How to create a personalised Photo Calendar

Taking pride of place on a wall, door or fridge, the humble calendar acts as a beacon of organisation in most homes. Containing the who, where and when that everyone can look at if they’re not sure what’s happening – or simply to remind themselves which day of the week it is. With our lives busier than ever thanks to countless birthdays, anniversaries, events and holidays to remember, calendars are crucial for keeping on top of everything. So it seems only right to put a little effort into making them extra special with a personal touch.

Twelve months is a long time, so choosing the right pictures for your Photo Calendar requires some thought. You wouldn’t settle for framing a mediocre picture on the wall, so calendars should be no different. From your loved ones to your favourite places, each page has the potential to light up your day.

Calendars also make a simple but wonderful gift. Once you’ve created a design, it can tick off your whole Christmas list or become a tailored gift for someone special – it all depends which photos you choose to include.   

This guide highlights the fun and heartwarming process of picking photos for your calendar, as well as taking you through the stages of seamlessly creating one with the Popsa app.

Decide on a theme

Before you get creating, take some time to think about an overall theme or narrative for the calendar – something that builds a story and helps you select images. For example, a journey that begins with the oldest photos and gradually works its way to the present day by the end of the year. Or you could highlight a family member each page or go seasonal and take the opportunity to walk down memory lane, exploring birthday celebrations, weddings, births, first Christmases and favourite holidays, in the months they took place.

Remember, if you’re opting to lead with featured family members to make sure nobody gets left out!

Select a photo for each month

Get creative when it comes to selecting an image to represent each calendar month. In February – Valentine’s month – you could revisit family weddings, romantic getaways or simply celebrate love with a group shot or a photo of the kids hugging. When you get to the springtime months, consider using photos of picturesque countryside walks, Easter-egg hunts or visits to see farm animals during lambing season. For the colder months, think crisp winter walks, cosy family time and the Christmas whirlwind of nativity plays and parties.

Set up your calendar

Once you have your images, open the Popsa app and go to ‘Create a Photo Calendar’. You’ve got a few choices before you get into your design: would you like your calendar to be portrait or landscape, medium or large, and when you would like the start date to be – January, or the start of the school year, for example.

Large landscape calendars work best for frequent family use, whereas portrait calendars are great for gifting and filling trickier wall space. Whichever start date you choose will run for 12 months until the following year – so you can start using it whenever you like.

Choose a name and upload your photos

Every calendar needs a name, especially if it’s a gift. Your title and subhead combination could be something sentimental like ‘Here’s to the Next Chapter, Me & You’, or as simple as ‘The Cook Family, 2026’, which will work just as well on your own fridge as it will as a gift for the grandparents.

The easiest way to add your photos is to create an album in your camera roll following the theme you grouped them in earlier. Then, simply upload your photos to the Popsa app directly. Make sure to choose high-quality images, otherwise your photos may be blurry when printed.

Pick your year’s template

For your layout, consider how many people and places will feature. You’ll need a template with more photos if there’s lots of loved ones to fit in, but if you’re using scenic snaps you’ll want something minimal so they take centre stage. Photo layout options can be found in the window-shaped Templates icon above any page. Select a layout with one to three photos per spread, or opt for a classic calendar look to keep it minimalist. If you’re not sure, it’s easy to flip between themes to test out your photo selection with different styles.

Add colour to each month

If simply having your photos change each month isn’t enough to differentiate one page to the next, you can tap the Themes panel at the bottom of the screen to give each month its own colour. The background options you’ll find automatically adjust to the colours in your photos, so you can design each spread like a pro. It’s useful to consider the seasonal aspect here, too – sky blues and vibrant yellows work for spring and summer, while sumptuous oranges, reds and deeper tones feel more autumnal.

Tailor your year with events and captions

Everyone’s year is unique to them. From birthdays to anniversaries, holy days to milestones, the events featured on your calendar are completely up to you. Simply tap the Events icon to add or remove them as you scroll through your design.

Pairing captions with your photos is a great way to expand the storytelling. A funny quote or emotive note can add wholesome character to your calendar, which is especially useful if you’re creating a gift for someone. Popsa’s AI captions make suggestions for you in five different tones of voice, so you can find the right words for every memory.

Preview it on the wall

Before you send it to print, take a look through your calendar with Popsa’s 3D Preview – consider the journey from page to page, if the photos suit each month and if all your key dates are accounted for. If your creation is not quite right yet, just jump back into your design and make a few amends. Then you’re ready to have it delivered to your door.

If you’re feeling inspired to make your own Photo Calendar, download the Popsa app and start creating today.