How To Put Photos In a Locket
A straightforward guide to choosing, sizing, printing, and fitting photographs into a locket or letting us do it for you!
Most people assume putting a photo in a locket is complicated. It is not. Measure the space, resize the image, print it, cut it, place it. The process takes twenty minutes once you have done it once.
Most problems come from skipping the measuring step or printing at too low a resolution. This guide covers each stage in order so neither of those things happens.
If you would rather not deal with it yourself, we resize, print, and fit photographs professionally in our Edinburgh studio before your order ships. Shop personalised photo locket necklaces.
Shop our personalised photo locket collecting here. Engraving and professional photo insertion is available for all our photo lockets!
Choosing Your Locket
The material affects how a locket wears and how it ages.
Brass is warm and slightly vintage in tone. It develops a natural patina over time, or polishes back to a brighter finish. The most affordable of the three and a good choice for everyday wear where a little character is welcome.
Shop our brass photo locket collection.
Sterling silver is clean and understated. Works with most things without competing with the photograph inside. The straightforward choice for anyone who wants something simple, durable, and easy to wear.
Shop our sterling silver locket collection.
18ct gold vermeil is a thick layer of gold over sterling silver — warmer than silver without the cost of solid gold. Worth considering if the locket is a gift or something you want to feel a step above everyday wear.
Choosing the Right Photo
The inside of a locket is small. Most sit between 15mm and 30mm across. An image that reads well on a phone screen can become unclear once it is reduced to fit. Photo choice matters more here than it does in most other contexts.
What works well:
- One or two faces that fill the frame
- Soft, natural light without heavy shadows
- A little space around the subject, tight crops become harder to read when small
- Close-up portraits, children, pets, and simple uncluttered images
- Black and white or muted tones, both hold detail better when printed small
What to avoid:
- Group photographs where individual faces become very small
- Heavily filtered or edited images, detail already lost will not survive further reduction
- Low-light photographs, which print muddy at small sizes
A useful test: shrink the image on screen until it is roughly the size of your thumbnail. If it still reads clearly at that size, it will work inside a locket.
Making a Template
Before printing anything, make a paper template that matches the exact shape of the photo space inside your locket. This is what ensures the photograph fits properly rather than needing repeated trimming.
- Open the locket flat on a hard surface
- Press a small piece of thin paper gently into the photo space
- Trace the inner edge with a pencil
- Cut just inside the traced line — not on it
- Test the shape inside the locket and adjust if needed
Keep the template. It makes future photo changes straightforward and removes the measuring step each time.
Printing at Home
Home printing works well as long as the resolution is sufficient. Anything below 300 DPI will look soft when printed at small sizes.
- Resize and crop your image using Canva, Adobe Express, or your phone's photo editor, matching the dimensions to your template
- Use photo paper — matte or satin finish works better than gloss inside a locket
- Set your printer to its highest quality setting with photo paper selected in the print options
- Let the print dry fully before handling or cutting
One practical note: very thick photo paper can prevent the locket from closing properly. Standard-weight matte or satin is usually the right balance.
Printing at a Photo Lab
For sharper results, or if you do not have access to a printer, a photo lab is worth using.
- Asda Photo — locket prints, available for in-store collection
- Snappy Snaps — same-day printing at most locations
- Odd Prints — specialist small-format printing by post
- Locket Prints — designed specifically for locket photographs
Order a few copies. Small photographs are easy to mis-cut, and having spares removes the pressure.
Cutting the Photo
Place your paper template over the printed photograph and align it with the most important part of the image — usually the face or main subject.
Cut slowly. Nail scissors or small embroidery scissors work well for most lockets. For unusual shapes or smaller designs, a craft knife and cutting mat gives more control.
Test the cut photograph inside the locket before fixing it in place. It should sit flat without curling at the edges. If it is slightly too large, trim a small amount at a time.
Tools that help:
- Nail scissors or embroidery scissors — most lockets
- Craft knife and cutting mat — geometric shapes, smaller designs
- Tweezers — for handling cut photographs without leaving fingerprints
Fitting the Photo
Our lockets do not use a plastic or glass insert. The photograph sits directly against the inner surface and is held in place with adhesive.
Use acid-free glue, available from craft and stationery suppliers, often labelled as scrapbooking glue or archival adhesive. Apply a small amount to the back of the photograph only, not to the locket. Press it flat and allow it to set fully before closing.
Less is better. The photograph should sit completely flat, if adhesive squeezes out from the edges, you have used too much.
To replace a photograph later, slide a thin implement, a flat toothpick or the edge of a craft knife, carefully under one corner to lift it.
We Can Do This For You
If you would rather not deal with it yourself, we handle the whole process. Send us your image and we resize, print, and fit it into your locket before it ships, professionally, in our Edinburgh studio.
Shop personalised photo locket necklaces — free worldwide is shipping included.
Keeping Locket Photos in Good Condition
Photographs inside lockets are protected but not sealed. A few straightforward habits make a difference over time:
- Remove your locket before swimming, bathing, or applying hand cream
- Store it closed when not being worn
- Keep a spare print or the original digital file — photographs can be replaced when worn
- Acid-free adhesive holds without damaging the image — avoid anything containing solvents
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you put a photo in a locket? Make a paper template by tracing the photo space inside your locket, resize your image to match those dimensions, print it on photo paper, cut it carefully using the template, and fix it in place with a small amount of acid-free adhesive applied to the back of the photograph. Allow it to set fully before closing the locket.
What size photo fits in a locket? It depends on the design. Our lockets range from 10mm photo inserts in the smallest designs to approximately 30mm in larger styles. The most reliable way to find the right size is to make a paper template by tracing the inside of your locket — measurements alone can be imprecise.
Can you fit two faces in a very small locket? Yes, if they are close together in the original photograph. Two people photographed cheek to cheek, or side by side filling the frame, can work well even in a 10mm locket. What does not work is a wider shot where the faces are small relative to the rest of the image.
What is the smallest locket photo insert size? Our smallest lockets take a 10mm photograph. A craft knife is more reliable than scissors at this size, and a close-up portrait in natural light gives the clearest result.
Can I use a photo from my phone? Yes. Use the original file rather than a screenshot, and make sure it is high resolution — at least 300 DPI at the intended print size. Compressed images or screenshots lose detail when scaled down, which shows clearly at small print sizes.
How many photos can a locket hold? It depends on the locket. Some designs hold a single photograph, others have two sides. The product description for your specific locket will confirm this, or contact us if you are unsure.
Why does my locket photo look blurry? The most common cause is a low-resolution original — particularly images that have been screenshotted, heavily compressed, or exported at a reduced size. Start with the highest quality version of the image you have.
Can I change the photo in a locket later? Yes. Slide a thin flat implement carefully under one corner — a toothpick or the back edge of a craft knife works well — and lift it gently. The locket can then be refitted with a new photograph following the same steps.
What glue should I use for locket photos? Acid-free adhesive, available from craft and stationery suppliers and often labelled as scrapbooking glue or archival adhesive. Apply it to the back of the photograph only, in a thin even layer. Standard household glues can yellow over time and transfer damage to the image.
Can I laminate a photo before putting it in a locket? Yes, provided the result is thin enough to sit flat inside the locket. Cold-lamination sheets work better than heat lamination. Laminating extends how long the photograph lasts, particularly in lockets without a protective insert layer.
What paper is best for locket photos? Standard-weight matte or satin photo paper gives the best results. Gloss paper catches light inside the locket and can make the image harder to read. Very thin paper risks creasing; very thick paper may prevent the locket from closing properly.
Do your lockets have a plastic frame to hold the photo? No. Our lockets do not use a plastic or glass insert. The photograph sits directly inside and is secured with acid-free adhesive applied to the back of the print. Photographs can be replaced later — they lift out carefully with a thin implement and can be refitted following the same steps.