How To Make A DVD Slide Show

There are so many options to consider when you are making a DVD Slide Show...here are just a few.

1. Choose Your Photos
This may be difficult but it can be done! Go through your photos - choose your best photos and put them in a pile. Once you have collected the photographs you want to use make a list. You will want to make sure you haven't left someone out - or that you have more photos of one child than the other - it does matter!

2. Put Them In Order
Arrange your photographs in chronological order. If you would like to include a caption please write it on a sticky note and put it on the back of the photo. Try not to write on your photographs, often times the ink will bleed through.

3. Download your favorite Songs
You will want to select your favorite songs...look at the photos....you might want to use music from the era in which the photo was taken. Music makes a huge impact on your slide show, so be sure you select songs that will enhance your photographs.

4. Search The Web
Slide Show programs are abundant on the web. I use ProShow Producer. The ProShow producer program gives you unlimited possibilities. There are may options, download a free trial and try before you buy.

5. Have Fun
Have fun putting your memories in motion, your slide show will be a keepsake for years to come.

Family Memories

When my Aunt became ill in early January I remember getting together with my cousins and looking at all the photographs. "Did really wear that? I can't believe it!," just one of the many comments. Early on we decided to pull our favorite photographs to create the story of her life, fortunately her three sisters are all still in good health and could give us the story behind the photo.
Going through the photos helped us to remember what a wonderful life my Aunt has had, how many people she touched. I would highly recommend going through your photos prior to losing someone you love, the joy you will experience when you recall the moments you shared with that person are overwhelming.
Eventually my Aunt passed, when she did we were prepared to make our DVD Slide Show, what a tribute. From birth to her last few months, all synchronized to her favorite music. As each song played and her photos danced across the screen you could not help but remembering her the way she lived her life, not those last couple of months when she was ill.
At the funeral home we all gathered around the television, we laughed and we cried as we watched my Aunt smiling back at us.

Remember The Past With A Custom Made DVD Slide Show
DVD's By Betsy
Bringing Back Memories With A DVD
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 diagnosed 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 daughter’s 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. 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 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.

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life. Arthur Ashe