How to Create Your Own Photography Zine: Step-by-Step Guide by Jennifer Stamps

Written by Jennifer Stamps

Zines are a fun way to share your voice, spark creativity, and connect with others who are passionate about the same things. Whether you’re telling a story, sharing art, or exploring a topic, creating a zine is a personal and rewarding journey.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of making your own zine—from concept to creation—so you can bring your unique ideas to life and share them with the world.

Find the Framed Instant Zine on Etsy.

What’s a Zine?

First thing is first… what is a “zine?” A zine – short for magazine – is a mini magazine.

American zines originated from the amateur press movement of the early 20th century when hobbyist printers bought their own presses to create small publications focused on specific topics or interests.

Zines have existed since the early 20th century and have played a key role in underground and non-commercial publishing. Historically, zines have provided a platform for marginalized voices and focused on hyper-local content.

Nowadays, you can find zines about everything: poetry, short stories, comics, collages, art, photography, and more.

Zines are often photocopied or made more economically; however, there are dozens of print shops that can help you professionally print your zines.

Step One: Purpose and Topic for Your Zine

Ask yourself what the purpose of the zine is. Is it to share your work, create a community of those with similar interests, tell a story, or educate others on a specific topic? Determine your purpose and let that drive your zine.

Once you have your purpose, narrow down a topic. It’s important to pick a topic that you’re passionate about for your zine. Don’t be afraid to get too focused. With zines, I feel like the more niche your topic, the more interesting it will be.

For example, instead of creating a photography zine, think about a film photography zine, or even an instant film photography zine.

For Framed Instant, I wanted to create a space for instant photographers. The purpose was to connect with instant photographers and celebrate the medium of instant photography. The zine was designed to showcase the work of instant photographers from across the globe, providing a unique platform for artists to share their favorite pieces. It’s an opportunity not only to connect with fellow creatives but also to find inspiration from diverse perspectives and styles.

That was my driving force while creating this zine.

Step Two: Solo or Collaborative Zine

It’s important to decide if you’ll create a solo zine or a collaborative zine. Collaborative zines take way more time, attention, and work – but, you’ll have a community to share the zine with. Solo zines are a lot easier, since you’re only working with your work, but you’ll have an original audience of one (yourself).

But again… what is your purpose from step one?

Is it to showcase a project you’ve worked on for months? Are you planning to share this project from start to finish and inspire others to try something similar? Then a solo zine is perfect for you!

Is your purpose to create a community with other similar artists? Are you hoping to work with other photographers to help educate people on your style or field? Then a collaborative zine makes more sense.

You get the idea. Solo or collaborative should be a fairly straightforward decision once you determine your purpose.

Step Three: Adding Content to Your Zine

Here comes the fun part… picking content for your zine.

While selecting content to include in your zine, be sure you keep your purpose in mind. If an image matches your purpose, go for it!

When selecting content, try to think outside the box. I wanted my zine to feel like a magazine, so I featured two articles in the magazine – an interview and a travel story. Remember the purpose I stated above? The purpose was to connect with instant photographers and celebrate the medium of instant photography. What better way than to ask artists to share more of their art for the zine?

I also wanted to include sponsors for the collaborative zine. To do this, you need a clear message (ah, em, tired of hearing about the “purpose” yet?) But that’s what sponsors want to know. What will they be sponsoring? Who is the audience? How do you plan to distribute? Gather all of that information before you reach out to sponsors. Shout out to Shoot It With Film who sponsored Issue One of Framed Instant.

Tips for Collecting Content for a Collaborative Zine

To collect content for a collaborative zine, put out a call to artists. Share your purpose with your social friends, email groups, etc.

Let them know what you’re creating and be very clear about what you want, what you don’t want, and a deadline.

Step Four: Designing Your Zine

If you’re unfamiliar with Adobe InDesign, there are tools out there to design your zine.

Note: I do not have experience designing a zine using the following tools, because I used Adobe InDesign, but, here they are:

• Canva
• Flipsnack
• Booklet Creator
• Mixam

Step Five: Printing Your Zine

There are several print companies out there. When picking a printer, I suggest you request paper samples. Most companies offer then for free or very cheap.

All of my zines have been printed through Mixam – I’ve found them to be the best quality for the best price. But, here are a few other companies:

• Mixam
• Vista Print
• Smart Press
• Spinn Print
• ExWhyZed

Tip for Picking Your Printer

If you’re not in the US, be sure to google a print shop that has printers in your country to help save on shipping. Most of the print shops will print anywhere in the world; however, if they don’t have a physical printer in your country or continent, you could end up paying a lot in shipping.

Step Six: Selling Your Zine

I sell my zines through Etsy. I researched several selling platforms and Etsy was the most economical AND pre-calculated shipping price for me.

Note: shipping overseas is very expensive. I had sticker shock. I know some of my buyers had sticker shock. But unfortunately, it’s just what it costs. I think most of us are so used to “free shipping” from these large companies that have contracts and deals with delivery companies. Just keep that in mind. You can even make a little note on your listing about the price to ship.

I suggest creating a pre-sale listing. Make it very clear that the listing is a pre-sale – meaning the zine won’t ship until X date. Set up a pre-sale time limit. Once that time limit is up, order your zines + any overs you want to sell at the non-pre-sale rate.

For example – I set a pre-sale for one week. On the listing, I very clearly stated that the zines would ship 5-6 weeks from the time of purchase. This gave me plenty of time to close the pre-sale, order the zines, have them delivered, and ship them. I ordered a handful of extra zines. I didn’t want to keep a ton of inventory, so I made the zine a limited edition. Once the print run is out, it’s out.

Step Seven: Enjoy

Enjoy the work you put into this project. Share it with people. Sit down and hold your zine. Put it on your desk, bookshelf, or coffee table.

Enjoy the community that is supporting your zine. There is something so beautiful about holding art. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty you added to the world!

If you want to purchase any of the zines I’ve created, you can do that here.

I hope you’ve found this helpful. If you have questions, leave them in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer them. Or if you have additional resources or suggestions, leave them in the comments so others can learn more, too!

Thank you so much, Jen! Jennifer is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and be sure to check out her other articles, like Organizing Your Film Negatives, Scans, and Instant Film and Lomography Black & White Film Guide.

You can also check out more of Jennifer’s work on her website, Instagram, and Etsy shop.

Leave your questions about creating your own photography zine below in the comments!

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Jennifer Stamps

Jennifer Stamps is a toy camera and travel film photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as Olympus OM-1 35mm Film Camera Review and 5 Film Cameras Under $50.

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