How to create on Mac with iPhone photos

Learn how to go from iPhone camera roll to coffee table books with Mac

We carry a powerful camera in our pockets, capturing moments of spontaneous laughter and special moments with ease. But as our camera rolls can continue to grow, so too does the risk of these memories getting lost in a sea of screenshots and selfies. What if your iPhone photos could live beyond the screen as a beautifully printed keepsake, made to be held and shared?

In a world where we snap pictures more than we absorb, turning your digital memories into a photo book keepsake helps us reconnect with our most meaningful memories. Here at MILK Books, we offer a simple yet elevated way to curate, preserve, and celebrate your memories from your Apple Photos. You can work directly on your Mac Device, offline or online, with our easy-to-use MILK Books project extension – usable with the Apple Photos app.

Why your iPhone photos deserve to be preserved in print

Each and every one of your photos from your iPhone tells a story. Whether it is captured from a spontaneous road trip or from your loved one’s special day, these digital captures deserve more than a fleeting swipe. Creating a photo album from your iPhone images allows you to elevate these everyday memories into something tangible, beautiful, and lasting.

Your iPhone photos, when thoughtfully and beautifully printed, become an invitation to reflect and reconnect. Whether it's the first year of your baby's life, a relationship timeline, or simply your most-loved moments from the past year, a photo book or album made right from your iPhone photos transforms every pause in time into something that lasts forever. With our seamless integration using our MILK project extension for Mac, it’s never been easier to print an album using Apple Photos and bring your memories to life through your Mac device.

Create the perfect gift on Mac

A handcrafted MILK Photo Book, Album or Magazine right from your iPhone camera roll makes a truly personal gift. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, an anniversary, special holidays, or just the everyday moments, there is no substitute for a gift that says, “I made this for you”.

Add your own captions or quotes and select from our contemporary cover fabric options to create a MILK keepsake that is both meaningful and modern. For those creating personalized photo albums on Mac, MILK offers seamless design and printing capabilities with unmatched craftsmanship.

Simple steps to start creating with our Mac extension

Creating your Apple photo album is easy with the MILK Books extension app. Here’s how:

1. Download the MILK Books Project Extension

Go to the Mac App Store and search for “MILK Books.” Download the MILK Books Project Extension for Photos. Once installed, open the Apple Photos app on your Mac device, go to the File menu, and select “Create” > “Book” > “MILK Books” to begin. This project extension integrates seamlessly with Apple Photos, letting you create, design, and order to print directly without ever leaving your Apple ecosystem on Mac.

If you're looking for a way to print photo keepsakes directly from your Mac device, the MILK Books project extension is the most streamlined and intuitive way to begin. Our project extension is fully integrated with Apple Photos, allowing you to design completely offline using your existing photo folders on Apple. There’s no need to manually upload images - just select from what’s already on your Mac and start creating!

2. Sort your Apple photos in a folder

Select the photos you want to use and create a new folder in Apple Photos. Organizing it this way keeps your design clean and efficient and will save you time in the long run!

Use the “Favorites” premade folder from Apple, or create themed folders based on the seasons of the year, holidays, special dates, or other important milestones - and start adding your images. Sorting your content upfront allows you to tell a meaningful story with intention, with emotional quality you can see throughout your MILK keepsake. You can curate your photos just the way you want to, however we recommend shortlisting any photos with high emotional weight or beautiful photo quality to make your keepsake truly shine.

3. Start creating in our Design Studio

Once your top pictures are selected from your photo library on Apple, click and choose the MILK project extension from the menu that pops up. You’ll be guided through various MILK formats, from Premium Photo Albums and Wedding Guest Books, to Softcover Photo Books, Moleskine and more. Once you’ve selected the perfect format, start building your book page by page. You can start by using our Autofill tool in the top right of our Design Studio to instantly populate your book using your photos and selected page layouts.

Refine your page spreads using MILK’s beautiful templates, designed to make every spread feel elegant and intentional. Of course, you can tweak these with our Free Transform Tool if a particular image placement doesn’t suit. Our smart and flexible design tools are there to help you, so you don’t necessarily need any design experience to create something extraordinary!

4. Customize your MILK keepsake

This is where your MILK keepsake becomes an extension of your personality. Make your photo book or album truly yours by personalizing the small details and elements. You could add heartfelt captions to highlight context, weave in thoughtful titles to define chapters, or integrate meaningful quotes to capture a particular mood. With MILK’s design tools and Apple Photos integration, you can adjust fonts, placement, and spacing to create page spreads that feels uniquely you throughout your keepsake.

Choose from a curated selection of different fabric covers from textured linen in timeless tones to premium Italian Milano leather. For a modern aesthetic, opt for a photographic wrap cover that brings your top image to the forefront. Add a high quality Presentation Box to your order for an elegant finishing touch, perfect for gifting or archival storage. Prefer a clean, modern feel? Use minimalist page templates with generous white space to let your imagery breathe. Or go bold with full-bleed or panoramic layouts that celebrate every detail in one photo. Choose a format with lay-flat binding such as our Premium Photo Albums or Wedding Guest Books to enhance these moments that deserve uninterrupted impact.

5. Review your project​

We highly recommend reviewing your finished photo book or album carefully. The MILK Design Studio interface allows you to inspect details up close, rearrange spreads, or fine-tune text elements. Once you’re happy with every element, simply place your order directly through the extension itself! Your handcrafted photo book or album will be produced using the finest materials and age-old craftmanship and delivered to your door.

If you've been looking to create a premium photo book or album online or offline, MILK Books offers the best-in-class experience right from your Mac device!

At MILK Books, we believe in treasuring your memories with materials and craftsmanship that match the emotional weight of your photos. Our keepsakes are printed with archival quality paper using professional-grade inks that preserve color accuracy and depth. This isn’t just about printing your iPhone or Apple photos - this is about preserving your precious memories in a beautiful format that will last for generations. Our custom photo books, albums and magazines are made for those who want more than just a book. They want a legacy keepsake to cherish for lifetimes.

Every one of your photos can tell a story, so don’t let yours fade into digital obscurity from your mobile phone. With the MILK Books project extension for Mac, you can transform your Apple Photos into a refined, emotionally resonant, handcrafted album that lives on your shelf - not just your screen. Whether you’re creating your first book or your fifteenth, the journey from camera roll to coffee table is always a rewarding one. Start today and give your iPhone photos the permanence it deserves.

Ready to print a MILK keepsake from your Mac device? Download our project extension for Apple Photos now.