Which photos should I choose to include in my DVD Slide Show?

You may already know the exact photos you’d like to include in your DVD Slide Show, but here are some additional tips that may help.

   - Choose photographs that are spontaneous, candid and show character.

   - Choose a variety between close ups and group photos.

   - Choose more horizontal shots than vertical shots.  The reason for this is that TV

         screens are wider than they are high, so horizontal shots fill the screen and look        

        much better.  Vertical shots will appear on the TV screen with custom color borders 

        on each side.  That is not a problem with vertical photos. However, too many vertical photographs

        one after the other won’t be as pleasing to look at as horizontal ones.

   - Be sure all of your photos are in focus.

How long of a slide show production will my photos produce?

   - 50 photos result in a six to eight minute slide show.

  - 100 photos result in an eight to twelve minute show.

   - 150 photos can be 18 to 20 minutes in duration.

   - 300 photos can be 35 to 40 minutes in duration.

   - 500 photos will be over an hour in duration.

   - 1000 photos will be over two hours in duration.

Tip: If a slide show is in excess of 100 photos, you may consider adding chapter points. A Chapter point is a menu

       that points to individual chapters of the slide show.

What size photographs and media can I send?

We can work with any size photos or material up to 8.5” x 11”.

How long should each song be?

It may be as long as you would like. Music can be shortened, and or fade in/fade out to meet the specific photos within the slide show.

Can I scan the photographs or other media myself and send them to you?

You sure can!  Just scan your photos and or media and burn them to a CD or DVD. Then mail the disk to us.

If you scan the photos yourself, remember the higher the resolution at which the photographs are scanned, the better your photos will look on your TV or monitor. Unfortunately, anything less than 300 pixels/inch can result in a very grainy picture. 

If I scan my own photographs, what file format should I use to save them?

Please scan photos and media in a .jpg (jpeg) format.  

How will you know in what order I want the photos in the slide show?

You can name the files with a leading number and attach a seperate piece of paper listing the order of the photos using their file names. If you send us photos lightly mark on the back with pencil or attach a sticky note to each.

What are special effect transitions?

Special effect transitions are the way the slide show moves from one photo to the next.  The song you choose typically dictates which transition effect you will use.  With a slower song, a simple fade in/fade out usually looks the best.  For a lively song, more peppy transitions may go well. Unless you specify what you prefer, we will creatively choose which transition looks the best for the slide show production you are looking for.

Will you digitally crop my photos?

Normally, we will not crop any of the photos unless it is required for a better viewing experience.

How should I choose the order for my photos?

We will prepare your slide show in the exact order that you send the photos to us.  You can choose to organize them in several different ways.

For Wedding Slide Shows, most people will show photos of the groom growing up, photos of the bride growing up, and then photos of the two together - all the way through the honeymoon if you choose. A chapter point can be entered for each event.

For other slide shows you could order the photos:

   - Chronologically. For example: baby pictures, childhood pictures, high school, college, dating.

   - By themes, such as vacations or sporting events - child hood through school, dance and so forth.

With our software we can add a photo (or several photos) within a photo for a dramatic or fun effect.

How long will each photo appear on the screen?

Each photo will appear four to six seconds, Five seconds in normally the most suitable, but this can vary depending on the nature of the photographs, the tempo of the music and the special effect transitions. Transitions typically are about 3 seconds long.

Which photo should I start and end the slide show?

Make these your very best shots, as often they will appear for the longest time, or they will have titles overlaid on them.

I’m worried about sending my photos, how do I know you will return my photos in the same condition as your received them?

We understand why you would be worried. We realize how important your photos are to you. Because we know that your photographs are irreplaceable and they evoke memories that are precious to you, we treat your photos as if they were our own.  To this day, we have never damaged or lost any photo entrusted to us.  We guarantee your photos will be returned to your in the same condition as we received them, unless something catastrophic happens that is out of our control during transit.

Due to the shipping process being totally outside our control, sending your photos to Photo Memories To Motion enters us into an agreement that absolves Photo Memories To Motion of any responsibility for your materials during the shipping process.

How should I protect my photos while they are in transit?

Package your photos well, using hard cardboard on all sides to provide a solid shell for your photos.  We also recommend you use a plastic Ziploc bag to contain each section of photographs to protect them from any spillage during the delivery process. We will return your materials, packed safely using every precaution.  We treat everything you send us as if it were our own.

Do I need to watch the DVD on the computer only?

No, the DVD that we create can be watched on any television with a DVD player or on a computer equipped with a DVD-ROM drive.

Do I have to manually forward through the slide show?

No, once you press the play button on your DVD player, the slide show will move through on its own.

Can chapters be created in a slide show so I can watch selected chapters at anytime?

Yes, we can create a menu that points to individual chapters of the slide show.  When you select a chapter that you want to watch, only the photos in that chapter will play.

Can my old black and white photographs be transferred to DVD?

Yes, you can and should!  We advise scanning your old photographs and burning them to CD or DVD to digitally archive them. Photo Memories To Motion can do this for you.

We offer digital archiving services if you just want to save your old photos for a lifetime. You do not have to order a DVD Slide Show.

Will you return my photographs and music?

Yes, your original source material (music & photos) will be returned to you with your order.

I have some specific questions that I want answered, how can I go about it?

You can email us, or call us and we will be glad to answer all your questions.

How long will it take you to complete my project?

Our typically turn around time in 14 days.

How do I send in my photos and music?

Detailed information about submitting your materials can be found on our send photos page.

What if I don’t organize my materials?

Please try and organize your material before you send them, as it will make for the best slide show.  Only you know the order you’d like the photos to be shown.   If you don’t organize them, we will try our best and generally will put them in chronological order. However, before we begin the project, we will make every effort to contact you and discuss how you would like us to proceed.

What if my DVD doesn’t play?

On average, 98% of all players will play back our DVDs.  You can check to see if your DVD player will support DVD+R or DVD-R at the www.vcdhelp.com.  If your DVD does not play, we will do everything we can to give you a solution that will work. If you are worried, please check with the manufacturer of the device before purchase.

Will you keep a copy of my DVD?

We will keep the master of your DVD on file for five years for purposes of reordering, unless you specify that we don’t. The cost of an additional DVD is $15.00. At the time of order, additional copies are just $10.00.

What about Photo Retouching?

We will do some minor photo retouching (if needed) of digital images to enhance the DVD slide show experience.  This will include color correction, cropping, straightening, red-eye correction and enhancing the detail and lighting when needed. This will be done as part of the service to insure that your DVD slide show is an exhilarating and emotional experience.

Can I pick my own music and is it legal to use?

You can pick your own music for inclusion on the DVD.  To include copyrighted music, you must own the original recording to be used in your slide show.  Use of the track will be covered under your fair use rights of ownership. We require that you send the music on the original CD. We can buy music and download it on your behalf for $1.99 per song, as long as it is available. We cannot accept music from customers in any other format (such as a CD that you burned). Since you will own the music that we download for you, it will be burned on to a CD and sent with your order.

Can you create my slide show from slides or negatives as well as photographs?

Yes, we can work with any type of photographic material, including prints, negatives or slides.  We can also use other types of paper media that can be digitized on our flatbed scanners.  This would include items such as announcements, newspaper articles, certificates, greeting cards, other cards, letters, marriage licenses or just about anything you can imagine, up to 8.5” x 11”.

What does “custom” really mean?

We truly want the slide show to be made exactly for you and the special occasion for which it is intended.  We want you to be able to approve transitions, approve pan effects, choose songs, choose titles, choose captions, add sound effects, order the photos, select audio effects, differ length of individual pictures and/or titles, and review the product for any changes that you want to make. We want you to be truly happy and 100% satisfied with the slide show, so if for any reason you are not pleased, contact us and we will work with you until you are.

What are the accepted payment methods?

We are currently accepting credit card payments through PayPal on our “Payments” page.  Once you have sent the information about number of photos, titles, effects, and other information, and the payment is received, the DVD slide show will be created.