A photo slideshow or video tribute can be a touching, profound way to memorialize a lost loved one. However, it can seem like an overwhelming project, one that many mourning families may not know how to begin. If you’re planning a memorial service, below are a few tips for creating the perfect slideshow or video presentation.

How to Make a Slideshow for a Memorial Service

1. Decide How It Will Be Used

Before you start choosing pictures, decide how your slideshow will be used. If you plan on showing the video during the actual memorial service, try to keep it between six and eight minutes long, consisting of between 80 and 100 pictures. This will allow people to comfortably watch the show without wandering away from the presentation. 

However, if you intend to run the video in the background at the reception, make it up to 15 minutes long and include approximately 150 photos. This will provide extra viewing time and will help create a conversation about the lost loved one.

2. Choose the Right Music

If you’re playing the slideshow in the background at the reception, it’s best to leave music out entirely. For videos played during the memorial service, choose two songs that are three to four minutes long each. The music doesn’t necessarily have to be about morning or loss. In fact, it’s usually more meaningful to choose your lost loved one’s favorite pieces or songs. 

3. Select Pictures

While portrait-style photos are a good place to start, you’ll also want to include pictures of favorite family holidays or your loved one enjoying their favorite hobbies. Don’t forget to include childhood photos, which many friends and family members may not have ever seen. Asking your loved ones to go through their photo albums can reveal some hidden gems that will make your slideshow that much more meaningful.

Planning a memorial service for a loved one who has passed away can be one of life’s most difficult experiences, but the compassionate staff at Ritchay Funeral Home are here to make it as easy as possible. They’ve been serving families across Wood County, WI, since 1947, helping them celebrate the lives of those they’ve lost. Visit their website to learn more about their memorial service options. Call (715) 423-1414 to reach their funeral home in Wisconsin Rapids. To contact their Nekoosa location, call (715) 886-3161.