Are you wanting to create a slideshow video for a loved one? It requires more than using the right software tools to show your memories on a screen.
Whether you choose to do-it-yourself or hire a professional, you must organise your photos. Most professionals will edit removal or inclusion of photos to an extent of three or four changes. Anything more than that will take time and cost more.
There are certain emotional elements that can recreate the experience of walking down memory lane. And I’ll explain why this visual story will help your loved ones find a stable footing in their journey ahead.
In this post, I’ll show you how to recreate your stories into a meaningful slideshow video story. One you can share with your family for years to come.
Plan Your Slideshow Video Story Early
Don’t just show each photo flowing one after another, consider the event or celebration you are preparing for. And match them to the story. Choose birthday photos and match photos during that time frame.
Many people have old vintage black and white photos, and they are great to include as nostalgic memories. But please don’t use AI to remove a person in the photo because they mean something to someone. You can remove photo bombs of passersby but don’t remove siblings or cousins who are part of that memory. Every time a photo is edited, a new image file is created with a lower resolution. And adding this edited photo to your video or slideshow will lower the quality on the screen. And your video is compromised.
Movement and special effects look nice in your video and this helps stimulate parts of your brain to trigger activity. For the elderly, this improves their cognitive memory and the quality of life for people with dementia.
Whether you are creating a milestone or 21st birthday slideshow video, know what you wish to include. And sometimes that doesn’t mean every cute or awkward photo. Plan your story early so you don’t rush the process.
Create a Timeline of Meaningful Events
Think of your stories as book chapters in your timeline. Match your photos to your events and celebrations. Show childhood growing years or achievements. These helps lift a person’s confidence and self esteem. Many of us go through this rat race but often we don’t appreciate and enjoy the journey.
Our heritage, culture or values strengthens the foundations for future success. They help us find meaning and purpose in the chaos around us. When you show this personal growth in your videos, you lift that person’s confidence up. Reminding them of all they’ve done to reach this stage in life.
Showing early years of fun times and adventures in childhood reveals hidden gifts only they can see in themselves. I often show my own children these joys so they know how much they are loved. Make sure you shine these as spotlight at the beginning of your video.
Activities and Achievements
Remember to include milestones events. Like black belt achievement in martial arts, or becoming a school captain, and even showing concert performances. Make sure you include a video of their performance or game.
For my elderly mother, her biggest achievement is surviving the Japanese Occupation in Singapore. And I’ve recorded her telling her story on video as a presentation.
Let the Good Times Roll
Life is pretty much like a roller coaster ride. And celebrating those memories help to keep you grounded. Do you decorate your home with framed photos? Or keep family photobook or school yearbooks readily available. Consider creating photo slideshow videos of your vacation to watch and remember the good times.
They trigger us to remember the good times instead of dwelling on the negatives ones.
While photos show snapped moments of pure joy, videos are captured actions. These are powerful memories that can remind us of who we are. We live in a world full of uncertainties. Making time to record these memories for the people closest to our hearts is priceless.
Family Celebrations
These memories gives us all a sense of belonging, a joy we keep in our hearts. Treasure them while you can because they are evidence of our existence.
If you’d like to have a checklist to sort photos or video, why not download my photo slideshow storyboard. It’ll help you to plan and arrange your images into slideshows and photobook.
