How To Make A Memorial Video: Practical Ideas & Tips

Thinking about creating a memorial video to honor your loved one? Creating a memorial video can be a rewarding and healing trip down memory lane.

In this guide, we'll give you practical tips on how to make a memorial video. We'll also talk about content ideas, memorial slideshows, and recommendations on what software to use.

• Video length: Keep the video length somewhere between 3-5 minutes.

• Collaborate: Involve family and friends in the creative and process. Maybe they have some great ideas or some content that would be perfect for the tribute video.

• Add a personal touch: Don't be afraid to follow your heart and make something that truly reflects the life of your loved one.

• What to use: Incorporate a variety of photos, videos footage and sentimental mementos like scrapbook pages, cards, letters, or even newspaper clippings.

• Memorial slideshow: A typical funeral slideshow lasts 5 to 8 minutes, featuring around 60 to 80 photos. Pacing is important too- each photo should be visible for about 4 to 5 seconds.

• End the video: Leave a lasting impression with a heartfelt note, a meaningful quote, or a wish.

Animoto:  This a fantastic tool for making memorial slideshow with music. You'll find a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface with templates specifically designed for memorials. It allows you to easily integrate photos, videos, and music to create a high-quality tribute video.

Canva:  Another great memorial video editor,Canva offers a variety of templates, text animations, and music. It's also very user friendly and has some collaboration features, which are very helpful when a few people are making the tribute video.

Memorial Tribute Maker:  Specifically designed for memorials, Memorial Tribute Maker simplifies the process of creating touching tribute videos with pre-made themes and appropriate music. It’s highly user-friendly, requiring no advanced video editing skills.

iMovie (Mac):  iMovie provides a range of professional-grade editing tools and pre-made themes, perfect for creating a polished funeral video on Mac. Its intuitive interface and high-quality output make it a top choice for Apple users.

Windows Movie Maker:  Windows Movie Maker is a basic, free video editor that offers simple tools for creating a tribute video with transitions, text overlays, and music. Although it’s no longer officially supported by Microsoft, it remains a straightforward option for beginners.

Collecting footage for a video is like making a memorial table for a loved one. You want to gather things that highlights significant life events such as weddings, birthdays, and graduations.

You may also want to focus on significant relationships, personal achievements, hobbies, and philanthropy.

Picking the appropriate photos carries significant importance. Here are some tips to consider:

• Choose around 25-30 photos for the video

• Include a mix of solo and group photos to showcase different facets of their personality and relationships.

• Avoid large group photos where the individual might be lost in the crowd

• Consider photographing memorabilia like trophies, artworks, and sports paraphernalia to add a personal touch

Once you have gathered all your media files, the next step is to organize them in a way that tells a coherent and heartfelt story.

Arranging the photos in chronological order is a great way to illustrate the progression of your loved one’s life. Start from their childhood and move through significant milestones and events, right up to the most recent moments.

Alternatively, you can group photos by important life events rather than strictly following chronological order. This method allows you to highlight specific themes or periods in their life, such as family gatherings, career achievements, or hobbies.

Start by introducing your loved one with their name, life dates, and any important details on the first slides.

Personalization is key to making the video unique and special. Whether it’s a favorite quote, a heartfelt message, or a simple “We miss you,” these touches will resonate with viewers and add depth to the tribute.

Use readable fonts to incorporate these messages, ensuring they are easy to read and blend well with the overall design.

To create a meaningful video, follow these steps:

1. Choose a template that suits the occasion and customize it with your own photos and text.

2. Add stickers, shapes, and illustrations to enhance the visual appeal of the video.

3. Include heartfelt messages from family and friends by giving them access to the video draft and allowing them to add their own messages and ideas.

• Platforms like Animoto and Canva offer libraries with hundreds of licensed songs to choose from, including royalty free music. If you can’t find the perfect memorial song in these libraries, you can upload your own licensed music.

• Make sure to keep the audio levels balanced, allowing the background music and any voiceovers to be clearly heard without overshadowing one another.

• To smooth transitions in the soundtrack, you can utilize the audio fade-in and fade-out features to create a seamless and polished effect. This will help to blend different parts of the soundtrack together seamlessly.