Concertina Photography Portfolio Printing for Will Hartley

200x994mm folded leaflet
Printed in full colour double-­sided
onto 300gsm Silk

Trimmed with 8 vertical fold lines
and concertina folded to 16pp 200x124mm with 5mm false spine area
after the first fold line on panel 1 and the first panel wraps around like a cover

Documentary photographer Will Hartley came to us wanting a compact, gallery-ready way to promote his work for an exhibition. The result is a concertina folded leaflet that plays with the language of a photo zine, complete with a faux spine and wraparound cover. Printed double-sided on sturdy silk card, it unfolds into a continuous strip of sunlit street photography that’s ready to stand on a desk, shelf or plinth.

About the Photo Book Project

On first glance, this looks like a slim photo book: a spine down the edge, a cover image of overlapping umbrellas outside a Japanese shopfront, and title lettering running vertically. Pick it up, though, and the secret reveals itself — the “book” springs open into a 16-panel concertina of full-bleed photography.

Across the strip, Will sequences warm, low-sun street scenes: cropped close-ups of hands and clothing, long shadows of cyclists, and solitary figures crossing the road, often framed by umbrellas. The continuous flow lets viewers read the work as one long frieze or pause on each panel as a standalone image. It’s both portfolio and mini exhibition.

Print Specification & Materials

To give Will enough real estate for his images, we produced a flat size of 200 x 994mm, printed full colour both sides on 300gsm silk. Once trimmed and folded, it becomes a 16-page concertina at 200 x 124mm, complete with a 5mm false spine after the first fold so the opening panel can wrap around as a cover.

The silk card offers a smooth surface and slight sheen, which keeps the rich colours and deep shadows in his photographs crisp and punchy. At 300gsm the leaflet is sturdy enough to stand up in a zigzag on a table at an exhibition or client meeting, turning the print into a compact display piece as well as a leave-behind. Our 1000mm-wide press handles the long sheet in one pass, keeping registration tight across every fold.

Design Details That Make It Sing

The clever false spine is the first talking point. Will intentionally oversized the spine strip so parts of the title “Staring Into The Sun Vol. 1” wrap around the edge; you only see the full wording once you draw the leaflet out and open it. It feels a touch mysterious, inviting people to handle the piece rather than just glance at it.

Inside, each panel is a full-bleed photograph. There’s no extra typography, just the rhythm of images: close-ups sitting next to wider streets, figures moving in and out of frame, pools of gold evening light scattered along the length of the strip. Unfolded completely, the concertina becomes a panoramic story; folded, it behaves like a quietly intriguing zine.

Because the artwork was supplied as one continuous layout, we could keep joins between panels clean. The fold lines land in low-detail areas where possible, so faces and key details aren’t split down the middle.

The Client’s Print Journey

Will first discovered this format on our folded concertina printing video and emailed to ask whether we had layout instructions or could help him set it up. We shared a ready-made InDesign template, guidance on how the panels flow, and a note on maximum flat size for photography that will be viewed up close.

From there, we checked screengrabs of his layout, confirmed front and back positioning, and queried the spine width when it looked like the text might creep onto the next panel. Rather than guess, we ran two physical test sheets: one on 170gsm uncoated for a softer, matt look, and one on 300gsm silk for extra punch and rigidity. Will wanted the leaflet to “stand up on a desk”, so the heavier silk version won out for the final run.

Throughout, Mike and Harriet kept the conversation moving — chasing up expired links, clarifying quantities and costs, and making sure proofs and invoices landed in time for Will to approve them on the move between flights.

How Ex Why Zed Helped

This project showcases how a conversation can turn a simple idea into a distinctive promotional format. We:

• Supplied a concertina template and clear layout guidance so Will could design in his preferred software without guesswork.
  
• Advised on paper weights, explaining how 170gsm vs 300gsm would change both image feel and the leaflet’s ability to stand on a surface.
  
• Flagged potential issues such as spine width and panel order before going to press, saving headaches later in the process.
  
• Ran short test prints on two different stocks, giving Will real samples to compare before committing to a larger run.
  
• Produced the final concertina on our wide press with tight fold tolerances, so the piece opens and closes smoothly without cracking.
  

For photographers and artists, it’s a neat example of how our account-managed approach and technical support turn unusual formats into practical, repeatable print pieces.

Takeaways for Your Next Concertina Portfolio

• Plan the story across the strip. Think about how images read both panel-by-panel and as one long sequence.
  
• Decide on “book” or “leaflet” behaviour. A false spine and wraparound panel can give a folded leaflet the presence of a small book.
  
• Match paper weight to how it will be used. Lighter stocks feel flexible and casual; heavier card will stand up on a desk as a mini display.
  
• Test stock finishes where colour accuracy matters. Compare uncoated for softness versus silk or gloss for sharper, more saturated photography.
  
• Use templates for complex folds. Starting with a pre-checked file layout removes the risk of panels appearing out of order.
  
• Keep folds away from critical details. Position key faces, titles and focal points clear of fold lines during design.
• Talk to your printer early. A quick email or call up front can save multiple rounds of revisions later and help you choose the right press and size.