What Is a Leporello? The Story Behind the Fold-Out Photo Book (and How to Make One)

A photo leporello turns a handful of favourite pictures into a little book that unfolds in a zigzag. It’s easy to carry, fun to explore and personal enough to give as a gift. But what exactly is a leporello, where did its unusual name come from, and how can you make one from photos on your phone?

What is a leporello?

A leporello is a book made from a long strip of paper folded back and forth like an accordion. Open it out and the pages form a continuous zigzag; fold it up and it becomes a compact keepsake. The format is also known as an accordion-fold book or, in English, a concertina book. You’ll also see it described as an accordion card, a fold-out photo book or, in some printing shops, a portfolio card: different names for the same zigzag idea.

Unlike a standard photo book, a leporello doesn’t need to be turned one page at a time. You can unfold it to see a whole sequence of pictures at once, stand it up on a shelf, or pass it around so someone can open it and discover the photos panel by panel. That makes it a lovely format for a short story told in pictures: a weekend away, a birthday, a new baby or a collection of everyday moments with people you love.

A photo leporello is this folding format filled with your own images. It gives photos from your phone a life beyond the camera roll: you can hold them, share them and give them to someone as a thoughtful little present. It’s especially suited to a small, curated set of pictures rather than every photo from an event. Think of it as a miniature visual story.

The folding structure is much older than modern photo products. Researchers describe concertina-style manuscripts in different parts of the world, made from materials such as paper, parchment and even tree bark. The University of Hamburg’s guide to concertina manuscripts gives a helpful overview of how widely this format has been used.

Where does the name “leporello” come from?

The word is commonly linked to Leporello, the servant in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni, first performed in 1787. In the famous “catalogue aria,” Leporello tells Donna Elvira about a list he has made of Don Giovanni’s romantic conquests. In the libretto, he says, “un catalogo egli è che ho fatt’io”, “a catalogue I made myself”, and invites her to look at it.

The connection is easy to picture: in many performances, Leporello produces a long list and unfolds it as he recites the catalogue. That expandable, fan-like prop is often credited with inspiring the name for a folded book. The University of Utah’s Open Artists’ Books definition of “leporello” describes this link.

There is a small but useful nuance: the libretto calls the catalogue a book, but doesn’t specifically instruct that it must be made from an accordion-folded strip. The famous unfolding is a theatrical tradition associated with the character. So it’s safer to say the name is connected to Leporello and his expandable catalogue, rather than claim that Mozart or his librettist invented the format.

The structure itself also predates the opera. The University of Utah notes that accordion-fold books existed before Don Giovanni and before the musical accordion. “Leporello” is the name that stuck in some European bookmaking contexts; “accordion book”, “concertina book” and “fold-out book” all describe the same general zigzag format in everyday use. In printing and stationery, compact versions are often listed as accordion cards or portfolio cards, especially when they hold a handful of photos rather than a full-length book.

How to make a photo leporello

Making one starts with a simple question: what story do you want the pictures to tell? A good leporello doesn’t need dozens of images. A focused collection often feels more meaningful, because each photo has room to stand out.

1. Choose a theme

Pick a moment, person or feeling to bring the photos together. You could make a leporello about a summer holiday, a first year together, a family celebration, or your favourite pictures of a pet. If it’s a gift, think about a story the recipient will enjoy revisiting.

A clear theme makes it easier to choose images and gives the finished piece a natural beginning and end. You might start with the journey there, move through the best moments and finish with a favourite group photo.

2. Select photos from your phone

Scroll through your camera roll and shortlist more pictures than you think you’ll need. Then narrow them down. Look for a mix of close-ups, people, places and little details that bring back the atmosphere of the day.

Check that your images are sharp and bright enough to print. Photos taken in very low light may look darker on paper than they do on your screen. Also check the crop: a picture that looks great in a tall phone frame may lose important details in a square or landscape panel. If you’re making a leporello for someone else, choose photos they’ll be happy to receive and share.

3. Arrange the sequence

Lay your chosen pictures out in the order you want them to appear. Try to give the sequence a rhythm: alternate wider scenes with close-ups, or mix posed photos with candid ones. The folded format lets someone discover each image in turn, so think about how one moment leads into the next.

You can keep things simple and let the photos do the talking. If you add captions, dates or a short message, use them sparingly so the images stay at the centre.

4. Check the panels and fold direction

Before printing, check how many panels your chosen format includes and how the images will sit across the folds. A photo that spans a crease may be split when the leporello is opened, so it’s usually best to keep important faces and details comfortably within each panel.

If you’re making a leporello by hand, cut a long strip of sturdy paper, mark equal panel widths, then fold it alternately forwards and backwards to create the zigzag. Add your photos to the panels and attach covers if you’d like the folded piece to feel more like a little book. For a professionally printed version, follow the format and layout guidance provided by the printer.

5. Make it personal

A small detail can make your photo leporello feel unmistakably yours: a title on the cover, a handwritten note, a date or a short line that captures the memory. You could also make a copy for yourself when creating one as a gift, so you can keep the same collection close.

With Bildefald, the idea is simple: choose favourite photos from your phone and turn them into a printed photo leporello. It’s a handy way to give digital memories a physical home, whether you’re making a personal keepsake or a present for a friend, partner or family member. Explore your camera roll, pick a story worth keeping, and let the folds bring it to life.