How to Make a Photo Collage

Co-authored by Andrea Enger

Last Updated: May 20, 2024 References

If you want to have all of your favorite photos in one place so you can see them at the same time and think about all of the great memories and experiences connected to them, then a photo collage is the project for you. Whether you’re making a collage of fond memories, or just creating a fun decorative design, with today’s technology, making your own collage is easier than ever. But if you want to keep it old-school and cut out your own images, that’s a simple and fun project, too.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Digital Collage

Download Article

1
Choose a free digital collage maker for an affordable option. Look online or in your smartphone or tablet’s app store for collage maker programs or apps. Select a free version and sign up or download it so you can use it to create your photo collage without having to purchase a full program.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Popular free digital collage making apps and programs include Canva, Adobe Spark, BeFunky, and PhotoCollage. They allow you to upload your own photos, but they may not have as many embellishments or styles to choose from as a premium collage-making program.
- Other great free options include Layout from Instagram and Google Photos, both of which allow you to choose photos that you’ve uploaded and put them together into a simple collage format.
- Some premium programs like Adobe Photoshop allow you to download a free trial version so you can use a more professional program that has more features than free ones to make a collage without paying the full price for it.
- Use a word processor for an easy-to-use option that you may already have on your computer to make a quick photo collage.
2
Purchase a professional design program for more features. If you want a more polished, professional-looking collage, look online or through your app store for a premium digital design program you can download and use to make one. Choose a premium program for more photo effects, higher-resolution downloads, and more templates you can use to make your collage.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Adobe Photoshop, PicMonkey Collage, and Fotor are popular design programs. They include tutorials that will teach you how to use the program to enhance your photos and make professional-looking collages.
- Professional design programs come with more layout and customization options, additional embellishments, and allow you to edit and modify your photos to produce higher-quality images, but they can be expensive. For example, Adobe Photoshop costs around $600 USD.
- Many free programs, such as Canva, BeFunky, and piZap offer premium versions you can buy to access additional features, without having to pay to the full cost of a professional design program.
Advertisement
3
Look through the templates to see the layout options. Collage-making programs include predesigned templates you can use.^{[3]
X
Research source} Open the program and find the college templates. Look through the various template options to see what’s available.
- For instance, if you have 15-20 photos you want to use in your collage, look for templates that would allow you to fit them all.
- Some programs, such as Google Photos and Instagram Layouts, will allow you to select the photos you want to add and then will arrange them into a few different layouts you can select so all of your photos are included.
4
Select a layout that suits the theme of your photo collage. Consider which photos you want to be more noticeable in your collage and look for templates that allow you to feature them. Look for a template style and design that suits the theme of your photos as well. Select a template and layout that works best for your collage.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Consider the size of the collage, too. If you’re making a holiday card, for example, you may want to choose a postcard size template.
- Think about the style of the layout as well. For instance, if you’re making a collage of you and your best friend, you may want to pick one with lots of colors and fun embellishments, whereas you may want to have cute dog bone designs for a collage with photos of you and your pup.
5
Upload or add your photos and arrange them. If you’re making a collage on your smartphone or tablet, select the photos that you want to add from your camera roll. If you’re making one on your computer, move all of the photos you want into a folder so they’re collected in one place, then upload or add them into the collage maker program. Select and move the photos around in the collage and play with the arrangement until you’re happy with it.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Choose photos that go together to form a theme for your collage. For example, you could select a bunch of pictures of your friends to make a “best friends” collage, or upload pictures of your family members for a family collage theme
- Resize images and arrange them so some are larger and more prominent if you want featured photos. For instance, you could place a picture of you and your spouse kissing in the center and surround it with photos of the 2 of you on vacation. If you have a photo of your niece blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, you could have a larger slot for that photo with additional photos from their birthday party to fill out the rest of the collage.
6
Add stickers and graphics as embellishments to your collage. Check out the stickers, images, and graphics the collage maker has included. Choose ones that you like and match the overall theme of your collage. Place them around your collage to make it more eye-catching.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You may need to switch to the photo editing mode of the collage maker to add graphics and stickers.
- For instance, you could add some hearts over photos of you and your boyfriend.
7
Use text to label and add words and phrases. Switch to the editing mode in your collage maker and choose the option to add text.^{[7]
X
Research source} Label photos if you want to remember the date or just add a sweet message. You could also add large text to commemorate an event or add to the theme of the collage.
- For example, you could add “Happy Birthday!” for a birthday collage or “Congratulations!” over a collage of graduation photos.
- You could also add text that says something like, “True Love” or “Memories to Last a Lifetime.”
8
Add a border or frame to accent the collage. Look through the border and frame options included with your collage maker and choose one that adds that extra something to your final product. Choose a border that matches a common color theme in your collage or go with something whack to keep it fun.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Choose a color that makes sense for the theme of your collage. For example, you could go with a pink or blue border for a photo collage of baby pictures, or if there’s a lot of red in your pictures, you could choose a red border to complement the photos.
- Some programs include fancy ornate frames that could work well for your collage.
- You could also choose bright, sparkly borders for a fun collage of you and your bestie, or a frame with a bunch of footballs for a collage of photos of your kids playing sports.
9
Print out your collage onto photo paper or save and share the image. Once you’re finished with your digital collage, save it to your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Upload and share it on social media so your friends and family can see it. You could also print it out on photo paper or send it to a printing service for professional quality images that you can frame or hang up at your home or office.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Many printing services, such as Walmart or Walgreens, have apps you can use to upload your collage image and have it printed on photo paper.
- Save your collage to your computer or a digital photo album such as Google Photos so you can have it saved forever.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Printed Photo Collage

Download Article

1
Gather or print the photos based on the collage you want to make. Start by deciding what the purpose of your collage is, then collect all of the photos you want to use that suit the theme and idea. Collect the photos, print them out, or make copies of originals so you can use them for your collage without being worried about damaging them.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- For instance, you could make a collage of your family or friends. You could also make a collage of your pets or memories with your best friend. Deciding what your collage will reflect will help you choose what photos you want to use.
2
Cut the images out of the photos and arrange them on thick paper. Take a pair of scissors and cut out the images and faces from the photos. Place them over a thick sheet of paper or cardboard and play around with the arrangement until you’re happy with the layout.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You could also use canvas or thick poster board for your background.
- If you don’t want to cut out the photos, you don’t have to! You can definitely just arrange the photos on the thick paper to make your collage.
3
Use a glue stick to glue the images to the background. Once you’re happy with the arrangement, take a glue stick, rub some glue onto the back of the images, and attach the image to the thick paper background. Glue all of the images into place 1 by 1 in the way you laid them out.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Glue sticks won’t stain or wrinkle the images like liquid glue can, and they dry quickly.
- You can find glue sticks at your local craft supply store or department store. You can also order them online.
4
Cut out images from magazines to use as embellishments. Gather a bunch of old newspapers and magazines. Take a pair of scissors and cut out fun and interesting images to add to your collage.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- You can also cut out different shapes from colorful paper to use as embellishments for your collage.
5
Glue the cutouts and other embellishments to your collage to make it dynamic. Embellishments such as cut-outs from magazines can really make your collage stand out. Use your glue stick to apply some glue to the embellishments and attach them to your collage.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Use embellishments that suit the theme or focus of your collage. For instance, you could use a lot of ribbons or bows for a photo collage of your daughter.
- You could also use stickers that have an adhesive backing to add some fun images to your collage. For example, you could put some heart stickers or stars to fill in any empty spaces.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Why is my photo quality low after making the collage?

Andrea Enger
Photographer
Andrea Enger is a Photographer based in Colorado. Andrea is an Elopement Photographer with nearly a decade of experience, who has photographed hundreds of weddings. She is a premier adventure elopement photographer, focusing on the American Southwest, South America, and Spanish-speaking countries. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including: ABC News, Reuters, Colorado Wedding Magazine, World’s Best Wedding Photos 2024, Zion Brides, Rangefinder, Wandering Weddings, Here Comes the Guide, The Budget Savvy Bride and Revista Chilena Si Acepto.

Andrea Enger

Photographer

Expert Answer

It's because some apps and free editing sites automatically compress images when uploaded to their databases. This compression reduces the file size to save storage space and bandwidth on their end. While some platforms offer premium or paid services to maintain the original quality of your photos, many free options sacrifice quality for convenience. To avoid this degradation, consider editing your photos using software like Photoshop, where you have more control over the editing process and can preserve the quality of your images.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Question

How do I make a photo collage?

Community Answer

You gather many photos in differing sizes, and pin them together on a board. It will definitely look good if most of them are happy memories, but if you have some other ideas in mind, that's alright too. Don't try to align them though, because that will look too neat and kind of boring. Try to rotate them, tilt one photo here and one photo there. You can also let some spaces be covered, and it's alright as long as you don't cover the most important part of the picture.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 15

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Make a collage with a friend or loved one so you can make a new memory as you reflect on other memories in your photos.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1