Not every moment in life needs a large coffee table book to remember it by. That’s precisely why Blurb is introducing its newest (and arguably cutest) size to the photo book family format—the mini square. Measuring 5 by 5 inches (or 13×13 centimeters), this size has “giftable” written all over it. But there’s a lot more to the mighty mini square than meets the eye.

First, let’s discuss the details. The mini square comes in a softcover with a matte finish and can hold anywhere from 20 to 80 pages. You can print on the front and back covers and the spine. We use Premium Lustre paper, which you’ll love for its rich colors and deep blacks with high contrast and good saturation. We like to say it’s premium-grade paper at a mid-grade cost. And it’s Forest Stewardship Council certified.

Now onto the fun part. The mini square has incredible versatility and potential—especially as a keepsake or gift. The fact that it comes with a mini price point of $12 makes it all the more appealing. 

Mini square ideas

Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas we think the mini square is perfect for.

Travel and road trips

Camping weekends, smaller getaways, even birthday trips would benefit from a smaller commemoration of the fun had and memories made.

Family vacations 

Whether snorkeling or skiing or scaling roller coasters, the mini square is ideal for capturing family time. Consider making one for each trip or every year to have a full set of memories to look back on.

Baby books

Mini humans make for great subjects of the mini square. Gather your favorite shots and give them as gifts to grandparents. The size is perfect for portraiture since we all know there are never too many pics of your beautiful baby! 

Custom wedding keepsakes

Picture this: different photo books of your wedding, each with their own focus. While one features bridesmaids, another highlights family. And you guessed it, they make perfect gifts, too.

Holiday and stocking stuffers

The mini square makes the perfect gift. It will fit as snugly into a stocking as it does in a gift bag or shipping envelope. There’s no end to what you fill it with either: pet pics, art, street photography, your smiling face.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day

You might want to include tissues with these for all the tears of joy they’ll bring! Photos of you and your parent through the years are sure to melt many a heart, not to mention proudly appearing on nightstand tables. 

Everyday casual moments

A small book of all the things that make you happy? One devoted to butterflies or your favorite animal? Your yearly Halloween costume party? We made the mini square for singular reasons and the mini moments in your life. 

How to make your mini square

So now that you know what to make, let’s talk about how. You can design using our free bookmaking software BookWright, with versatile and flexible design templates, layout suggestions, image retouching, and other tools built right in. Or you can use our Adobe InDesign plugin or PDF uploader. 

If you’re a creative professional wanting to sell your book, the mini square (like all photo book sizes) can be sold on the Blurb Bookstore and through Amazon* both at the same time to encourage more interest. Our print-on-demand capabilities mean you can print as many copies as you want upfront or one-by-one as the orders come in. And all our books are delivered with a removable barcode on the back and shrink-wrapped to protect them from dirt and dust.

Whew! That was a lot of info for a mini-sized object, but trust us, the mini square is the best thing since—and ironically almost the same size as—sliced bread. Give it a try. We know you’ll love creating, owning, and gifting it. 

Ready to make a photo book? Choose from six book sizes (but do try our mini square at some point!).

 *Not applicable for books made with our iOS app.