How Does It Work?

We know the most impactful stories often take the most effort to uncover – the ones that require grit, determination, instinct and a commitment to storytelling to discover. Every person has a story, and every story deserves to be told. We want to honor the commitment of yearbook students who shine a spotlight on the stories within their community that might otherwise be overlooked.

The Signature Scholarship asks junior and senior yearbook students to submit a 2-3 minute video essay explaining how they uncover the untold stories in their school community. The scholarship runs through Dec. 6, and Walsworth will award a $4,500 scholarship to each of the two winning entries.

We encourage applicants to consider the following topics as a starting point to help explore this theme. These are mere suggestions – feel free to focus on one or explore multiple as time allows.

• Define what “untold stories” mean to you and why they are important to a yearbook. Explain your interpretation in the context of your school and community. Why are these stories significant, and how do they contribute to the yearbook’s role as a historical document?
• Describe how you embrace this role as a storyteller. Illustrate your personal approach to finding and telling these stories. How do you actively seek out unique perspectives or moments that may go unnoticed by others?
• Share a specific example of an untold story you uncovered. What steps did you take to find this story, and why was it important to include in your yearbook? What impact did it have on your school community?
• Apply this experience to your future. Reflect on how your yearbook experience of uncovering hidden stories has shaped your skills or perspectives. How do you see this impacting your future career, education or life after high school?

Entries will be judged based upon video essay content, presentation, storytelling, engagement and technical quality, and scholarship recipients will be notified by Jan. 31, 2025.

Who is Eligible?

The Signature Scholarship is open to all junior and senior high school students currently on their school’s yearbook staff at any high school within the United States. The money can be used to further post-secondary education. So if you know a junior or senior yearbook student (and we’re guessing you may know one or two), encourage them to apply by submitting their video essay using the form here. To view a complete list of scholarship rules and guidelines, click here.

Why is Walsworth Doing This?

Being on yearbook staff sometimes means stepping into the background as you record from the sidelines of history, shining the light on those around you. Yearbook students discover some of the greatest untold stories, which is a worthwhile story in and of itself. We want to recognize the outstanding effort it takes to do what you do.

Walsworth President Don Walsworth echoes this sentiment.

“At Walsworth, we have always believed in the power of storytelling. The Signature Scholarship reflects our deep-rooted commitment to supporting student journalists who bring these untold stories to life. We’re excited to see the impact their work will have in their schools and communities, both now and in the years to come.”

While few understand the full scope of the work you do, we know how important and valuable it is to not only your community, but the legacy of your school year.

Why Wait?

We can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t benefit from $4,500. We would even argue it should be a requirement for every junior and senior on your staff to apply. Encourage your students to enter now through Dec. 6 to share their stories and help celebrate all things yearbook.

Interested in learning more? Talk to your Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative today to discover how your students can take full advantage of this exciting new scholarship opportunity.

The post Celebrate NYW with the New Walsworth Signature Scholarship appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

When mirrorless cameras first came out, there was a lot of hesitation from photographers to make the switch since DSLR’s were still proving to be the tried and trusted option. Not only that, photographers had invested thousands of dollars into lenses and equipment specifically for the DSLR system. I remember when I bought my first mirrorless camera in 2019, I went back and forth on whether I had made the right decision. Five years later, I can’t imagine using a DSLR anymore as mirrorless cameras have overtaken DSLR cameras and have proven that they are the go-to camera of choice, not only for me but for professionals too. Just recently at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a majority if not all the cameras used by photographers were mirrorless cameras.

The question now stands, how and why did the mirrorless cameras become more popular than the DSLRs? Here are the main reasons why I recommend my staffs to make the jump to mirrorless.

Long Term Compatibility

Camera manufactures such as Nikon and Canon have started redirecting their time and resources solely into the mirrorless brand. Basic DSLR models, like the Nikon D3500 or Canon T8i, are becoming increasingly rare to find and maintenance for older models is becoming obsolete. For example, Canon has a term of service life and won’t work on devices after they reach that specific age, which means at some point, your trusty Canon Rebel DSLR will not be able to be fixed by Canon.

Size & Weight

One of my favorite things about mirrorless cameras is that they are compact and lightweight. That smaller size makes a significant difference during those long games and events. The smaller size also makes it easier to carry around, as well allows for a better grip/hold of the camera. No longer are you having to overstretch your fingers to reach the shutter and adjust settings. With the smaller size it makes it so much easier to hang onto and to carry.

Picture this: Instead of lugging around that big bulky bag with that massive 70-200mm lens that causes shoulder pain, you can easily store your mirrorless camera into a small sling or even a purse and still have space for all your essential items (cell phone, lipstick, etc).

Quiet Shutter

The quiet shutter of a mirrorless camera is a game changer in sensitive environments like theater productions and classrooms. With the absence of the mirror mechanism, you can capture all these events in silence with your mirrorless camera and get to pretend you’re a spy.

I was able to experience this firsthand at a play production at Eureka High School. I happened to be in the area for opening night, and my adviser invited me to attend and take photos. She managed to save me a seat front and center. During the entire play, I was able to take photos of the show without being a distraction to the actors or audience. It was all thanks to my trusty mirrorless! I would never have dared doing that with my DSLR.

I do want to mention though that even if you don’t have a mirrorless, this should not discourage you from attending these events. You should be capturing all events on your campus regardless of equipment. For drama productions, just be sure to reach out to the director and crew to find out when dress rehearsals are and attend those instead to photograph. You will be able to move around and maybe even get on stage to get unique and better angles, etc.

Real-Time Exposure

This was probably the second feature that truly encouraged me to make the switch to mirrorless after the size and weight. The electronic viewfinder in mirrorless camera provides a real live preview of your exposure settings. You can instantly see how your changes to shutter speeds, aperture and ISO are affecting the exposure of your photograph. I personally LOVE this feature because it allows me to modify my settings in real time and see if my photo is too bright or too dark without having to take a photo and adjust again and again.

While your electronic viewfinder may be properly exposed lighting wise, that doesn’t mean the setting you picked is correct. I always like to tell students that the technology is smart, but you are smarter. You will still need to make sure you choose the proper ISO, aperture and shutter speed for the event you’re photographing to get the best result.

For example, my image could be properly exposed, but if my shutter is set to 1/30 sec, all my photos will most likely be blurred or out of focus. Instead, my shutter should be 1/125 sec or faster if you are taking sport photos. The only time you would be using a slow shutter would be for fireworks at a game or astrophotography for a science spread. If you are doing that, you better be using a tripod and not hand holding the camera.

With all that said, if I have convinced you to go mirrorless, make sure to add those EF-RF lens mount adapters to your cart. Those will allow you to continue to use your current arsenal of lenses without having to start from scratch. This will make the transition to mirrorless cameras that much easier!

Happy shooting!

The post Top Four Reasons to Go Mirrorless with Your Yearbook Cameras appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

But Taylor’s influence goes beyond the awards and accolades. As a recipient of prestigious honors like the JEA Medal of Merit, CSPA Gold Key and Florida Scholastic Press Association Gold Medallion, he’s recognized not just for his technical expertise, but for the passion and innovation he brings to yearbook education. His unique ability to engage and inspire students and teachers alike has made him a beloved figure at workshops and conventions across the country.

Sabrina Schmitz, CJE, Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative and Key Accounts Specialist at Walsworth, offers insight into what makes Taylor truly exceptional. 

“There is no one out there who has a heart for yearbook like Mike Taylor. But what makes Mike so special and so incredibly deserving of this honor is not just his heart for yearbook, but his heart for students and finding innovative ways to teach them and inspire them and lift them up in every possible way. He has the most unique way of making every student he encounters feel like the most special yearbook kid in the world.”

His approach goes beyond imparting technical skills; he empowers students, helping them discover their own creative voices. Whether he’s speaking at a convention or working directly with a yearbook staff, Taylor’s goal is to foster confidence and self-expression through storytelling.

As Schmitz also notes, “We all know that Mike brings the fun to any yearbook event, but he also brings ideas and creativity and expertise that is unmatched.” Taylor’s blend of fun and creativity makes him a standout in the field as he finds innovative ways to connect with students and teachers alike, making the sometimes overwhelming process of yearbook creation feel exciting and manageable.

In every sense, Taylor has shaped the world of yearbook journalism by nurturing a new generation of storytellers. His influence will continue to inspire yearbook staffs for years to come, leaving a lasting impact on both the publications he’s helped create and the students who have had the privilege to learn from him.

Elizabeth Luna, NBCT, former yearbook adviser at Athens Drive Magnet High School in North Carolina, adds to his praise.

“Mike stands out as possibly the most energetic yearbooker I have ever met. His energy is contagious as he presents information and engages with students, making him a magnet everyone is drawn to. I love that I can throw any idea I have at him, and he openly offers his opinion with a smile (followed by often telling me he is not an expert and I should try it out and see what I really think). His devotion to helping build Elite Weekends to be a place of major growth for every student and adviser is pivotal and impactful for so many staffs across the nation, my own included. I could not be more thankful for the investment he puts into everything he touches.” 

Taylor’s outstanding support for schools all across the country shows his dedication to scholastic journalism and his desire to see Walsworth schools succeed. Adviser Brit Taylor, CJE, expounds on Mike’s dedication: 

“Mike Taylor is a force of yearbook nature. Everybody knows him, everybody loves him and everybody’s program is better just from being around him. I am lucky enough to see Mike at a couple of yearbook conferences each year, and I get worn out just trying to keep up with him for 15 minutes. His energy is unmatched.”

Jeff Bell, Executive Vice President of Yearbook Sales at Walsworth, agrees.

“Mike Taylor is one of a kind. He freely shares his knowledge and enthusiasm with the scholastic journalism community and within Walsworth. The amount of time he spends creating training videos, hosting a podcast, meeting virtually with classes and more is staggering. Regardless of what else is going on, Mike will always make time to work with students. He has helped many students create the yearbook their school wants, including helping many staffs go on to win national awards with Walsworth as their trusted partner. Mike is one of many reasons Walsworth is the most trusted name in yearbooks.”

The Pioneer Award honorees will be celebrated at either the fall conference in Philadelphia on Nov. 9 or the spring conference in Seattle on April 26. NSPA maintains a composite plaque of Pioneers at its headquarters in Minneapolis, paying tribute to individuals who have left a lasting mark on scholastic journalism.

The post Mike Taylor: NSPA Pioneer Award Recipient and the Heart + Soul of Yearbook Education appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

What are the best ways to train staff throughout the year?

I would always look for my seniors who could train everyone all year long.

Let’s start at the beginning of the year: we went to camp, and my new editors-in-chief had a mentee they would mentor constantly. They were who I was looking at for future years – two or three years out.

Seniors did the fall part of the book and juniors did the spring portion, so I was constantly training someone. I wanted my seniors working all the time, whether creating content in the fall or training in the spring. They trained the upcoming staff and told them all the ins and outs of the book, which also helped with senioritis in the spring by keeping them busy. So I buddied up my seniors with younger students for year-round training.

How does the buddy system work?

This may backfire, but I just picked people. There are personality profile tests and color profile tests you can use, like if you pair an orange person with a green person and a green person with a blue person. I do believe in them, but I also believe in saying, “You and you work together.” I am not asking you to get married or go on a date; I just need you to get the job done. If you can’t work together, we’ve got a problem. In real life, we have to work with people we don’t like sometimes.

Humor and fun go a long way, so I did bonding games a lot. It might be something as simple as a Florida snowball fight, which is wadded up paper being thrown at each other with questions. I know it sounds really silly, but one of the games I would play was Duck, Duck, Goose with my seniors. They loved it, I loved it and we bonded.

What should your staff focus on at different times of the year?

Fall: My seniors trained everybody on things like how to set up a grid and the ins and outs of InDesign® or Yearbook 360 – Online Design. They also trained younger students on how to look at a design in a magazine. I still taught one or two days a week, especially at the beginning of the year. I showed them type and headline design and let them observe, and then they would collect inspiration pieces, put it on a wall and recreate spread designs. We also talked about the theme and asked questions like, “Is this the story we want to tell?” and “Is this the story we’re going to tell?” while they were out gathering that story. You don’t start in November. You start BEFORE day one by gathering football practice pictures, cheerleading practice pictures, pre-season football games and more.

Winter: Constant work, constant work, constant work. The seniors check on each section’s editors; they guide their section, and I stand back, watching, answering questions and guiding them as needed.

Spring: The second the book was finished, I let everybody play for about a week. We had a party, watched a movie and then started training again. I started back at square one and got my seniors to do most of that training. They trained all the newbies and showed them how to collect designs and get theme ideas. The seniors sat beside their mentees while they did their fake layout and mock-up of a theme project I assigned each spring. My seniors worked on everything until a week before they left school. They planned distribution – the party, the celebration, everything. They listened to the theme presentations, but I didn’t let them vote, and I’ll tell you why: It’s not their book. They already did a book. Let the juniors pick the theme for the following year. That’s my philosophy. People might say, “Well, my seniors pick the theme for next year’s book.” Why? They’re not going to be there.

Summer: We went to camp and started training, bonding and leadership activities. It cracks me up every time I hear people say, “Oh, I had great seniors last year; I’m probably not going to have as great of ones this year.” Everybody says that in the fall … everybody. By spring, you’re going, “Wow, these kids are amazing!” It’s pretty cool to watch a kid mature, and we miss out on that sometimes. We need to focus on not just the printed page but the development of the student because what we’re doing is developing a very functional adult. That’s why we have so many great employees here at Walsworth. They were developed in a publications room to be functioning adults.

How does receiving input from a summer workshop differ from receiving input from your adviser? 

The adviser is almost their parent. When they say something, it’s in one ear and out the other. But when they hear the same thing from a different person, they understand it. That’s why workshops and training events are so important, and also why it helps to have your seniors training your underclassmen.

How should advisers continue to train themselves?

Adviser Academy! Adviser Academy is number one, but also watch our training videos and podcasts. We supply a ton of things for people to train themselves with. I believe in training; I believe in constant, constant training. Nobody is perfect at their job. A lot of people think, “I don’t need that; I already know that.” I just don’t believe that at all. That’s just my philosophy. We’re always learning, even the most-awarded yearbooks that are really good.

How can students training other students be beneficial?

I wanted the seniors to get it wrong while teaching underclassmen because when I correct the mistake with the senior, guess who’s listening and paying attention and says, “Oh, I’m just not going to ever do that?” The underclassman. I stood over my seniors’ shoulders and listened to them get it wrong. I did not embarrass them, but I would say, “You might try to do it this way.” That way, I can get the mistake out in the open and fixed. So that’s one benefit.

Another benefit is when you’ve got your seniors and upperclassmen working with you, you’ve got a team of trainers in the room with you. It’s not all falling on your shoulders. Then, you add the Walsworth webinars, the podcasts, and everything we do. You can have a great team helping you get this book out.

The post How Can I Teach My Seniors To Train The Staff Throughout The Year? appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

DIFFICULTIES BEHIND THE BOOK

I finally decided to apply for a leadership role and became the social media editor at Smithville High School my senior year. When I got the editor role, I felt so excited and couldn’t wait to start. I quickly learned that although I had a great time and felt good about the work that needed to get done, I sometimes encountered problematic people. Among them were several editors assigned to revise staff members’ spreads. Instead of working through the spread with the original designer, they trashed the design and redesigned it themselves. Staff members sometimes only discovered this when they saw the printed book. There were also a few of our younger staff members who were overconfident in their photography skills and not open to feedback.

Those things made life a little difficult at times, but I learned how to deal with those situations and did what I could to make the situation better.

ADVICE FROM AN EDITOR

Once I started college, I recognized a lot of common factors when dealing with different types of people, and I used my experience in yearbook to help deal with similar situations years down the line. While I don’t have the same level of involvement in college yearbook as I did in my high school yearbook, I still use those same strategies today.

The most significant activity I currently participate in is marching band. I attend Northwest Missouri State University and am a part of the Bearcat Marching Band (BMB), where I play the piccolo. BMB and yearbook have several commonalities; good, neutral and challenging. Both include people who believe they are better than you at everything. Although plenty of enjoyable people welcomed me, I’ve learned that everywhere you go, you will find someone with a competitive nature trying to outshine you.

Yearbook taught me that when these types of people come around, just roll your eyes and move on…sometimes. It may get to a point where someone gets a little too comfortable telling people what to do and may not realize how they sound. Laugh it off, if you can. Time often teaches them better than you ever could.

Situations may also occur where you must stick up for yourself and others. Remember how I said some people would change other people’s spreads? Some of the designs needed serious edits. But rather than changing the design without the original designer knowing, coaching the original designer to fix their spread would have resulted in a cleaner spread and the other staff members learning what to do next time.

With all of that said, I loved my experience with yearbook. I value the memories I made and it remains the best thing I did in my high school career. No matter where you go, there will always be someone who gets on your nerves. Learn to deal with it and de-escalate tense situations. Communication is your best friend. Once you know how to communicate with your team, everything gets much easier and things move a lot more smoothly. So next time someone is bringing you down, take a deep breath and think about your time in yearbook.

The post Yearbook Outside of Yearbook: How Yearbook Translates to College and Beyond appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

I worked with several schools this past spring who had not even started their opening pages or theme copy, even though it was the beginning of March!

What’s up with that?

You may have a deadline structure that allows for this, but it’s not the best approach for introducing the story you are trying to tell and the look you want your entire book to have.

So, what is the best approach? You need to create all your opening section pages at the same time in a single document – cover, endsheets, title page, theme opening, dividers –
at the beginning of the year, then make changes and improvements throughout the year.

Here are six steps to help your team complete your theme package now.

Consider this process:

STEP ONE: Agree on Your Theme Words

A great book always begins with the words. Remember, you are telling the story of this specific year at your specific school, and your theme phrase should create a mood and vibe that is the foundation of that story. Listen to what students say, pay attention to specific words and phrases on TV and commercials, take a field trip to Barnes & Noble or get on your local library website and flip through the magazines available there. Find a current theme phrase with a modern voice. Don’t settle for the first phrase you like. Come up with several and let them percolate. As Sabrina Schmitz would say, “Date them for a while. There’s no need to get married right away!”

STEP TWO: Write Your Elevator Pitch

Once you have discovered your theme words, write a short description of your theme, why you picked it and how it fits your school in this specific year. Writing this down from the start is very important as it reminds you of your process as the year progresses. If you work with a Walsworth cover artist, this will also help them understand your vision for the book.

STEP THREE: Design Your Cover

The design of your cover is everything. It sets the tone for your entire book and elements that drive your coverage and design. Great yearbooks introduce three to five elements on the cover that help create a cohesive look throughout the book. Typography, colors, layering, embossing and debossing are a few ways to bring out the cover of your book. As you work with your rep, have them show you all that is available as your budget allows.

STEP FOUR: Draft Version One of Your Theme Copy

This may seem premature or too difficult at this point of the year, but write a first rough draft of your theme copy. Find your voice and begin gathering examples that illustrate your words’ story. It won’t be perfect, but you will have a starting point for revisions as the year progresses.

STEP FIVE: Set Up One Document

This document includes the cover, endsheets, title page, opening spreads and the first divider. At this point, determine how many spreads you will need and how many spreads you can afford to introduce the story of your theme.

STEP SIX: Carry Cover Elements Throughout

Once you design the cover and decide on fonts, colors and other elements, move them onto the endsheets, title page, theme pages and dividers. As this process progresses, the editors will have numerous discussions on what works and what doesn’t. Throughout the year, these pages will be designed and redesigned multiple times. Try all the options, and when it all finally comes together, you will know for sure you have made all the right choices.

Throughout your yearbook process, share your ideas with your rep, other advisers and instructors from training events you attend, like Elite Weekend or Adviser Academy. Fresh eyes can offer valuable insight and help you overcome any creative blocks you may have. By following these steps, you can create a more cohesive yearbook your school will love.

DESIGN PLAY

If you feel stuck, try these simple ideas to vary your design and find an option you love.

• Make it bigger
• Make it smaller
• Bleed something off the edge
• Change the scale/size
• Turn it
• Tilt it
• Layer it with something
• Cut something out
• Crop it differently
• Change the color
• Change the saturation
• Add something
• Delete something
• Make the internal margins/spacing wider
• Make the internal margins/spacing more narrow

The post The Most Effective Approach to Planning and Building Your Theme From the Start appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

A few simple strategies can help jumpstart a routine, like having something to start the class, keeping them focused through daily work and settling students into feeling comfortable being creative.

Starting Class

If your class resembles mine, the start of the class can be the most chaotic. Students come in, ask what we are going to do today and talk to each other. So many things happen at the same time. Take a deep breath – it will help!

Sometimes it requires a little more than just a welcome or good morning to capture students’ attention and buckle down for work time. A normal class may have some bell work to get students started – that could be an option, but keep in mind this is not a normal class. One thing that worked for me in the past is playing a game. Yes, some students find it corny, but it captures their attention and helps you learn something about them.

I find having a visual agenda of some kind for students encourages them to get to work. Visual agendas can be as simple as having daily Google or PowerPoint slides or having a calendar off to the side of your board. However you set up your class, if you leave space for a daily agenda, it shows students this class is still a class and they are expected to do something during the allotted time.

With visual agendas, it helps students come in and work on an assignment or prep work to guide them into the lesson. Sometimes I have them write down a caption for a photo posted on the board while others take notes at their desk.

Daily Work

Keeping students engaged and busy during the class period can become tedious at times. If there isn’t work to complete on spreads in the yearbook or it’s the break period in between sports season, it can become a time where students struggle staying focused and being productive. This is when it’s important to create and keep daily activities to help grow the students’ skillset.

Daily work does not have to be extensive or even time consuming. A few simple options include practicing:

• Caption writing
• Interview questions
• Critiques

Caption Writing

Caption practice can be a good activity to look at the photos students captured while attending sports games or activity events. This daily work could take care of two birds with one stone.

First, think about how this picture can enhance the yearbook page and brainstorm fun, creative ways you can describe what is happening. If you don’t have new pictures, use photos from the previous year to help students learn this skill and understand what makes a picture yearbook worthy.

Interview Questions

Practicing interview questions should be continued throughout the school year for all the different spreads and activities that happen for maximum effectiveness. Some students find it difficult to talk to others, so pushing them out of their shells might help them feel more confident in those uncomfortable situations.

Besides pushing students to embrace the inevitable situation of conducting interviews, this practice encourages them to be ready to ask follow-up questions. We can always prepare and have our questions ready ahead of time, but sometimes that great quote that draws out the story happens when we least expect it. When that happens, students need to be ready to focus on that quote and encourage their interviewee to expand and provide more information.

Critiques

Critique practice has been one of the biggest challenges faced in my classroom. Some students fear if they provide a harsh critique on someone else’s work, then they might receive the same thing.

Starting critiques early not only encourages students to speak up about what they want to create in their yearbooks, but it also encourages them to feel more confident in their work. Typically, I start by pulling out previous yearbooks or even putting up sample spreads of my own for the students to critique. This provides a few steppingstones for them as they build their strengths as a team.

• First, it allows me to be vulnerable, which makes them more confident to work with me instead of feeling intimidated by me.
• Second, this allows them to see what has worked in the past and maybe what could have been improved.
• Third, it opens them to possible theme options to focus on for their yearbook.

Using Time

The start of class activity probably only takes about five to 10 minutes, leaving plenty of time to delve into the nitty gritty of the yearbook. Following that with a daily activity shows the students that while we are here to have fun and be creative, there is still work involved in this class. Once they finish that though, it’s time to really buckle down and get to the heart of the class. Creating a yearbook.

Following the classwork and diving into the creation includes anything from students separating in their assigned tasks and using their class time to work to coming together and making decisions on the spreads. It will take some time to decide who will be in what roles but once those are settled then the creation flows.

Having that end of the class time for photography uploads and design creation allows students to ask for help from each other and you. Even if it’s only 10 minutes, sometimes that is when the strongest work is completed. The daily work can also be an extension of their creation process if it’s a caption someone is currently working on or a spread design that is ready to be critiqued by editors.

Settling In

This class has many unique qualities. The first being that it’s a team effort to create a product that everyone in the school sees. The second is that it allows for fun times and memories to be shared by students who may not always hang out with each other. My favorite part is that by the end of the year after all the stress is done students celebrate with each other and how well they put together a product that they are proud of.

All of this starts by creating a routine. Creating that routine isn’t just about making sure you don’t stress as much. It does that also, but that is not the main focus. It’s about helping students settle in and be excited for the whole process of putting together a yearbook.

Having a routine can be simple as walking through lesson plans on the Walsworth training website or having a game or activity that starts each class. It shows the students that this class is unique and built on the personality of those that are in the room at that time. It also tells them they have the support they need in creating the best yearbook they can.

The post Yearbook Classroom Routines appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

This month’s episode of That Yearbook Podcast focuses on the power of yearbook captions, while the training video provides a hands-on activity that your staff can practice with. The companion to our latest podcast is our next training video “Writing Captions Right” where Sabrina and Jim walk through the caption writing process with a hands-on classroom activity. 

What are Captions and Why Do They Matter? 

Mike Taylor, CJE, Jim Jordan and Sabrina Schmitz, CJE, highlight the importance of captions, noting these “little stories” further the narrative on each spread. Captions serve as an entry point for readers, hooking them into the content beyond just the photos.

There is also a long-term historical value of captions. As Jim notes, “Photos are for today, the writing is for 20 years from now.” 

Without detailed captions, yearbooks lose their ability to transport readers back in time and provide context about the people, events and activities captured in the images. Jim recounts a personal experience of opening a yearbook with beautiful photography but virtually no captions, leaving him horrified at the lack of information.

In fact, they go so far as to say that the presence or absence of quality captions can make or break a yearbook’s chances of winning awards. Jim bluntly said, “There are two kinds of books in the world, ones that win awards and ones that have no chance of winning awards, and the ones that have a good chance of winning awards have captions, and the ones that don’t have captions.” 

How to Get Started with Captions 

Crafting effective captions requires work. The writer must gather the necessary who, what, when, where, why and how details. However, the payoff is well worth the effort. 

Sabrina notes that while captions may only be a few sentences long, the formula is straightforward. She encourages yearbook staffs to approach caption writing with enthusiasm rather than dread.

The latest training video, “Writing Captions Right” focuses specifically on the formula of caption writing and the ways you can practice with your staff if you are new to captions or need additional practice. To reinforce the ABCD formula, Sabrina and Jim walk through a sample caption-writing exercise, providing a photo and details for the staff to craft their own captions. This hands-on practice is crucial for developing strong caption-writing skills.

Key Takeaways 

The podcast episode and training video serve as a powerful reminder of the vital role captions play in yearbook storytelling. From providing historical context to serving as an entry point for readers, captions are essential for creating an award-winning publication that will be cherished for years to come. By investing time and care into crafting compelling captions, yearbook staffs can elevate their books to new heights and ensure their school’s memories are preserved with the utmost detail and passion. 

Captions are essential storytelling tools in the yearbook. By following a proven formula, avoiding common pitfalls and considering design elements, yearbook staffs can craft captions that engage readers and bring their photos to life. Access the latest podcast and get to work with your students with the paired training video. 

The post The Power of Yearbook Captions appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

Tripp spent the last year getting to know the inner workings of our organization and visited over 95 schools. We sat down with Tripp to hear more about his time spent at those schools, what commonalities he observed in successful yearbook programs across the country and what he learned from his own time as a yearbook photo editor on his high school’s yearbook staff.

1 | TRAINING MATTERS

Students don’t know what they don’t know. From staff management to utilizing available resources, it all starts with the adviser showing students their potential. Tripp noticed immediately that advisers who prioritized training early on had a smoother experience the rest of the year. And what tops the list for training? The importance of deadlines.

“The biggest commonality between successful yearbook programs is that they turn their pages in on time. To have any successful yearbook, you have to have a book,” Tripp said. “I once heard someone say, ‘There really isn’t too much of a difference between a really, really good book compared to a great book. The biggest difference is one’s turned in on time, and one’s not,’” Tripp said.

Training your staff to respect deadlines and turn their projects in on time will be a beneficial life skill that will remain with them long after the book is submitted. But deadlines alone won’t make a great book. Sometimes, you have to anticipate potential problems. Recalling his own yearbook staff in high school, Tripp emphasized that the yearbook belongs to the school, not an individual, and that interpersonal skills can make or break your year.

“Struggles come when one person wants it to be their book when it should be the whole school’s book. Coming together, hashing out differences, really being on the same page and collaborating is extremely important. It may mean having hard conversations,” Tripp said. “But it teaches you real-life skills like communication, collaboration, teamwork and dealing with conflict,” Tripp said.

So, what specific training items should you focus on, and how can Walsworth help?

“Give your students the right amount of training to do the job. Utilizing Walsworth for our resources and having students cross-training so they can take photos and write spreads and wear multiple hats, especially when students go on field trips, get sick, are out on vacation, etc., is extremely important to be successful,” Tripp said. “Some of our best resources are Adviser Academy, Elite Weekend, and That Yearbook Podcast with Jim Jordan, Sabrina Schmitz and Mike Taylor, which has been a huge hit, and the marketing tools as well. Schools love these,” Tripp said.

2 | YOU NEED A MARKETING STRATEGY

“Having a plan for marketing and sales is extremely important because you need to get that book out to as many people as possible, and you want them to see all these really cool, creative spreads your staff created,” Tripp said. “That starts with the adviser expressing the importance of marketing.”

But understanding why you should market is different from actual marketing. So, what works? You can find plenty of marketing resources and tips at walsworthyearbooks.com/marketing, and Tripp has also seen many in-school efforts pay off.

“There have been a lot of unique ways I have seen students market the yearbook, like PEP [Parent Email Program], coupons or discounts early in the year and putting up the index on lockers. That’s one of my favorites because everyone flocks to the index to see their names. A few schools have a whole marketing team AND a creative team to separate those tasks from the get-go. That can depend on the staff, but having students devoted solely to marketing while others focus on design and photos so it’s split evenly can help. That way, everyone has a responsibility.”

Marketing is about more than just sales and dollar signs though. Tripp explains how the yearbook also markets the school and its culture.

“If I was new to an area, had kids and was visiting schools, I would look at the yearbook because the yearbook should solidify the school’s culture. How many clubs are there? Is there a balance of academics, athletics and other types of organizations? The yearbook is a great marketing tool for schools.”

3 | Cultivate Your Classroom Culture

Tripp noticed that the classroom environment and energy around the yearbook play a huge role in attracting and engaging the right students for your program. In fact, it’s what attracted him to yearbook.

“I was on the yearbook staff all four years. People would say, ‘You must have been pressured to be on the yearbook staff,’ but it was actually a choice I made. I went to a school where the yearbook reveal party was a really big deal. Some of the guys I looked up to were on the basketball team, the golf team and also on the yearbook staff. They were cool kids, but they also had a really strong presence in our community, which I thought was extremely important. So, I joined yearbook as a balance between academics and athletics. I developed a passion for photography, so I worked hard and became photo editor my senior year.”

Part of that classroom culture includes letting your students take ownership of the book, even when it can feel like it might be easier to do it yourself as the adviser sometimes. Tripp stressed that teaching these journalism skills sets students up for success in the real world, whatever their chosen profession.

“What makes a successful yearbook is the kids doing it. Students being cross-trained, remaining open to feedback and having strong communication, collaboration, teamwork, everyone being on the same page and striving to achieve the goal of creating a yearbook are the main things that help build a good culture in the classroom. That’s contagious. It’s like having a manifesto of the whole school spirit captured in that yearbook.”

4 | ALWAYS REMAIN OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Yearbook becomes very personal with how much of yourself you pour into the publication, which can sometimes make feedback feel intimidating, but Tripp explained how the most successful programs are always learning and building upon what they’ve done in the past.

“Having a mindset of continual growth and learning – being open to change and wanting to learn new things – it’s huge. In our current culture, if you’re stagnant and stuck in your ways, you’re going to get passed. If you’re open to strategic change and are a continuous learner, you and your program will benefit,” Tripp said.

That’s not just an observation for Tripp – it’s a life and business philosophy. As a company, Walsworth also continually works to incorporate new and better ways to help our customers have the best yearbook experience.

“There are so many new ideas, new ways to design spreads and new ways to incorporate things into your yearbook. With Walsworth’s resources, you can see what the new trends are. If you’re focused on the same trends as 15 years ago, your book could potentially be passed up for journalistic recognitions. I always think it’s important for you to set that culture of continuous learning, and that’s because your students need to be continuously learning for them to be successful – in the yearbook room but also outside the yearbook room. You might not be taking advantage of everything Walsworth is doing to make your job easier.”

5 | BUILD MEANINGFUL YEARBOOK CONNECTIONS

Tripp recognizes that being a yearbook adviser is a unique role not everyone can understand. That’s why it’s so important to build your community of support with other yearbook advisers and your Walsworth family.

“Having people around you makes a huge difference so you feel like you’re part of a network. You can bounce ideas off each other. You can talk about what you’re struggling with and what your challenges and success stories are. I think the whole Walsworth network is extremely valuable because we’re going to hold your hand and be there with you throughout the yearbook process. The last thing you want is to feel like you’re stranded on an island because, as a yearbook adviser, not many people in your school know how hard it is to make a yearbook. Only other yearbook advisers and your students know,” Tripp said.

Tripp has seen the value of yearbook connections in his visits to schools, and their significance cannot be overstated.

“The number one resource is your sales representative. I was talking to an adviser in California and asked them, ‘Why have you stayed with us for 35 years?’ And she replied, ‘It’s the people and the resources.’ It’s all about that networking community. As a school or yearbook adviser, you are not a number; you are a person. We understand that the school year will present a lot of challenges. There will be some highs and lows, and we will be right by your side. We’re in this together. That’s why the sales reps wear so many hats. They have to be there for you. The school year is challenging, and there are many curveballs. So let’s figure out how we can manage this together.”

+ | BONUS: STAY ORGANIZED

The difference between success and failure can come down to one simple thing: organization – or the lack thereof.

“You’ve got to be organized. As an adviser, you deal with so many kids, potentially across multiple classes. If you’re struggling with organization, your sales representative can help you with organizational strategies, but if you’re not organized, your students might not be organized, and you might miss deadlines. You don’t want deadlines missed, and you don’t want to miss capturing the big moments your school has throughout the year.

If your school has a really nice Veterans Day ceremony that is part of the school’s culture, and there are former students who are now veterans coming back for this, but you completely miss it even though it’s been in the yearbook for 20 years – the yearbook could be impacted. It really all starts with organization.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

During his extensive travels, Tripp had an up-close view of the joys and struggles that go hand in hand with yearbook advising. What stood out to him was how rare the opportunity to do something as meaningful as yearbook is.

“Being on the yearbook staff is a great honor. You get to make a strong impact at your school. The yearbook is a history book. As a yearbook adviser, you are leading that charge, and we want to be there to support you however we can.”

While there are various metrics each person will use to qualify success, you are the ultimate decider of how successful your program will be and how it will be remembered.

“People define and look at success differently. Looking back on my yearbook experience, we didn’t have a big journalistic background and did not win any Pacemakers or national, prestigious awards,” Tripp said. “But a yearbook is all about collecting the best memories of the year. If you’ve captured that, you’ve created a successful yearbook.”

The post Great Yearbook Programs Incorporate: 5 Simple Ideas appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.

Encouraging school groups to submit group senior yearbook ads in addition to selling individual senior ads provides a great way to keep revenue coming in year after year.

About 12 years ago, the band boosters asked if they could do an ad for all the band seniors. One mom took charge, communicated with me, organized the photos, and got all the names. They provided a uniformed group photo they took on senior night (the only night “band buns” were not required) then additional photos of each instrument group. After working with the band, I also reached out to the drill team and cheer sponsors. Both those sets of parents decided to submit one, as well.

After that first year, things took off. Football, baseball, volleyball and most of the other sports as well as choir, theater, senior class council, etc., they all wanted one. In 2024, we had over ten pages of school group senior ads. Some groups were very large, like the band with over 50 seniors and they buy a full spread! Other some groups have been small, like last year’s track girls with just four members. Either way, we welcome them returning year after year.

Group ads allow you to increase your coverage, bring in more revenue and offer a more affordable way for students to get recognized for their accomplishments.

Tips I’ve learned along the way:

LIMIT THE PHOTOS:

We tell groups they can send in up to HALF the usual number of photos. Normally, we allow a full-page ad to have up to nine photos. We design with one dominant, and the rest are smaller. When every photo is a group, that’s just not possible though. So a GROUP full page ad has room for up to five images and we’ll take up to three photos for a half page.

REACH OUT EVERY YEAR:

You can’t expect a new group of senior parents, and often new coaches and sponsors, every year to know this is a tradition. Send them a copy of last year’s ad (or another group’s ad) and let them know that you’d love to showcase their seniors. Keep asking until you get an answer. All it takes is one “Yes” to start a tradition that will benefit yearbook for decades!

BE FLEXIBLE:

Normally, we have a strict deadline and require all senior ads to be purchased and photos uploaded online through yearbookforever.com, but I have allowed groups to email me their photos (maybe even a few weeks late), drop off a check, and one year the cross country kids showed up in my classroom with a baggie of cash and their photos on a flash drive. That’s ok! I took it all and did my best to cater to their needs. Making sure they are all happy with their ad is not only affecting THIS yearbook, but it also affects all those in the years to come as we are setting traditions in place.

If you are offering group ads for the first time, be ready to show then an example. Use THIS CANVA LINK to edit our flyers; send emails to every coach, director, sponsor you can think of; then ask them to forward to their booster club or parents.  Post on all your social media pages to be sure the seniors see the examples, as well. You might also consider offering a yearbook staff member to take their photos, and offering to reach out to that coach or director for a sweet sentiment to include in the ad.

Making sure your senior groups are happy with their ad will not only affect THIS yearbook, but it also affects all those in the years to come as you are setting new traditions in place. Don’t be afraid to try something new – it just might be the change you’ve been waiting for to revitalize your senior tributes.

The post Increase Revenue and Coverage with Group Senior Ads appeared first on Walsworth Yearbooks.