The hidden revenue opportunity in yearbooks
Studios offering online yearbook sales see significantly higher revenue, but too many still leave this channel untapped.
Before we jump into why you should be offering yearbooks, we’d like to share an exciting live webinar we have coming up next month. Industry legend, Christian Perry, and a surprise guest, will show you the data behind why yearbooks are a good revenue opportunity. They’ll answer your questions live and share real stories of how integrating yearbooks has transformed studios.
Keep an eye out for registration details; you won’t want to miss it.
Are you leaving yearbook revenue on the table?
What if I told you there’s an untapped revenue stream right under your nose? Yearbooks.
Yearbooks are often overlooked, but they can drive a significant revenue increase if you know how to unlock their potential. School photography studios are always looking for new ways to boost their average order value, retain customers, and uncover growth opportunities. Yearbooks, especially when sold through ecommerce, are a powerful revenue channel that too many studios ignore.
Captura’s data, combined with the SPIR report, shows that studios integrating yearbooks into their online sales are seeing impressive results. Yearbooks are no longer just a keepsake; they’re a strategic product line with substantial revenue potential.
Did you know
The School Photography Industry Report (SPIR), conducted in partnership by Captura and SPOA, gathers insights from tens of thousands of parents and schools across the U.S. to highlight trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry.
The School Photographers of America (SPOA) is the national trade association representing the school photography and yearbook industry. You can learn more about their mission and work at spac-usa.org.
The yearbook: A revenue-boosting product line
Yearbooks are more than just a product, they’re a cherished keepsake that families treasure for years. By offering them online, you’re not only boosting revenue, but you’re also helping families capture memories that last a lifetime.
Captura Yearbooks is part of the Captura ecosystem with Captura Workflow. It has its own ecommerce platform, so you can use it separately, or you can integrate it with Captura Workflow to sell yearbooks alongside your other photography products, prints, digitals, and packages. This seamless integration allows you to streamline your workflow, simplifying the process while boosting your sales potential.
For studios considering a change from other platforms, Captura Yearbooks offers an all-in-one solution, centralizing all your offerings under one roof.
The data speaks for itself
Why should yearbooks be a core offering for your studio? Here’s what we’re seeing from Captura customers and the SPIR report:
What’s holding studios back?
In conversations with studios not yet offering yearbooks, we often hear:
“The school handles yearbooks, not us.”
“We’re not set up to sell anything beyond photos.”
“It feels like too much to add to our season.”
The reality is, studios that take ownership of yearbook sales gain more control over the process, increase revenue, and retain schools for longer periods. With Captura’s tools, integrating yearbook sales into your platform is easy and efficient.
3 easy ways to capture more revenue with yearbooks
Here are three simple ways to increase your revenue with yearbooks:
Bundle it early
Make yearbooks visible in your first quote or renewal conversation. Offering them as a seasonal add-on or gifting them to school staff boosts adoption.Use personalization to upsell
Add personalized options like name imprints or extra pages. These small upgrades can increase per-book revenue by 25% or more.Add digital options for late buyers
Digital yearbooks are a low-lift, high-margin product. They appeal to parents who missed the order deadline or need a quick, last-minute option.
Quick win: Compare your revenue potential
Let’s say you’re photographing a school with 400 students:
25% of families buy a yearbook at $20: That’s $2,000 in revenue.
Add name personalization ($5 upsell) for 50% of buyers: That’s an additional $250.
Add digital versions ($7.50 upsell) for 50% of buyers: That’s an additional $375.
Total potential revenue for one school: $2,625+
If you photograph 15–30 schools each season, you could see an additional $30K–$60K in incremental, high-margin revenue.
Final thoughts
Yearbooks are no longer a nice-to-have; they’re a strategic revenue lever. When sold through ecommerce, they become a powerful tool that drives both sales and customer loyalty.
By offering yearbooks, you’re setting yourself apart from competitors. Schools appreciate a one-stop shop for their photo needs, and by becoming the yearbook provider, you’ll solidify long-term relationships with educational institutions.
If you’re already using Captura Workflow, the yearbook cart is integrated. If not, ask yourself: What would happen if every school you worked with bought their yearbooks through you instead of someone else?
The revenue, and the relationship, are worth it.
Keep an eye out in the coming months for more yearbook-focused content, including demos, walkthroughs, and success stories from studios already seeing results. We’ll be sharing practical tips and resources to help you integrate yearbooks seamlessly into your workflow. Stay tuned, there’s much more to come.
Want to see how yearbooks can boost your revenue this season? Book a demo here.