This weekend is the perfect time to make your 1st photo zine.
Happy International Zine Month!
I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately on how I make photography zines, so here are some tips (+ templates!) to get you started. This weekend is the perfect time to make your 1st photo zine.
New workshop in Zürich!
Free mini zine template (mobile-friendly!)
Why I love photo zines & why you should, too
1. New workshop in Zürich!
First, an exciting announcement: I will be teaching Intro to Photography Zines here in Zürich at Swiss Photo Club starting September 10. Just bring your computer/tablet digital photos, and a dream:
Tell your story with a photography zine. Zines (as in “magazines”) have a lively history and offer an inviting gateway to self-published photobooks. Learn how to define your vision, choose a zine type, design and publish your book. Participants will make an 8-page mini photo zine in this workshop.
Not in Zürich? I’ll be launching an online class soon. : )
2. Free mini zine template (mobile-friendly!)
Mini zines made from one sheet of paper are my favorite zine format. These tiny gems represent all that is beautiful to me about zine and DIY publishing culture: simple, inexpensive, quick, mimimalist, hand-crafted, portable little books that are easy to trade and a joy to behold.
Want to make one this weekend? :)
Here are some free Canva templates I made for you:
These are free to use. You’ll need a free Canva account to access them. You can even use these on your phone, where all your photos end up anyway. :)
Instructions
You will need a printer and scissors.
Choose a theme. Street photos? Flowers? Monochrome? Summer adventures?
Upload/drag & drop your images onto the template. Optional: Add a title or text.
Print.
Fold and cut using the included guide. You can watch how I do it in this video.
Enjoy!
3. Why I love photo zines & why you should, too
They are a quick creative fix. Having a tough day? Slogging through a long project? Tired of having to be so perfect all the time? Want some instant satisfaction? Make a zine today! Put a smile on your own face by holding a new little book in your hand.
They are accessible. They can be inexpensive, lo-fi, imperfect, quick, printed on common paper by anyone. Photo zines, and zines in general, may be made on computers, but they don’t need to be. Child or adult — anyone with a piece of paper and a creative spark can make one.
They are social. They are fun to share and trade in many scenarios. I’ve even used them as business cards and birthday cards. I send and trade them in-person and by mail around the world.
What tools do I use? I use Affinity Publisher on my Mac and public printers (yep!) or print shops as I don’t have a printer at home. I love using public printers, like at post offices and convenience stores, in my own town and on travels — it gives a lovely local flavor and limited edition quality to every batch of zines. : )
I’d love to see your photo zine or trade with you!
Let me know what you’re making. :)
JILL.DESIGN 
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