Another year in the books! Creating a year-in-review collage is a great way to celebrate everything that made 2025 special—from big milestones to everyday moments that made you smile.
Whether you’re into quick photo dumps, cinematic video collages, or classic grid layouts, we’ve got easy templates and ideas to help you share your year-end recap on Instagram, Facebook, or anywhere your heart desires. Your camera roll is bursting with memories—let’s turn them into something you’ll love looking back on!
In this post you’ll find:
- Creative Ways to Make Your Year-End Recap
- Step-by-Step: Create Your Year-in-Review Collage
- Tips for Making Your Year-End Recap Stand Out
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
1. Creative Ways to Make Your Year-End Recap
1. Video Collages: Bring Your Year to Life
Want to create impressive videos without being a video editing pro? Our Video Collage Templates make it easy! You can use video clips, still photos, or mix both together to tell your story.
Simply drop your favorite memories into the template pages, and PicCollage brings it all together into a shareable video. The best part? You can customize everything to make it yours—change the music, adjust how long each page plays, tweak the text and backgrounds, or add and remove stickers as you go.
Video collages are perfect for capturing the energy of your year in a way that feels dynamic and engaging. Whether you’re sharing on Instagram Reels, Stories, or saving it for yourself, this is an exciting way to document your year-end recap!
2. Use a Cutout Dump Template
Our Cutout Dump templates make creating year-end collages quick and easy. Add your photos and watch as the app automatically cuts them out and arranges them into a beautiful collage. No manual cropping or layout adjustments needed—just pick your favorite memories from the year and let PicCollage do the work. Creating and sharing your year-in-review collage has never been simpler!
3. Share Your Story with Slideshows
Want to share your best 2025 moments in a dynamic way? Our “Slideshow” templates are the perfect solution! Pick your year’s highlights—both photos and videos work—and watch as the app arranges them into a slideshow that showcases your favorite memories.
4. Showcase Your Year in a Grid Collage
Our year-in-review grid templates are great for showcasing your favorite photos from each month or the entire year in a clean, organized layout.
Choose from a variety of grid collage styles to create something that truly reflects your journey. Grid layouts are timeless—they work beautifully for Instagram posts, Facebook memories, or printing and framing for your home!
2. Step-by-Step: Create Your Year-in-Review Collage
Step 1: Gather Your Favorite Photos from the Year
Start by scrolling through your camera roll month by month. Look for photos that make you smile, laugh, or feel grateful—those are the keepers! Aim for 10-50 photos depending on your template style. Mix it up with different types of moments: big celebrations, quiet everyday joys, silly selfies, and scenic shots. Variety makes your year-in-review collage more interesting and tells a fuller story.
Step 2: Choose Your Template Style
Think about where you’ll share your year-end recap. Instagram Stories? Go vertical. Instagram feed? Square works great. Printing it out? Classic grid layouts look amazing on paper. Browse PicCollage’s year-end templates and pick one that matches your vibe—whether that’s clean and minimal, fun and colorful, or somewhere in between.
Step 3: Customize Your Design
Now for the fun part! Drop your photos into the template and make it yours. Add text like “What a year!” or label each month. Adjust the layout until it feels right, then throw in stickers or backgrounds to show your personality.
Apply filters to give your collage a cohesive look that ties everything together. Don’t stress about perfection—your year in review should feel authentic to you.
Step 4: Export and Share
Hit that export button and choose your format. For social media, save as HD or video. Want to print it? Export at the highest quality setting.
Then share your year-end recap with the world! Don’t forget to tag @piccollage so we can celebrate your year with you.
3. Tips for Making Your Year-End Recap Stand Out
Ready to make your year-in-review collage stand out? Here are some quick tips:
- Keep text minimal and readable – Let your photos tell the story! Add short captions or dates, but don’t clutter your design.
- Use consistent filters or colors – This creates a cohesive, polished look that feels intentional.
- Include variety – Mix people, places, and special moments to show the full spectrum of your year.
- Add the year for context – A simple “2025” or “My Year” helps people instantly understand what they’re seeing.
- Don’t overthink it—authenticity wins – Your recap doesn’t need to be perfect. The best collages feel real and personal, not overly produced.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
- What should I include in my year-in-review collage?
Include whatever made this year special for you! Most people mix big milestones (weddings, graduations, trips) with smaller everyday moments (coffee dates, sunset walks, pet photos). The best year-end recaps feel personal and authentic rather than trying to look perfect.
- How many photos should I use for a year-end recap?
It depends on your template! Minimalist collages might feature 3-5 standout photos, while comprehensive year-in-review collages can include 12+ (one per month). Start with your absolute favorites, then add more if you have room. Quality over quantity always wins.
- Can I make a video collage for my year-in-review?
Absolutely! Video collages are one of the most engaging ways to share your year-end recap. PicCollage’s new video collages let you combine photos and video clips, add music, customize page durations, and create dynamic transitions. They’re perfect for Instagram Reels and Stories, where video content performs exceptionally well.
- What’s the best size for an Instagram year-in-review post?
For feed posts, use square (1080×1080) or portrait (1080×1350). If you’re sharing a Story, use our story-size grids or 9:16. For Reels, stick with 9:16 vertical format. PicCollage templates are already optimized for these dimensions—no cropping needed!
Final Thoughts
What are you waiting for? Start creating your year-end recap today! Explore our templates, pick your favorite memories, and turn this year’s memories into something beautiful you can share and save forever.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @piccollage where we share new designs, collage inspiration, and creative tips weekly. Tag us in your year in review creations—we can’t wait to see how you recap your year!
