Why create a photo slideshow? There are any number of reasons you'd consider creating a photo slideshow movie on DVD: oYou may want to get together old photos to remember a loved one who has passed on.
Your photos can be set to music to create a tribute slideshow which you can then share with your friends and family.
oMany people now feature a slideshow at their wedding reception to show the 'journey' of the happy couple's relationship prior to their big day.
oAlternatively, the 'official' wedding photos can be used to create an original digital photo album, which can be easily copied and shared amongst friends and family who attended the wedding.
oParty slideshows, christenings, bah mitzvahs and anniversaries are also popular events for a photo slideshow - these events in particular favour showing a chronological history of the person being celebrated, from childhood to the present, and all the moments in between.
Factors to consider When you set out to create a photo slideshow, it's worth bearing in mind the following: Length What would be the ideal length of slideshow for a wedding reception for example? Ideally you need a slideshow movie that is long enough to give the audience enough time to take in the photos, giving at least 4 - 8 seconds screen time for each shot.
You also need to be careful that your slideshow movie doesn't run on too long, as you run the risk of your audience losing interest.
If you plan on showing it as a rolling looped slideshow your audience can 'dip into' at their own leisure, generally you can increase the running time by adding more photos and music.
Event Are your audience familiar with the subject of the photo slideshow? In order to maintain the interest of an audience who may not be familiar with the slideshow's subject, you need to ensure the photos, narrative, music and look of the slideshow are sufficiently interesting to make a generic audience want watch it to the end.
Photos Probably the most important aspect of your slideshow.
Choose photos which look good, no matter what context they're shown in.
They need to be nicely framed, of sufficient quality and each have something that makes them distinct from the other photos in the slideshow.
Close in shots of your subject work well.
Music If you decide to accompany your slideshow with music, it can make a massive impact in terms of creating emotional engagement with your audience.
Music can add context to your slideshow, giving it an element of narrative that adds extra meaning and emotion to your photos.
You can lift the mood of a slideshow, or make it a more romantic or sombre affair, just by selecting your music carefully.
Think about how the music relates to your subject, is it their favourite piece of music or does it have any special meaning? Format What would I need to display the slideshow? Do you need a web slideshow you can share easily with distant friends or family, or a DVD slideshow to be played on a TV or projector? Make sure you know in advance what format you need the slideshow in before you commit to any particular method.
How do I create a photo slideshow? Whatever your reasons for going ahead with a photo slideshow, there are a number of avenues you may wish to explore, depending on factors such as: the type of slideshow you would like, your budget, level of familiarity with computers and software, and the end format you would like the slideshow in.
The main routes for creating a slideshow are as follows: oUsing a company who can help in creating a professional slideshow - particularly useful if you want a tailor made wedding slideshow for example, or have any specific requirements that cannot be met using software that relies on generic templates.
oUsing software included with your computer, such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie oPurchasing bespoke slideshow software, which there are dozens of at various costs and functionality These are just some of the main considerations for creating a photo slideshow.
Often the end slideshow can result in something you didn't quite plan, but actually works better than your original idea - so don't get too bogged down in the details - have fun with it!
Your photos can be set to music to create a tribute slideshow which you can then share with your friends and family.
oMany people now feature a slideshow at their wedding reception to show the 'journey' of the happy couple's relationship prior to their big day.
oAlternatively, the 'official' wedding photos can be used to create an original digital photo album, which can be easily copied and shared amongst friends and family who attended the wedding.
oParty slideshows, christenings, bah mitzvahs and anniversaries are also popular events for a photo slideshow - these events in particular favour showing a chronological history of the person being celebrated, from childhood to the present, and all the moments in between.
Factors to consider When you set out to create a photo slideshow, it's worth bearing in mind the following: Length What would be the ideal length of slideshow for a wedding reception for example? Ideally you need a slideshow movie that is long enough to give the audience enough time to take in the photos, giving at least 4 - 8 seconds screen time for each shot.
You also need to be careful that your slideshow movie doesn't run on too long, as you run the risk of your audience losing interest.
If you plan on showing it as a rolling looped slideshow your audience can 'dip into' at their own leisure, generally you can increase the running time by adding more photos and music.
Event Are your audience familiar with the subject of the photo slideshow? In order to maintain the interest of an audience who may not be familiar with the slideshow's subject, you need to ensure the photos, narrative, music and look of the slideshow are sufficiently interesting to make a generic audience want watch it to the end.
Photos Probably the most important aspect of your slideshow.
Choose photos which look good, no matter what context they're shown in.
They need to be nicely framed, of sufficient quality and each have something that makes them distinct from the other photos in the slideshow.
Close in shots of your subject work well.
Music If you decide to accompany your slideshow with music, it can make a massive impact in terms of creating emotional engagement with your audience.
Music can add context to your slideshow, giving it an element of narrative that adds extra meaning and emotion to your photos.
You can lift the mood of a slideshow, or make it a more romantic or sombre affair, just by selecting your music carefully.
Think about how the music relates to your subject, is it their favourite piece of music or does it have any special meaning? Format What would I need to display the slideshow? Do you need a web slideshow you can share easily with distant friends or family, or a DVD slideshow to be played on a TV or projector? Make sure you know in advance what format you need the slideshow in before you commit to any particular method.
How do I create a photo slideshow? Whatever your reasons for going ahead with a photo slideshow, there are a number of avenues you may wish to explore, depending on factors such as: the type of slideshow you would like, your budget, level of familiarity with computers and software, and the end format you would like the slideshow in.
The main routes for creating a slideshow are as follows: oUsing a company who can help in creating a professional slideshow - particularly useful if you want a tailor made wedding slideshow for example, or have any specific requirements that cannot be met using software that relies on generic templates.
oUsing software included with your computer, such as Windows Movie Maker or iMovie oPurchasing bespoke slideshow software, which there are dozens of at various costs and functionality These are just some of the main considerations for creating a photo slideshow.
Often the end slideshow can result in something you didn't quite plan, but actually works better than your original idea - so don't get too bogged down in the details - have fun with it!