How to Make a Photography Zine

Table of Contents

What Is a Photography Zine?

A photography zine is a self-published, hand made magazine. Zines are usually photocopied in black and white on standard letter size paper and folded in half or in thirds, sometimes stapled.

The quality of photocopies varies widely from good to very poor so it is important that you check the printout before you buy one. It may be worth asking friends if they have any old zines you can use as examples of what you want to create.

There are some fantastic zines available to buy second hand from online stores such as Etsy (www.etsy.com) or Amazon (amazon.com). If you do not have access to a printer, there are many websites that will allow you to upload your images and create a digital version of your zine. There are two ways you can go about making your own zine:

1. Print out a blank photocopy of an existing zine and add your photos and information.

2. Create your own layout by adding text, photos, drawings etc.

The best way to get started is to look at existing zines and think about what you like and don’t like about them.

The main thing is to make sure that your zine is well designed, with a clear layout, plenty of pictures and that the content is interesting and informative.

Make sure the size of the pages is right for the format you are using. You might want to include a cover or title page which will act as an introduction to your zine.

Try to keep the front cover simple, with a title, author’s name and perhaps a small description of what is inside. It may be good to include some information about you as the author so people can get to know you.

Include any interesting information about yourself in a little box at the bottom of the page.

Reasons to Create Your Own Photo Zine

Creating your own zine can be fun and enjoyable, and it can also be useful as a way of exploring your interests.

Why?

To document what you are interested in.
To share your interests with others.
To document and reflect on your life journey.
To practice creative writing skills.
To create something that you can hold onto, that is uniquely yours.
To find like-minded people.
To challenge yourself by being original.
To show people that you don’t have to look the same as everyone else.
To show that you are interested in more than just one thing.
To record what’s going on around you.
To make sense of it all, so that you can understand where you are coming from.
To reflect on and analyze your experiences.
To explore how your interests relate to your personality.
To help you get to know your interests better.
To share your experiences.
To make the most of the opportunities that life offers.
To make you feel more comfortable with who you are.
To be able to express yourself and share your interests.
To bring out the best in you.
To make things easier for you in later life.
To find a way to cope with being different.
To enjoy your life.
To take pride in your achievements.

Options for Printing Your Zine

There are many different options available to print your zine. We’ve listed them below so that you can choose what works best for you.

1. Print it at home using a printer

After you design you zine and are satisfied with the result, you can print your zine if you have a printer at home.

2. Go to a print shop

If you don’t have a printer, you can go to a print shop to print your photography zine.

How to Make a Zine Template

A zine is a small low-cost magazine that is often printed on paper, but sometimes on vinyl. It was originally conceived as a means of sharing political ideas and information. In recent years, it has become an important part of the DIY (do it yourself) movement.

People are creating their own zines to sell to friends and family or distribute online. A photographer’s zine is a collection of photographs designed to be read, not simply viewed. It is usually a collection of portraits or images of a particular place.

The subjects of the portraits can range from landscapes and wildlife, to people and their families. There is no set rule about what to include in a zine, and each person can decide how much space to devote to photography.

How do I create my own zine?

You will need:

• paper – usually A4 size, although larger is fine

• an image editing program (such as Photoshop)

• some creativity (not all zines are the same)

1. Select your photos and write a brief introduction to each one.

2. Choose a cover design that you like, and design the pages using the template provided by the zine library website.

3. Print off a copy of your zine to look at and make sure you are happy with it.

4. Have someone else look at the zine and tell you if it is too simple or too busy. It’s best to be critical when you first start – it will help you to improve your work.

5. When you are ready to share your work, have another person look over your work, then print off a few copies.

6. If you are selling your zine, you can also include postcards or prints to sell along with it.

7. If you would like some feedback on your zine, you can contact any of the photographers who have created zines and ask them to look at yours.

Designing and Laying Out Your Photo Zine

When designing your photo zine, think about what you want it to look like and what kind of feel you want it to have. Here are some tips to help you get started:

-Start by gathering images that represent the theme or topic of your zine.

-Next, create a rough outline of the cover design. This will help you determine the size and layout of the images you will use.

-Once you have a rough outline of your cover design, begin creating your images.

Try to use images that represent the theme or topic of your zine.

1. Cover image

2. Title

3. Author

4. Description

Including Text in Your Photography Zine

Text can be a powerful tool in your photography zine. By including text that discusses your photographic process, your audience can learn more about your work and connect with you as an artist. One way to include text in your zine is to include a photo essay.

Photo essays are a great way to tell a story through pictures. Photo Essays are easy to create and can be used in many ways. They can serve as a narrative that explores the making of a photo, a collection of photos from a particular location, or a series of images that build on one another. Photo essays can be about the process of photography, the place where you took the photo, a particular moment in time, or even a memory. The possibilities are endless! Creating a photo essay is simple and can be done quickly with some planning and research.

Sharing Your Photography Zine

What do you get when you combine a zine maker with a photographer? A photographer who shares her photographs with others in the form of a zine!

A self-published zine is a handy way to share your photography with friends and family. They are inexpensive to produce, easy to make and can be designed to include your latest work and an invitation to buy your print edition if you wish to share your photos in this way. A good idea is to produce a few copies and send them out as gifts at Christmas, birthdays or for other special occasions.

Or you can share your zines on the Internet, on your website and on your social media accounts. You can also share your zines with your favorite photography groups and ask them for their feedback.

Conclusion

So, you want to start making your own photography zine? That’s awesome! I’m going to give you a few pointers on how to get started.

First, you need a great camera. This is the only thing you really need to make a quality zine.

Next, you need to get a bunch of great photographs. You can either take the photos yourself or you can hire someone to do it for you.

You can also get some professional photos for less than $50 per image. Just search Google Images and see what you find.

Next, you’ll need some good printing materials. Depending on what kind of zine you’re making, you can get all of these things online.

Then you’ll need some good paper and ink for your printer.

You can also use old, torn up magazines for your prints.

Finally, you’ll need a bunch of photo editing software. Photoshop is my favorite, but you can also get some free alternatives like GIMP.

If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll want to invest in a scanner as well. You can get a decent one for around $100.

That’s pretty much it. Now, it’s time to start making your first zine!