Creating a celebration of life tribute video is a great way to honour your loved ones. There are two way you can gather stories and images to include in your show.
- Check with extended family members on the way you’d like your show to be presented.
- Or spend time with your loved ones, reminiscing and sharing old memories which you can jot down as keepsake.
These are just a few details you need to consider before you embark on creating a tribute video.
My mum turned 91 this year. And for me spending time with her, sharing our memories is the best way to celebrate her life. We enjoy our little chats with tea and biscuits. And I cherish these moments before I bid her farewell.
One day we’ll lose our loved ones and reminiscing on the good times, does help you cope with your loss. Sharing these precious moment will help us let go.
In this post, I’ll discuss ways you can organise a celebration of life or tribute video slideshow for funerals. Starting early is so much better than rushing to compile something meaningful at the last minute when they’re gone.
Are you ready to take a walk down memory lane? Let do this!
Honor your Loved One with a Tribute Video
But if you lack the time to plan and organise your photos or videos, it can be overwhelming. Draining you emotionally, especially if you choose to do this at the last minute.
My mum is legally blind. But before this gradually happened, I created a video of her 80th birthday showing the memories of her life. It’s a beautiful video which brings me to tears each time I watch it. When she turned 85, I recorded a video interview of her answering questions about her life. And I’ve been treasuring these knowing that one day, I’ll be letting her go.
While now she can’t see these videos, she loves listening to the chosen songs. Making her smile. The greatest thing you can do for the ones you love is to remember their cherished memories. It’s really a legacy we leave behind for the next generation. Giving evidence as to why we exist.
Tell their Story through your Eyes
Many people often ask me to create a celebration of life video slideshow for funerals. And I often tell them to include stories that show the essence of the person. Everyone has a tale to tell. Why not take the opportunity to share their tale with a slow walk down memory lane.
What stories do you want to pass on? My mum had a fall in her late 80s where she had developed a blood clot in her brain. While I was told to prepare for the worst, she survived this ordeal. And the doctor called it a miracle. What I wish for my children to remember from this is when taking a leap of faith, miracles can happen.
5 Things to Consider When Creating a Celebration of Life Video
Have a plan ready because it’ll help you organise your time. So you don’t get overwhelmed with all that’s happening. Check with relatives or friends if they have any photo memories or stories to share about the person. Download my photo slideshow storyboard to help you arrange your photos into life chapters.
1. Gather and Collect photos and videos
Arrange them in an order where you are telling a story. Or as you wish to see on a TV screen. Make sure you know the stories behind them. Check If relatives or friends have photos you don’t have. Or any memories or stories to share. Then use dropbox or one drive to send large quantities of files to them.
2. Choose Songs or Music from a particular Era
Music triggers emotional memories for everyone. Do you have a special song that transports you back to a time in your childhood? Those special songs to create an atmosphere to walk down memory lane. And remember everything that happened. know what I mean.
3. Organise your Images to Tell a Story
You want to capture and celebrate big life moments. I love this part of the process. We spend much of our time occupied with activities. That we don’t take time to register our achievements. Don’t make that mistake too. Sooner or later we all face ourselves. And our stories will capture character traits. Or show how we achieved our life endeavours.
4. Consider Length of Video
If you are creating a video slideshow for a funeral, you many have to keep it within 15 minutes. But if you’re keeping it for home viewing, you can have it as long as you wish. Many people who work with me keep their videos longer for home viewing. Or shorter for the funeral. Know what you want for your celebration of life video. You can’t really define it in a matter of how the length ought to be.
5. DIY vs Hiring a Professional
There are many easy-to-use free programs you can use to make a video slideshow. Or you can let the funeral place do it for you. They have a set template for a simple video. All you need to do is give them your photos and videos and they’ll do everything for you.
Or you can hire a professional to create something for you to keep. Whatever you choose to do, I hope you think it through enough to have something your whole family can enjoy. If you need a little guidance to help you save time with arranging your photos, download my storyboard template.
