The Photography Foundation Class of 2024 Degree Show Catalogue

A5 Booklets
4pp Cover onto 300gsm Silk FSC Certified
Matt Lamination to outer
52pp Text onto 130gsm Silk FSC Certified
Four colour print throughout
Trimmed, collated and wire stitched

The Photography Foundation asked us to print a vibrant A5 degree show catalogue for their Class of 2024 – a booklet that celebrates emerging photographers, showcases final projects and gives graduates a calling card to share with industry. We produced a thick, wire-stitched booklet on silk stock so every portrait, performance shot and documentary image feels rich and sharp in the hand. The result is a compact catalogue that alumni can proudly hand to potential clients, and that the charity can use to champion the next wave of talent.

Discover more degree show catalogue printing ideas on our photobook and zine portfolio

Client Quote

“We have received them and they look great!”

About the Book

This A5 degree show booklet profiles each photographer from The Photography Foundation’s Class of 2024 with a mix of project statements and portfolio images. Readers meet the artists, hear about their influences and see how they work across documentary, fashion, music and portrait photography.

The spreads balance full-bleed hero shots with grids of smaller images, so every trainee can show range as well as a defining image. For aspiring photographers and alumni, it serves as a snapshot of a creative community and a record of the year’s work in one place.

Print Specification & Materials

We printed the catalogue as a 52-page A5 booklet, trimmed, collated and wire stitched for a clean, professional finish that still feels approachable for students.

A 4pp cover on 300gsm silk FSC-certified stock, finished with matt lamination to the outer, gives the booklet a sturdy, smooth shell that stands up well to being passed around at the show. Inside, 130gsm silk FSC text pages carry four-colour printing throughout, ideal for high-impact portraiture and bold backgrounds.

The silk finish across cover and text stock really brings out fine detail in skin tones, fabrics and studio lighting, while keeping blacks deep and shadows consistent from spread to spread.

Design Details That Make It Sing

The cover uses a striking portrait in warm light, cropped close, to put one of the trainees centre stage from the very first glance. It feels more like an editorial magazine than a traditional prospectus, which suits the course’s creative ethos.

Inside, intro spreads for each photographer pair a short bio with a standout image. Typography is laid out with clear headings, generous line spacing and colour backgrounds that introduce each profile, helping the reader orient themselves quickly as they flip through.

Photography spreads shift between single images framed in black, paired portraits and grids of six smaller shots. This mix keeps the pace lively and allows students to show both carefully crafted stills and more candid, documentary work.

Plan your own course publication with our step-by-step Print Journey.

The Client’s Print Journey

The Photography Foundation team came to us for an A5 booklet quote and were upfront that the design had been created externally. We supplied a detailed spec and explained why booklet page counts must run in multiples of four, helping them adjust the content to 52 pages.

During preflight we spotted a low-resolution image and queried it, plus flagged that the supplied PDF needed a 3mm bleed added on all sides. We shared our bleed video and clear written guidance so their designer could adjust the file without starting again.

Once the artwork was corrected we sent a final online proof, asked the team to check every page and only pushed the job to press after they approved. Turnaround was time-sensitive, so we kept them updated with production and courier timings.

When a handful of copies arrived with duplicated pages due to a production fault, we organised collection and a like-for-like reprint, plus a fresh 50-copy order using an updated PDF. Throughout, they received tracking updates and one-hour delivery windows to ease pre-show nerves.

How Ex Why Zed Helped

Our team acted as both printers and problem-solvers. We:

• Clarified the wire-stitched format and page-count constraints so the catalogue would bind correctly and sit flat.
  
• Talked through bleed and resolution issues in plain language, backed up with short how-to videos, so a busy charity team could get files print-ready quickly.
  
• Supplied and checked online proofs twice – once for the original files and once for the updated PDF – before each run went to press.
  
• Reacted fast when faults appeared, arranging a reprint and courier delivery aligned with their tight event deadline.
  

The end product is a thick, confident A5 catalogue that reflects the professionalism of the course and shows each graduate’s work at its best.

Takeaways for Your Next Degree Show Catalogue

• Choose a compact format. A5 booklets are easy to carry away from private views and fit well in bags, portfolios and post-show mailers.
  
• Use silk paper for punchy photography. Silk-coated stocks hold colour and detail beautifully for portraits, fashion and performance imagery.
  
• Keep page counts in multiples of four. Wire-stitched booklets are made from folded sheets, so plan your content for 32, 40, 52 pages and so on.
  
• Allow space for artist statements. Give each student at least one text page and one full image so the catalogue works as a mini portfolio.
  
• Check resolution and bleed early. Build 3mm bleed into the InDesign document from the start and export with bleed included to avoid last-minute fixes.
  
• Insist on a proof stage. A clickable PDF proof is the easiest way to make sure no pages are missing or duplicated before the show deadline.
  

Partner with a responsive printer. Quick communication around reprints, tracking and delivery windows is crucial when an exhibition opening is looming.