Photography system

Designing an Archive That Reads Like a Zine

A note on why a small photo archive can feel more alive than a giant pile of filters and categories.

  • March 1, 2026
  • Curated Photo Archive
Back to all writing

Not everything needs a dashboard

My first instinct for the gallery was to build more controls. The better answer turned out to be more editing.

Why this works better

A tighter archive respects the viewer and the images at the same time. It also makes the site easier to maintain because every addition has to earn its place.

Related project

Where this write-up came from

Case study

Curated Photo Archive

Reframed the gallery from a fake filter interface into a calmer archive built around sequencing, captions, and the images that actually deserve to stay in front of people.

Status: In progress

  • Editorial sequencing
  • Typed content
  • Metadata planning
See details

Related photos

Images mentioned in this post

Wild daisies scattered across bright green grass in afternoon light.

Spring Studies

Meadow Daisies

A simple field study that feels more like memory than documentation.

Waterloo, Ontario · 2025

  • nature
  • spring
  • texture
Open full frame
White blossoms clustered on branches against an open blue sky.

Spring Studies

Orchard Light

Backlit blossoms that hold detail without losing the softness that made me stop.

Vancouver, British Columbia · 2025

  • blossoms
  • close-up
  • spring
Open full frame
A tabby cat peeking around furniture with one paw visible in the foreground.

Backyard Encounters

Peeking Cat

A close portrait built on eye contact, soft depth of field, and one suspicious paw.

Vancouver, British Columbia · 2025

  • animals
  • portrait
  • domestic
Open full frame