Photo corners are small triangular pockets that hold a photo, ticket or card by its corners, so you never put glue on the item itself. You stick the corners to the page, slide the item in, and can slide it out later. Decorative corner stickers look similar but stick to the item, so use them where removal does not matter.
Key Takeaways
- Pocket-style photo corners hold an item by its corners, so nothing sticks to the photo and it can be removed later.
- Preservation guides advise against putting tape, glue or other adhesives directly on photographs, which is why corners are the traditional album method.
- Decorative corner stickers are flat stickers that frame a corner; they adhere to the item, so treat them as decoration, not a removable mount.
- Measure, mark and slide: position the item, mark its corners lightly, attach the corners, then slide the item in.
- Size the corners to the item: small corners for small instant prints, larger ones for 4x6 prints and postcards.
What photo corners do and why they beat glue
Photo corners hold an item in place without any adhesive touching it. That matters for anything you might want to take out, reposition or keep in good condition. The Library of Congress's guidance on caring for photographs says, "Do not use self-adhesive tape, sticky notes, glue, or other adhesives on photographs," and also advises avoiding albums with "magnetic" or sticky self-adhesive pages. The Northeast Document Conservation Center's leaflet on care of photographs warns that self-stick album pages "can permanently bond themselves to photographs" and recommends corner mounts instead.
Corners are also simply practical in a journal. You can swap a photo for a better one, take a ticket out to show someone, or move a postcard to another page. In a junk journal, where you may rearrange pieces as the book grows, that flexibility is useful. If you are just getting started, our junk journaling for beginners guide explains how photos, tickets and collage fit together in one book.
Types of photo corners
There are three main types: self-adhesive pocket corners, gummed pocket corners and decorative corner stickers. The first two are mounts; the third is mainly decoration.
| Type | How it works | Removable item? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-adhesive pocket corners (paper or clear plastic) | A small folded pocket with a sticky back; the back sticks to the page and the item slides into the pocket | Yes | Photos, tickets and cards you may want to remove |
| Gummed pocket corners | The same pocket shape with a gummed back instead of a peel-off liner; follow the pack's instructions to activate it | Yes | A classic album look on paper pages |
| Decorative corner stickers | A flat printed sticker shaped to frame a corner; it sticks over the item's corner and the page | No, it sticks to the item | Framing journaling cards, prints and ephemera you are happy to fix in place |
| Homemade corners | A small square of paper folded into a triangle pocket and glued to the page by its back only | Yes | Matching a page's paper or using up scraps |
Our vintage floral corner stickers are the decorative type: 30 PET stickers, each about 60 x 60 mm, in floral designs. They are made for framing photos, tickets and journaling cards, and they stick to whatever they frame. We do not make preservation claims for them, so for a precious original photo, use pocket corners or mount a copy instead.
How to use photo corners, step by step
The simplest method is measure, mark and slide. It keeps the item straight and the corners snug.
- Position the item. Lay the photo or ticket on the page where you want it. Check spacing from the page edges and from anything else on the spread.
- Mark the corners. With a soft pencil, make a tiny tick at each corner of the item. Remove the item.
- Attach the first corner. Peel a pocket corner from its backing and press it onto the page so its inner point sits exactly on one pencil tick.
- Attach the diagonal corner. Place the opposite corner next. Two diagonal corners are enough to hold most light items.
- Slide the item in. Slip one corner of the item into the first pocket, then flex the item gently and slide the opposite corner into the second.
- Add the remaining corners. For heavier items or a framed look, add the last two corners while the item is in place, then press them down firmly.
- Erase the marks. Lightly erase any pencil ticks that still show.
An alternative is to fit all four corners onto the item first, peel their backings, and press the whole thing onto the page at once. It is quicker, but you need to place it right the first time.
Using decorative corner stickers
Decorative corners go on after the item is in place. Fix the item with glue, double-sided tape or a hinge of washi tape, then press a corner sticker over one or more corners. Two diagonal corners look balanced; one corner sticker on a small card looks deliberate and light. If you want a removable photo with a decorative look, attach plain pocket corners first and place decorative stickers on the page next to them, not on the photo.
Sizing photo corners for 4x6 and instant photos
Choose corners in proportion to the item: the corner should cover only a small triangle of the image, not crowd it. Small items need small corners.
| Item | Approximate size | Corner suggestion |
|---|---|---|
| Mini instant print | 54 x 86 mm film, 46 x 62 mm image | Small pocket corners on two diagonal corners; corners should sit on the white border, not the image |
| Square instant print | 72 x 85.6 mm film, 62 x 62 mm image | Small pocket corners; four corners for a framed look |
| Wide instant print | 108 x 86 mm film, 99 x 62 mm image | Small to medium pocket corners |
| 4x6 inch print or postcard | 4 x 6 in | Standard pocket corners, or 60 mm decorative corner stickers on two corners |
| Ticket stub | Varies | Two small corners on the short ends |
Instant film dimensions are from Wikipedia's overview of instant film formats. On instant prints, keep corners on the thick white border so they do not hide the image. A 60 mm decorative corner sticker spans more than the short edge of a mini instant print, so on those small prints use a single sticker on one corner, or save the larger stickers for 4x6 prints, postcards and journaling cards.
Decorative ways to use photo corners
Corners are not just for photos. They are a quick way to make any small item look framed and intentional.
- Frame a journaling card. A plain card with a few lines of writing looks finished with two corners.
- Mount a ticket. Corners on the short ends of a ticket keep it removable for a travel journal; our guide to keeping a travel journal has more ways to use trip ephemera.
- Make a swap frame. Fix four pocket corners on a page and change the photo each month.
- Corner a background. Put corner stickers on the corners of the page itself to frame the whole spread.
- Mix with seals. Pair a corner on one side with a round seal sticker on the other, such as those in our vintage seal sticker box.
- Hold a pocket closed. A corner on the flap of a small envelope keeps a note from sliding out.
For full spreads that use corners, see idea 29 in our list of junk journal ideas, and our washi tape and sticker ideas for other ways to frame and hinge ephemera.
Frequently asked questions
What are photo corners called?
They are usually called photo corners, photo mounting corners or corner mounts. Preservation guides often use "corner mounts." Decorative versions that stick over a corner are usually sold as corner stickers.
How do you make your own photo corners?
Cut a small square of paper, fold it diagonally to make a triangle, then fold the two side points behind so you get a pocket with a triangular front. Glue only the back of the pocket to the page and slide the photo's corner in. You can also fold a short strip of washi tape into a triangle pocket.
Do photo corners damage photos?
Pocket-style corners hold a photo without adhesive touching it, which is why preservation guides recommend corner mounts over glue or self-stick pages. Decorative corner stickers do stick to the photo, so use them on copies or items you do not plan to remove.
What are good things to put in a journal?
Photos, tickets, postcards, receipts, pressed flowers, handwritten notes and small cards all work well. Photo corners let you add the ones you may want to take out later without gluing them down.
Frame your photos and ephemera
Pick one photo or ticket you have been meaning to add to your journal, and mount it with corners today. For decorative corners, seals and vintage stickers, browse our stickers and ephemera collection. Questions about orders or shipping are answered on our FAQ page; US shipping is a flat $6.99, free on orders of $79 or more. Find corner stickers and more in the stickers and ephemera collection.
