As we mentioned earlier, this is a collaborative effort. You choose the musical track and provide us with the necessary photographs. It's our job to pull them all together into a tribute video that flows beautifully and speaks to the viewers on a deeply emotional level.
When you agree to this tribute opportunity, naturally you'll be asked to provide us with a collection of meaningful photographs. If you're like most families, you've got boxes and boxes of pictures–and sorting through them to find exactly the right ones for your loved one's tribute video may seem like a very big task. And we know that grief can leave you tired, distracted, and unfocused; which means that you just may not want to deal with the project.
But we assure you, it doesn't have to be a chore. We often suggest that you invite other people–family members or friends–to participate in the photographic selection process. Other guidelines and recommendations include:
- Consider your loved one's "life cycle" when selecting images. In other words, take time to find some photos from their infancy and childhood, as well as young adulthood; going all the way through their lifetime, closing with images of your loved one nearing the end of his or her life.
- You may choose to include only pictures related to your loved one's personal passions or accomplishments. (It's entirely up to you.)
- Photos may be compiled in chronological order.
- Short video clips may also be included (.mp4 format).
Once we have all your family's photographs, a member of our staff will compile them into a stunning slideshow of images artfully combined with music. An early version of your loved one's digital video tribute will be uploaded to their Book of Memories™ online memorial immediately upon completion. Then, a second version–with enhanced features–will be compiled for presentation at the memorial or funeral service. A copy of this enhanced tribute video will be given to the immediate family, and additional copies will be available on request.