Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Graduation 2013
When I was little I watched the Jetsons, remember how they flew around from house to house? Honestly when I imagined 2013 I thought we too would be flying around (guess this kind of reveals my age) but alas we are still in our autos!
For the past ten years I have been designing video montages for Graduation celebrations. Here is what I have learned:
1. The right music can make an ordinary video extraordinary!
2. When sorting through your photographs you will take a wonderful walk down memory lane.
3. Close-ups are wonderful to include in your video.
4. People count! Always remember to make a list, try not to forget anyone that has played an important role in your child's life. Group shots are fabulous.
5. Every video should be different because each person is unique.
6. You will laugh.
7. You will cry.
8. You will realize how quickly time goes by.
It takes a lot of time to sort through your photographs and video clips...why not start taking your walk down Memory Lane now!
www.dvdbybetsy.com
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Graduation Slideshow
It's about happen, in no time at all your "baby" will proudly walk across the stage and be handed their diploma. It's mixed bag of emotions...you are so excited for them to start college, a career, travel...but can't help but be a little scared.
This year we have scanned thousands of photos; from the first photos in their Mother's arms to the latest photos of them going off to Prom in someone elses arms. I love the candid photos of their first step, toothless grins, skinned knees, gawky pre-teen, then of course the photos of them becoming a young adult. Phew...time does fly. Each child is so different, some like country other prefer techno...and still others like oldies but goodies!
Finding the perfect music to accompany a lifetime of photos is not an easy task. To me, the words must compliment the photos. One Mother told me she always sang, "You Are My Sunshine," to her daughter when she was growing up. When I found Carly Simons version of "You Are My Sunshine," it was an "ah ha" moment, the song was PERFECT. There are so many great lyrics out there, you just have to take the time to find them.
I guess my best advise to anyone creating a slideshow is...take your time. Study your photos. Find the perfect lyrics and then your photos will dance across the screen.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, July 12, 2010
Where Does The Time Go....
Seems like just yesterday I was blogging away...I was shocked when I realized that it has been over a year since I have blogged. As always, a lot can happen in a year!
Over the past year I created a WWII video for David Caldwell. You can see his video by pasting the following link in your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djihcb1zeYQ
Graduation videos kept me busy this year, in all I created 25 Graduation videos...
to see a sample visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4q8oQPKWus
I've made friends all over the country, I am very fortunate that I wake up every morning and can't wait to get to work.
Over the past year I created a WWII video for David Caldwell. You can see his video by pasting the following link in your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djihcb1zeYQ
Graduation videos kept me busy this year, in all I created 25 Graduation videos...
to see a sample visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4q8oQPKWus
I've made friends all over the country, I am very fortunate that I wake up every morning and can't wait to get to work.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Photo Slide Shows Bring Back Memories
A Picture Says a Thousand Words
Photographs invoke emotion and conjure up memories. One of my favorite quotes is by Sy Parish; “And if these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture.”
Most of us have boxes, drawers, and albums filled with photographs we have taken over the years. Photographs symbolize a moment in time that has been forever frozen.
My Aunt was diagnoses with Alzheimer’s many years ago. As the years go by her memory of past events fades. Her daughters have made pocket sized photo albums with pictures and detailed descriptions; for example, “This is Sally. She is five years old; her mother is Jane, your youngest daughter.” My Aunt looks at these little books every day. Sometimes she remembers who Jane is; other days she has to ask.
While visiting my Aunt I noticed that she loves to watch television. It was then that I realized creating a DVD of her life with voice-overs describing each event might help her remember her past. When I returned home I contacted her daughters and asked them to email me photographs and descriptions of each photo asking them; “where it took place, when it took place and who is in the photo?” I then met with my Aunt’s sisters, asking them to go through their photographs and gather the one’s that might help my Aunt remember.
Once I had received all of the photographs I scanned them and placed them in a slideshow program. Each frame of the DVD describes the time, event and people in the photograph. It is important to include background music that is specific to the their era, in my Aunt’s case it was; Glen Miller, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.
My mother and her sisters have been wonderful in writing down memories of their childhood. Silly events that happened when they were young girls, events that we hope will spark memories in my Aunt. Using a voice-over, the "memory" is told then the photograph appears for 30-40 seconds, giving ample time for individual to reminisce about the photograph and event.
Alzheimer DVD’s are a family affair. It is important to receive input from as many people as possible that are close to the person with Alzheimer’s.
If someone is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s it is wonderful to interview them, asking them their favorite childhood memories, school memories, their marriage, children and grandchildren. What are their hobbies? Where did they like to vacation? What are they most passionate about? What are their favorite songs?
There are so many good times in life; sharing them on a DVD is a way to preserve the memories.
Photographs invoke emotion and conjure up memories. One of my favorite quotes is by Sy Parish; “And if these pictures have anything important to say to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy, and someone cared enough about me in this world to take my picture.”
Most of us have boxes, drawers, and albums filled with photographs we have taken over the years. Photographs symbolize a moment in time that has been forever frozen.
My Aunt was diagnoses with Alzheimer’s many years ago. As the years go by her memory of past events fades. Her daughters have made pocket sized photo albums with pictures and detailed descriptions; for example, “This is Sally. She is five years old; her mother is Jane, your youngest daughter.” My Aunt looks at these little books every day. Sometimes she remembers who Jane is; other days she has to ask.
While visiting my Aunt I noticed that she loves to watch television. It was then that I realized creating a DVD of her life with voice-overs describing each event might help her remember her past. When I returned home I contacted her daughters and asked them to email me photographs and descriptions of each photo asking them; “where it took place, when it took place and who is in the photo?” I then met with my Aunt’s sisters, asking them to go through their photographs and gather the one’s that might help my Aunt remember.
Once I had received all of the photographs I scanned them and placed them in a slideshow program. Each frame of the DVD describes the time, event and people in the photograph. It is important to include background music that is specific to the their era, in my Aunt’s case it was; Glen Miller, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.
My mother and her sisters have been wonderful in writing down memories of their childhood. Silly events that happened when they were young girls, events that we hope will spark memories in my Aunt. Using a voice-over, the "memory" is told then the photograph appears for 30-40 seconds, giving ample time for individual to reminisce about the photograph and event.
Alzheimer DVD’s are a family affair. It is important to receive input from as many people as possible that are close to the person with Alzheimer’s.
If someone is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s it is wonderful to interview them, asking them their favorite childhood memories, school memories, their marriage, children and grandchildren. What are their hobbies? Where did they like to vacation? What are they most passionate about? What are their favorite songs?
There are so many good times in life; sharing them on a DVD is a way to preserve the memories.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Graduation Slide Show
They have finally done it, or at least there is an end in sight. Graduation is just around the corner, so is the prom, parties, college visits, the list is endless.
Putting together a slide show to honor their special day can be a daunting task. As you sort through your piles of photographs that have amassed over the years you can't help but be overwhelmed with "how fast the time has gone." Seems like yesterday that they were doing the "Bambi" walk...toddling across the floor, grinning ear-to-ear.
Yes, the time does fly by. Now it's time to sort out your photographs and select your favorites to feature in their Slide Show, a celebration of their accomplishments. Where do you start?
Here are just a few of the memorable moments you might have captured with your camera and video camera: birth, first step, first toothless grin, tears at the barbers, fearful glance as they walked in to school for the first time, delight in their first Halloween parade, family vacations, sporting events, recitals, holidays, middle school and at last high school.
There are three types of slide shows I design:
1. Chronological Slide Show
This slide show show starts with photographs of their birth and ends with High School graduation. This talks a little bit of time to organize. Each category in this slide show usually contains roughly ten photographs. If your child has siblings I highly recommend that you include the same number of photos of each sibling. This is a good rule of thumb to use with grandparents (you don't want more of one side that the other), and siblings.
2. Random Slide Show
The random slide show might start with a photograph of the child as a baby and morph into their senior photo. Then throughout it will show them as a youngster and the next photo might be present day.
3. Event
The event slide show is broken down into categories, for example:
Family
Friends
Sporting/Music/Dance
Vacations
Each grouping of photos starts with a title page then leads into the photographs relating to the category.
Yes, preparing your slide show is a daunting task, but one that is well worth it. If you want to include quotes (funny things you child said)or dates remember to write them on a post-it note, attach it to the back of your photo. Separate your photographs with a sheet of paper if there is already writing on the back. Why? The ink that is on the back of a photo when stacked on top of another photo can often bleed through to the photo it is on top of, which will permanently damage the photo.
The next task is selecting music. Your child might have definite likes and dislikes(if this is not a surprise), ask them for their input. If you are surprising your child with the slide show ask their siblings and friends what music they think you should use. You can also be sneaky and check out their Ipod to see what music they have in their favorites.
Finally, decide on the length of the show. I have designed custom slide shows with 350 photographs, they only run 12-15 minutes. The photographs dance across the screen and at the end the show is designed to loop (continuously play), ideal when showing your slide show during the graduation party.
Cost varies with each slide show, dependent on the amount of photographs that need to be scanned, digital photos and number of songs that will accompany your slide show. It is also very important to remember that the music needs to be purchased, as I have said before, we want our artist to keep writing and continue to record.
Phew...are you ready to get started? You can contact me for a free consultation and I will walk you through the process.
Putting together a slide show to honor their special day can be a daunting task. As you sort through your piles of photographs that have amassed over the years you can't help but be overwhelmed with "how fast the time has gone." Seems like yesterday that they were doing the "Bambi" walk...toddling across the floor, grinning ear-to-ear.
Yes, the time does fly by. Now it's time to sort out your photographs and select your favorites to feature in their Slide Show, a celebration of their accomplishments. Where do you start?
Here are just a few of the memorable moments you might have captured with your camera and video camera: birth, first step, first toothless grin, tears at the barbers, fearful glance as they walked in to school for the first time, delight in their first Halloween parade, family vacations, sporting events, recitals, holidays, middle school and at last high school.
There are three types of slide shows I design:
1. Chronological Slide Show
This slide show show starts with photographs of their birth and ends with High School graduation. This talks a little bit of time to organize. Each category in this slide show usually contains roughly ten photographs. If your child has siblings I highly recommend that you include the same number of photos of each sibling. This is a good rule of thumb to use with grandparents (you don't want more of one side that the other), and siblings.
2. Random Slide Show
The random slide show might start with a photograph of the child as a baby and morph into their senior photo. Then throughout it will show them as a youngster and the next photo might be present day.
3. Event
The event slide show is broken down into categories, for example:
Family
Friends
Sporting/Music/Dance
Vacations
Each grouping of photos starts with a title page then leads into the photographs relating to the category.
Yes, preparing your slide show is a daunting task, but one that is well worth it. If you want to include quotes (funny things you child said)or dates remember to write them on a post-it note, attach it to the back of your photo. Separate your photographs with a sheet of paper if there is already writing on the back. Why? The ink that is on the back of a photo when stacked on top of another photo can often bleed through to the photo it is on top of, which will permanently damage the photo.
The next task is selecting music. Your child might have definite likes and dislikes(if this is not a surprise), ask them for their input. If you are surprising your child with the slide show ask their siblings and friends what music they think you should use. You can also be sneaky and check out their Ipod to see what music they have in their favorites.
Finally, decide on the length of the show. I have designed custom slide shows with 350 photographs, they only run 12-15 minutes. The photographs dance across the screen and at the end the show is designed to loop (continuously play), ideal when showing your slide show during the graduation party.
Cost varies with each slide show, dependent on the amount of photographs that need to be scanned, digital photos and number of songs that will accompany your slide show. It is also very important to remember that the music needs to be purchased, as I have said before, we want our artist to keep writing and continue to record.
Phew...are you ready to get started? You can contact me for a free consultation and I will walk you through the process.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Thoughts on Turning 50 by LeahV
Thoughts on Turning 50
I love this essay...in celebration of her 50th Leah made a "Top 50" list...
“a list of things that make me happy to be who I am and where I am in this journey through life. These are in no particular order.
http://leahv.blogspot.com/
Posted by LeahV at 5:01 PM 2 comments
Labels: 50th Birthday
I love this essay...in celebration of her 50th Leah made a "Top 50" list...
“a list of things that make me happy to be who I am and where I am in this journey through life. These are in no particular order.
http://leahv.blogspot.com/
Posted by LeahV at 5:01 PM 2 comments
Labels: 50th Birthday
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)