How to Plan a Family Photo Calendar
Gather 12 family photos, match them to the months, and check the crops and dates before ordering a wall calendar.
By Giftelvo
Collect 12 strong photographs and a cover
Make a shared folder and ask each household for two or three original files. Put one favorite photo aside for the cover. For the monthly pages, mix wide group photos with close portraits so that the calendar has variety and each household appears at least once.
Use a simple rule for assigning months
You can match photographs to the month they were taken, feature family birthdays, or tell the story of a year in order. If you use birthdays, keep a separate list of the dates so nobody is left out. A vacation photo can work in the same month as the trip even when it was taken several years ago.
A month that has several birthdays can feature a group photo. For a month without events, choose something from daily life, such as a family recipe in progress or a pet in the garden.
Proof the dates and the crops together
Check the year, starting month, and spelling of any names. Preview each monthly page, especially vertical photos used in horizontal openings. If a photo needs too much cropping, replace it with a file of the same orientation as the opening or use a layout that leaves room around the image.
Before you order a copy for several households, send the preview to one relative who knows the dates. Save the files and month assignments together so next year’s version is easier to assemble.
