Holography is not only a new branch of modern optics; it is also a new art form. The beginning holographer, whether he is an artist, an engineer, or a scientist, usually has difficulty in finding an easily understandable article describing the ’’how to do it’’ aspects of making a hologram. This article is intended to alleviate some of the difficulties by presenting both an understandable geometric model of the hologram and a step‐by‐step guide to the procedures involved in making a hologram.Editor’s note: Reviewers of this article have found it technically correct but question whether a presentation that treats a subject ’’from the beginning’’ is suitable in level for the American Journal of Physics. We feel that an occasional clearly written ’’how to do it’’ article that enables the nonspecialist to set up the simplest demonstrations in a field are entirely suitable for the Journal, provided an overall balance in level and subject is maintained in the Journal as a whole.