Let me start by saying I started writing this post but found myself telling the story of my personal yearbook bff, so I am back to writing about making other yearbook friends.
As I said in another post, I was the yearbook person – handed the job via the PTO when no one else would do it, and after a year of fighting with the software and my customer service rep, our principals switched yearbook companies, and to repeat myself – SPOILER ALERT – that was the BEST decision!!
For years I made a yearbook, kind of alone, but I did have a friend who was my seasonal yearbook bff, but I didn’t know anyone else who was making yearbooks. I was certain there were more people like me since I met with other yearbook company reps and there are lots of schools around me, but I didn’t know anyone who was doing this.
I found some of the nicest customer service reps at each of the companies I worked with (I worked with 4 different yearbook companies), but none of them were even close to my favorite one, Ellen. Ellen saved me and became my other yearbook bff. I talked to her daily when I’m in my creative crunch and she talked me off more than a few ledges over many years!
I have given presentations about what to do when your yearbook team is just you and one of the important pieces is your rep at the yearbook company. As I said, I have worked with about 8 and I found out how instrumental it is to have them available to support you and just have your back, and not just someone who is unreachable or who only yells deadlines at you.
I remember one day seeing some posts from Entourage (It was so long ago, I can’t remember if it was on facebook or just the website) about a High School Yearbook Advisor’s Conference. I was definitely envious and so curious about all the stuff the advisors were learning and I was not subtle about wanting to be invited next time (always said with a laugh) but I knew it wasn’t really for me as an elementary yearbook person, not a teacher, not a HS level club or class. My books were for young children, not sophisticated high schoolers!
To my surprise, I was invited the next year and this is the point I want to make. I made yearbook buddies. I learned so much and found people who spoke my yearbook language but so much better and sophisticated than me. I was the only elementary yearbook advisor there and I was made to feel welcome by all of the HS Advisors.
I learned about photography, journalistic writing, color theory, a design guide, about the future of yearbooks and printing, and interactive capabilities, like QR codes and augmented reality, but most importantly, I found real people, like me, from all over the country who make yearbooks! I met Ellen in person, still one of my most favorite people, and so many of the team of staff that have helped me over the years.
One of my most favorite things is that we went to see the production facility, and I got to meet the people who print my book; I was able to thank them personally. Watching the books go through the process was and still is one of my most favorite things to witness. That printing process just keeps evolving and I love that I get to see it in person!
I enjoy being part of a yearbook friend group; I even joined the Advisor’s Council and gave my own presentations at the conference, because I find so much value in my experience there and want to share my experiences being a yearbook lady in my city with other advisors like me who are doing it mostly on their own and show them that they aren’t alone if they reach out and look around to those that are there to be their yearbook buddies.
I never knew that the yearbook conference even existed until this past year! When we got the invite to this years Yearbook Palooza I was so excited!! I love doing the yearbooks! I work for the photography company at several schools, and we have the upper classmen doing their yearbooks through us, as well as we do the elementary yearbooks for most of our schools. We signed up right away for the conference, and I can’t wait! 🙂
I have found the conference to be a great source of information and inspiration! I hope we get to meet and that you enjoy yourself and leave with great inspiration and new yearbook friends!!
The Conference is so many things from professional development to a mini-vacay, but you are right that making friendships is honestly priceless. People that ‘get you’ and understand the roller coaster it is to make a book. I love learning from the workshop leader and colleagues that have the best tips to share to help with production or process. Now I am so excited for Next year’s conference plus JEA/NSPA has two a year!