Lifetouch Yearbook Publishing

Yearbook Checklist

Use this checklist to help you stay organized and up-to-date with all the details.


	Consult Your Local Lifetouch Yearbook Representative: You and your local Lifetouch yearbook representative will sign and submit a Publication Agreement for the yearbook program. Be sure to save a copy for deadlines and other key information.
	Organize a Yearbook Committee: Depending on the size of your school, and available resources, you may want to recruit and assemble a yearbook committee. Your yearbook staff could be made up of PTA volunteers, students, teachers and faculty.
	Divide Up the Main Responsibilities: Create five sub-teams and designate a leader for each of the areas: Sales Team—Selling and promoting the yearbook Creative Team—Creating the pages, theme, design and layout Journalism Team—Writing and typing the headlines and captions Photography Team—Taking and gathering the activity photos Distribution Team—Organizing and managing distribution day activities
	Mark Your Calendar for Lifetouch School Picture Day: Your school's administration may already have the picture dates scheduled, but it's a good idea to confirm the scheduled date. Make sure to also schedule your sports, clubs and class pictures.
	The Yearbook Kit Arrives: Once you receive your yearbook kit, look through everything. Be sure to locate your job number, review the materials and mark your deadlines on the calendar.
	Review Your Printing Specifications: Double-check the specifications (pages, copies, cover type, etc.) on the Publication Agreement or in YB Track. If you would like to add anything—more pages, more copies, a hard cover, Zoom, color pages, foil imprinting —please contact your local Lifetouch yearbook representative.
	Plan the Page-By-Page Coverage: Using your ladder diagram, past yearbooks, and a school calendar of events, plan each page's content. The ladder diagram will serve as your "blueprint" for the entire yearbook. It will also help you ensure that all of the year's activities, clubs, and events are covered. Your kit contains a poster-size ladder diagram and an 8½ x 11 sheet.
	Plan a Yearbook Sales Campaign: Use the yearbook posters provided in your yearbook kit to promote the yearbook sale. Refer to the Smart Selling System included in your kit, for helpful selling tips. Use the templates on the Smart Selling CD to create your own sales materials.
	Brainstorm a Theme Concept: Incorporate creative ideas, graphics and a theme throughout your yearbook to provide continuity and excitement.
	Take Activity and Candid Photos: This is a great way to involve students, teachers and parents. Have disposable cameras available so each classroom can capture the day-to-day activities. Refer to your ladder diagram for what specific photos are needed to complete each page.
	Decide on a Yearbook Cover: It's time to put a lid on it... your yearbook that is! You may select one of our full-color Signature Covers, customize a ProDesign Cover, or create a Special Design Cover.
	Set Mini-Deadlines: Although you've marked your cover and page deadlines on the calendar, it's important to set mini-deadlines for your yearbook committee and staff. Don't leave everything to the last minute.
	Create Your Portrait and Activity Pages: Follow the instructions included in your yearbook kit.
	Submit Payment for Your Deposit Notice: After your pages have been received, a deposit notice will be mailed to your school.
	Proof Your Pages: If your program includes proofs, carefully proof each page and return them promptly to Lifetouch. Before returning your proofs, photocopy them and store the duplicates.
	Plan the Distribution Day: Before the books arrive, decide on the location and process you'll use to distribute the books to the students.
	Review the Yearbooks: Before you distribute the yearbooks, open the boxes and count them.
	Submit Final Payment: After the books have been shipped to your school, a final invoice containing the balance due will be mailed.
	Distribute the Yearbooks and Celebrate: Celebrate the year's memories during the yearbook autograph signing party.
	Collect Feedback (Optional): While distributing the yearbooks, provide an opportunity for students, teachers, and parent to complete a survey. This information will be very helpful in next year's planning process.
	Best of the Best Contest (Optional): Prepare and submit your school's entry to the Best of the Best yearbook contest.
	Year-in-Review Get Together (Optional): Gather the committee together to celebrate the accomplishments, review the surveys, and enjoy the book. Your team will have lots of ideas that should be recorded and passed along to next year's committee.