offer templates for creative content ideas. These prompts make it quicker and easier to tell your stories in intriguing, visually pleasing ways. Examples include student profile pages in a yearbook, a “top 10 memories” spread for a travel book, and month-by-month formats for year-in-review books.
If content prompts are something you would find useful, flip through your favorite themes to see if they offer any handy ideas.
Don’t forget: You can customize any theme!
You've found a theme that you love, but there are some changes you want to make. That’s great, because all themes are 100% customizable in Mixbook Studio™. In fact, themes are designed to be a starting point that inspires you to get creative and tell your story, your way.
You can incorporate design ideas from multiple themes into your own custom creation. Love the typography of one theme and a content prompt from another? Then combine those favorite design elements together.
Make simple changes like switching fonts, adjusting default theme colors, or swapping out stickers and backgrounds as desired. Or, explore advanced editing techniques to create a truly personalized masterpiece.
Ready to explore Mixbook themes?
Whether you begin browsing with a clear vision in mind, or you’re confident you’ll know it when you see it, the perfect theme for your photo book awaits! Head over to Mixbook today and find it.
