We get it. Sometimes you don't have the perfect photo for every spread. Maybe an event got cancelled, maybe your photographer was home with the flu, or maybe you’re just looking to do something different. Whatever the reason, there’s no need to panic. A little creativity goes a long way, and there are plenty of ways to fill your pages with meaningful, memorable content.

THINK EDITORIAL

If you're short on photos, lean in to editorial design. Think magazine-style layouts which are less about documenting events and more about telling stories. Stories don't NEED photos to be powerful…focus on the writing. Interview students, highlight unique experiences, and let the words do the heavy lifting.

EMBRACE UMBRELLA COVERAGE

Instead of giving every group or event its own spread, consider grouping related content under a single theme. This is called "umbrella coverage", and it's a great way to tell broader stories while still including lots of voices. For example:

• A spread on community service could feature student council, the girls’ soccer team, and a local youth group, all doing different projects with a shared purpose.
• A "What You Missed" spread can cover everything that happened after last year’s book went to print.
• A "Jobs" spread could highlight students working part-time, babysitting, or running small businesses.
  
  

BUILD A CULTURE OF CONTRIBUTION

Not every group automatically earns a full spread. Encourage clubs and teams to share what they’ve been up to. Ask for photos, quotes, and quick write-ups. Make it clear that space in the book is earned through participation…not just membership.

READY-TO-GO SPREAD IDEAS

Need content you can prep in advance or plug in if you're short on material? Try these:

• What You Missed: great for spring delivery books to cover post-deadline events from last year.
• Jobs: part time work, co-op placement, or entrepreneurial students.
• Community Service: volunteer work, fundraisers, and acts of kindness.
• Around the Town: local hangouts, favourite coffee shops, or hidden gems.
• Spot News: capture moments as they happen and build a spread around them.
• Trends: fashion, food, apps, slang, and prices (because future you will want to remember how much a bubble tea cost).
• Decades: a retro throwback spread comparing then and now.
• Seasonal Life: fall flannel, winter snow days, spring break plans.
• Rivalries: sports, clubs, or even friendly classroom competitions.
• Interesting People: feature students or staff with unique hobbies, backgrounds, or stories.

OTHER IDEAS

• Anatomy of...
• How-To or Step-by-Step
• Advice
• Interactive Content
• Maps
• Recipes

Check out our blog on coverage ideas for if you don't have enough content!

MAKE SOMETHING GIANT

If you're struggling to fill a spread, try making one element HUGE and play around with it to see how it looks. If you hate it, that's okay, but it can be helpful to see a different perspective:

• Use a full or partial background colour.
• Try a super large headline layered over your dominant photo.
• Play with a full-page size cutout.