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Photo Montages and Photo Slideshows for Special Occasions
I thought it might be helpful to talk about some of the special events that photo montages and slideshows are made for. In thinking about this, several examples came to mind.
Birthdays
One of my favorite montages was one I made for a family in San Diego. I picked up the photos from a woman named Susie and she was very nice. The occasion was her mother's birthday. While I was working with the photos I noticed one that had a picture of a plane with Spanos written on one side and Chargers written on the other. Curious, I asked my husband if the Spanos family had any connection to the Chargers. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "You've got to be kidding me. They own the Chargers." Who knew? And I love the Chargers!
A gentleman ordered a photo montage for his 80th birthday party, which he was throwing for himself. He was a very adventurous type of guy who had had a lot of interesting experiences. We divided the photos into five groups - growing up years, married with small children, friends, family and activities that he had participated in through the years. There were photos of him skydiving, flying ultralights, flying his own hot air balloon and flying his own airplane. He loved to be up in the sky! 130 people at the party got a better idea of how unique this individual was.
Anniversaries
Often grown children will ask for a montage or slideshow for their parent's 30th, 40th or 50th anniversary. One woman wanted a DVD for her parents' 50th anniversary. The photos showed a family that was an outdoor group who participated in sports together and appeared to be having a ton of fun. After the anniversary party she came back to me and told me her parents had said it was the best present they ever got.
When children get together to make a DVD for their parents it can take a while. People will often tell me, "My sister and brother are supposed to have their photos to me by Friday so I should have them for you on Monday." And I reply that they shouldn't worry if it takes longer than that for all the photos to be in because people just don't always move that quickly.
Graduations
I recently created a photo montage for two brothers who graduated from university engineering programs the same year. Their parents were throwing a big party for them and wanted a DVD presentation for the event. We divided the photos into three sections - the first brother growing up and becoming an adult, the second brother growing up and becoming an adult and the two guys together, sharing their very special relationship.
When my granddaughter graduated from 6th grade, the PTA wanted to put together a record of the events that had happened during that year. I took all their photos, combined them with music, added motion and made enough copies for the whole class. They got custom DVDs printed with their school mascot on the front and memories of that very special time.
Memorials
Memorial montages tend to be needed fairly quickly, in time for a service. People are grieving and aren't always up to the job of carefully organizing their photos. They bring them to me and together we work out the order and the sections (if there are more than one). They put it into my hands, knowing that what they get back will be meaningful and beautiful. And it always is.
Sometimes families want to put a project together weeks or months after the passing, when things have died down. They want to remember the relative with a compilation of photos but aren't prepared to deal with a montage along with everything else that happens at a time of passing. When this happens, copies can be distributed to the whole family and everyone can enjoy the memories in their own homes.
A woman I worked with started her montage while she was suffering from cancer. We got it mostly done but she died before it was complete. Her daughter came back to me before the memorial with more photos and music and I finished it in time for the service.
Weddings
Weddings are always fun because they're such joyful events. Most of them follow the same format: There are pictures of the bride growing up and as an adult, the same for the groom and then pictures of the happy couple together. I enjoy seeing two people as babies, children, teenagers and young adults. Toward the end they appear as a loving duo.
But presentations can also be made for older couples who are marrying for a second or third time. Photos can be included of their separate families and then the families as they come together as one entity. Also very happy!
One mother of the bride brought me photos of her daughter with the father. The wedding wasn't able to accommodate a father-daughter dance so instead they were going to have a father-daughter video. They used the song I Loved Her First by Heartland. The photos rotated in time with the song's rhythm. Later the Mom told me that the father sat down and watched it over and over. It's not always easy to let go of your little girl.
Every day can be an occasion
There doesn't have to be an event to make a montage. I have made DVDs of my grandchildren at various points in their lives. Later, I go back and add photos and music and update the project. That way I have an ongoing record of their growing up years.
People have also ordered videos of their pets. Most people are crazy about their dogs and cats, me included, and a record of these members of the family in all their cuteness can be a wonderful thing to have.
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