How long should I make
my slideshow/movie?
There is no definitive length. It really
depends on the theme and the intended audience. Family is more
tolerant of long presentations than friends but you want to avoid
losing people's interest and in general, less
is best. I have found 4-6 minutes to be the sweet
spot. On occasion 9-10 minutes works if you break it up
into "chapters" and you have a captive
audience. But that's just me. In the end, I will do whatever
you wish, just keep in mind the cost will
reflect the time it takes to produce the movie.
What type of music should I use?
If you are making the presentation for
an individual, then by all means consider including
their favorite music. You want the presentation to make them feel good and have them
recall fond memories. If the audience is wider,
consider music in the context of what the photos/video is
presenting. Tell a "story" with the combination of visuals
and music. There are some songs I consider terrific
for slideshows and I will recommend them if you
do not have a music preference.
What transitions/effects should be
used?
First of all, don't fall for the temptation
of using a lot of different or eye-catching effects.
Though they might seem fun and exciting they will take away from the
subject of the presentation. I found the basic fade in/out
transition in combination with the Ease-In/Ease-out effect to work
best. Much more
and it will come across
like an annoying music video.
Why should I pay to create a movie?
Can't I
do it myself with free
software such as Microsoft MovieMaker?
Absolutely, if you would like to try your
hand at creating your own movie, by all means do it. I
encourage you and wait ready to help. It can be time consuming
and tedious at times, but very rewarding. I'm a Software
Engineer and a computer geek. I work with computers all day
and with all my experience it still takes me at least several hours
to produce a personal video. There are nuances that I feel I
have an eye for that make the difference between a run-of-the-mill
video and one that pops and really leaves a lasting
impression. I am careful about what photos I include. I
will not include photos just because they are available. I add
commentary and humor where appropriate. I edit music to start
and stop to match the visuals and select just the right portion of a
song for the best impact. I will loop music if
necessary. If you don't want to spend a lot of time with
software, hardware, trial-and-error previewing, believe me, you
will be glad
to outsource this process. I guarantee my work and
if you aren't
satisfied with the final product,
you don't owe me anything.
|