Photo Book with text: 10 creative ideas to tell your story

Journi: Your personal designer and ghostwriter

Designing a Photo Book with text should be fun, not frustrating. We’ve designed our editor to be as intuitive as possible so you can spend less time editing and more time reminiscing.

Here’s a list of what makes Journi the very best Photo Book with text editor: 

• Smart automation: Our AI automatically uses the metadata from your photos to add dates and locations as headlines and even generates beautiful maps of your travels.
• The freedom to write: In the Journi editor, you have the freedom to add a title, a specific date, or a full paragraph on each page. 
• Room for the whole story: Each paragraph text box has a limit of 1,000 characters, giving you plenty of room to write long-form memories or heartfelt messages on every single page.
• Dedicated space for feelings: For those special occasions, use the inscription page to write a foreword or dedication. It's the perfect way to start a dedicated gift.

How to add text in the Journi app: a step-by-step

We’ve designed our editor to do the heavy lifting for you. With Journi, you’ll have a first draft ready in a matter of seconds. Then, it’s up to you to customize it to perfection. 

Here’s how you can customize your narrative to make your book uniquely yours:

1. Select your photos: Journi’s AI automatically arranges them in a beautiful, chronological timeline. It even pulls metadata to add dates and locations automatically!
2. Tap the plus (+) button: Once you’re in the editor, tap the "Add" button on any page where you want to tell a story.
3. Choose your text type: You can choose to add a Title, a specific Date, or a full Paragraph.

10 creative ways to use text and captions

Need some inspiration to move past dates and locations? With a 1,000-character limit per text box, you have plenty of room to let your inner author out. 

Here are ten ways to bring your book to life:

1. The letter to a loved one 💕

Perfect for a birthday gift, Valentine’s Photo Book, or birthday surprise. Use the inscription page to write a heartfelt letter. Explain how your loved one has shaped your life or simply say "thank you" for the small things.

Example: "To my biggest cheerleader: This book is just a tiny glimpse into the amazing year we've shared. Thank you for always knowing exactly what to say. I love you!”

2. Capture the kids’ funny quotes 💬

Kids say the wildest things. Dedicate pages to their hilarious and heartwarming quotes alongside photos of their expressions. It's the best way to remember their "toddler-isms."

Example: "Maya, age 4: 'Grandma, I love you more than all the dinosaurs and pancakes in the whole wide universe combined. Even the blueberry ones!'"

3. Tell the "story behind the shot" 📸

Sometimes a photo doesn’t look like much to an outsider, but it means the world to you. Use your paragraph space to explain why a blurry photo of a pizza box is actually your favorite memory from a rainy night in Venice.

Example: "This photo is blurry because we were laughing so hard. We had just walked for an hour in the rain, and ducked into the first pizza place we saw to grab something to eat. It wasn’t the evening we had planned, but we had so much fun anyway."

4. Create a heritage recipe book 🥘

Is your family known for a specific dish? Pair a photo of a family meal with the actual recipe and the history of who used to cook it. Our crisp printing makes the text easy to read in the kitchen!

Example: "Nana’s Sunday Sauce: 2 cans of tomatoes, 3 cloves of garlic, and a lifetime of practice. It never tastes quite as good when I make it, but this photo of Nana teaching Leo the 'secret stir' makes me smile every time."

5. Diary-style travelogues 🗺

Let our AI generate your travel maps, then add your own journal entries. What was the best thing you ate that day? How did you feel when you finally saw the sunset over the canyon?

Example: "Day 4 in Tokyo: My feet were killing me, but finding this hidden shrine in the rain was magic. We were the only ones there, and for a second, the whole city felt completely still."

6. A list of "firsts" 👶

For Baby Photo Books with text or first-year retrospectives, list the milestones that photos can't always show: first words, the first time they crawled, or the first time they slept through the night.

Example: "August 12th: First tooth. October 5th: First time you crawled toward the cat (and the cat looked very surprised!). October 12th: Your first time sleeping through the night. Your parents officially celebrate!"

7. Stats and trivia 📊

Make a wrap-up of your trip. List the altitude of your hike, the temperature of the ocean, or the exact number of kilometers you walked.

Example: "The Road Trip Stats: 2,400 miles driven. 14 coffee shop stops. 3 flat tires. 1 epic playlist on repeat. Total hours spent singing at the top of our lungs: All of them."

8. Use song lyrics or poetry 🎶

Sometimes someone else says it best. Use lyrics from a song that played on repeat during your road trip, or a meaningful poem that reminds you of a specific family member.

Example: "‘And I think to myself, what a wonderful world...’ - These lyrics were playing the moment this photo was taken, and looking at your smile here, it’s exactly how I felt."

9. Then vs. now 📆

Contrast a vintage photo with a modern one. Use your 1,000 characters to write about how much things have changed (and how much they've stayed the same).

Example: "2014 vs. 2024. Same beach, same messy hair, same best friend. A whole decade has passed, and I'm so glad some things never change. Here’s to the next ten years of adventure together."

10. Remember every moment of your big day 💒

Whether it’s a wedding or a big birthday, these events often fly by in a flash. Remember every precious moment by including text to tell the whole story of your most precious occasions. 

Example: “At 10 pm, the dancing started, Uncle John was the first on the floor. His moves were hilarious…”

Pick the perfect format for your story

Your story should look as good as it reads. You can customize the mood of your Photo Book with our curated themes: Hearts, Smart Pastel, Coral Garden, or Lazy Sunday.

We offer high-quality options for every type of storyteller:

• Softcover: Lightweight and flexible, perfect for everyday memories.
• Hardcover: Sturdy and classic, a real coffee table centerpiece.
• Layflat: Our premium choice. Photos and text flow seamlessly from edge to edge without getting lost in the crease of the binding.

Looking for a little extra? You can even create personalized Photo Cards to match your book!

Quality you can feel, stories you can keep

Your stories deserve a professional finish. We use FSC-certified, planet-friendly paper that ensures your text looks sharp and your colors stay vibrant. 

Whether you choose an elegant matte finish or a brilliant glossy look, your Photo Book with text will feel like a high-end coffee table book.

Plus, we’re kind to the planet: for every order placed, we plant a tree through our restoration partnerships.

FAQs: Photo Book with text - your storytelling questions, answered

How do I make a Photo Book with text and captions?

The easiest way to create a Photo Book with text is using the Journi app (on mobile or desktop!). Once you’ve uploaded your photos, our AI automatically creates a chronological timeline and adds dates and locations based on your photo metadata. To add your own custom story, simply tap the plus (+) "Add" button to insert a title, date, or paragraph.

Can I add a custom inscription to my Photo Book?

Yes! You can include a professional inscription page at the beginning of your book. This is ideal for writing a personal dedication, a letter to a loved one, or an introduction to a birthday Photo Book. It gives your keepsake a high-end, published feel right from the first page.

What is the character limit for captions in Journi?

Every text box in Journi has a limit of 1,000 characters. Titles are limited to 40 characters. This gives you more than enough room to tell the "story behind the shot," write long-form diary entries, or record meaningful quotes and anecdotes alongside your photos.

Can I choose different fonts and styles for my text?

Absolutely. Journi allows you to customize the look of your words to match your photos. You can choose from various stylish fonts, adjust the text alignment, and even change colors. You can also pair your text with designer themes like Hearts, Smart Pastel, Coral Garden, or Lazy Sunday to create a cohesive look throughout your album.

Is it possible to print a title on the spine of the book?

Yes, the title on the cover of your Photo Book will also be printed on the spine. This makes it easy to organize your collection and find specific memories on your bookshelf. It's the perfect finishing touch for a professional-quality Photo Book with text.

Which book type is best for large amounts of text?

If you want to tell a long-form story with large photos, our Layflat Photo Book is the premium choice. Because it opens perfectly flat, your text and photos won’t get lost in the crease of the book. It is the ultimate format for "coffee table" style narrative books.

Does Journi’s AI help with the storytelling?

Yes. Journi acts as your "personal designer on demand." The AI doesn't just arrange your photos; it also takes over the administrative side of storytelling by automatically generating beautiful maps of your travels and inserting the correct dates and locations based on where your photos were taken.