A Memorial Tribute Video, Made Gently From Photos
When someone dies, a photograph often becomes the thing we hold onto. A tribute video can bring many photographs together so that the people who loved them can see the whole life at once, from childhood to the later years.
This guide is for anyone who has been asked to put one together, usually in a hurry and while grieving. It is meant to be practical and kind.
What a growing up video offers
A tribute made as a growing up video follows one person through their life: each photo flows smoothly into the next, so the story is of a life changing rather than a stack of separate pictures. Videos run about 5 seconds per pair of photos. Twelve photographs give a video of just under a minute, which is a good length to play at the start or end of a service.
You will not get music, text or narration in the video itself. Many families add a song or a few spoken words at the service and simply play the video alongside.
Choosing the photos
You do not need many. Eight to twelve photographs is usually enough to tell a life:
- A baby or childhood photo, often from the family album.
- A school-age or teenage photo.
- A young adult photograph, perhaps a wedding or a first job.
- Photos from the middle years, with the family or doing what they loved.
- A recent, warm photo to end on.
Pick photographs where the face is clear and facing the camera, and choose pictures that feel like them. Our guide on choosing photos for a growing up video explains how to pick well. Old prints and scans are fine, and a faded photo can still work if the face can be seen.
Put them in order from the youngest to the oldest, and the video will follow that order.
Gathering photos together
Ask different people, because everyone has different pictures:
- Parents, siblings and older relatives keep the childhood photographs nobody else has.
- Friends and colleagues have the photographs from later in life.
- Phones and shared albums often hold the most recent portraits.
Take your time with this part. It is also a gentle way for people to share memories and to feel included.
Practical details
- You get an MP4 that plays on most laptops, phones and projectors. Test it on the venue's equipment before the service.
- Download it promptly. Photos and videos are deleted automatically after 30 days.
- If a transition does not look right, you can redo just that one. The Starter plan includes 2 redos, and the larger plans include 5. It is worth checking each transition, since the video is made by software and the results depend on the photos.
- Be honest about limits. Very different angles, lighting or photo quality can make a transition look less natural. If that happens, swapping one photo often fixes it.
A last thought
A tribute does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. A short, honest video of a life, shown to the people who loved them, is often enough.
You can create a video with your photos, and see the plans in the pricing section. If you need help, write to hello@vidotory.com.