12 School Yearbook Trends That Make No Sense Today
Here's a playful look at 12 outdated yearbook trends that would feel bizarre in today's world of candid selfies and digital media.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
What once felt iconic now seems downright odd. These 12 school yearbook trends reveal how much high school photo culture has changed. From perfectly coiffed portraits to cringe-worthy superlatives, each trend reflects a bygone era.
1.Perfectly Slicked Hair
Sự Minh on pexels
Everyone’s hair looked like it was molded by helmet spray and a comb, as if any stray strand would ruin your entire reputation. Today? A strand out of place just adds character. Back then, it was a hair crime in black and white.
2. Rigid Sports Poses
Tima Miroshnichenko on pexels
Football players standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with zero emotion showed “team unity” — but also zero personality. These unflinching, posed team shots now seem wooden and outdated. Nowadays, we’d rather see passion, not posture.
3. Overly Moral Senior Quotes
Santiago Boada on pexels.
Every senior had to spout clichés like “Shoot for the stars” under their beaming yearbook pic. Today’s seniors lean into sarcasm, memes, or viral one-liners. Straight-laced sentiments have had their day.
4. Cheesy Clip‑art Borders
Suzy Hazelwood on pexels.
Borders full of clip‑art like generic apples, globes, or daisy chains were once the height of design. Now, minimal, sleek designs and real photos have taken over. These cheesy embellishments wouldn’t fly in a modern layout.
5. Cringe Superlative Categories
Oladimeji Ajegbile on pexels.
Labels like “Most Likely to Succeed” felt flattering — but also gave permanent status to a handful of students. Today, inclusive superlatives or skip-label formats aim to avoid awkward hierarchies. Bye‑bye, popularity contests.
6. Frozen Class Photos
Suzy Hazelwood on pexels
Stiff rows of students stared blankly at the camera, stiff smiles and all. Today’s “lived moment” group shots reflect real connections. A frozen tableau might feel cold or impersonal now.
7. Strict Dress Code Uniformity
Pramod Tiwari on pexels.
Everyone wore the same tie, suit, blouse — and looked just like clones. Now, individual expression is celebrated with casual or colorful attire. Uniformity? Super passé.
8. Page Doodles by Friends
RDNE Stock project on pexels.
Back when yearbooks had blank space, it got filled with doodles, hearts, and embarrassing messages. Today, Instagram tags, GIFs, and digital scribbles are the norm. Real ink on paper is kind of messy now.
9. Mandatory Signing Pages
Cytonn Photography on pexels.
Every student had to attend autograph sessions so classmates could scribble goodbyes under yearbook photos. Nowadays, online shoutouts or group chats do the job faster and cleaner. Who has time to stand in line?
10. Formal Club Pic Awkwardness
Lê Đức on pexels.
Chess club members, dressed in stiff button-downs, looked more like courtroom witnesses. Today, active and candid photos of real moments make each club feel alive. Nobody wants a freeze-frame moment.
11. Busy Graphic Layouts
Dover Court Preparatory School, Singapore on Wikimedia Commons
Everything was in boxes, balloons, and flashy patterns, making the pages chaotic. Today, clean layouts with whitespace and real photography rule. That cluttered aesthetic wouldn’t pass design reviews now.
12. Cheesy Prop Hobbies
KoolShooters on pexels.
Seniors posed with oversized CDs, cassette tapes, or novelty items to show off hobbies. Now, those props feel like relics. Today’s students might hold sleek gadgets or eco‑friendly gear. Time moves on — technology, too.